Prague, 7 November 1997 (RFE/RL)- The Moscow-based Glasnost Foundation and London-based International PEN (writers in prison committee) yesterday sent appeals to the Turkmen government expressing their concern over the arrest and detention of Radio Liberty correspondent Yovshan Annakurbanov.
Annakurbanov was taken into custody by Turkmen police at the Ashgabat airport on October 30 as he attempted to board an airplane to Prague to attend a journalists seminar. Police allege Annakurbanov was in possession of a computer disc containing material from political opposition in Turkmenistan but Annakurbanov's wife, present at the time of the arrest, says the initial search revealed nothing illegal and only some hours later was the existence of the disc announced.
Annakurbanov's wife has so far been denied permission to visit her husband and it is unknown if Annakurbanov has been allowed to see a lawyer.
The two appeals yesterday follow a November 4 appeal by Amnesty International. The U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat also is reportedly following the case.
Annakurbanov was taken into custody by Turkmen police at the Ashgabat airport on October 30 as he attempted to board an airplane to Prague to attend a journalists seminar. Police allege Annakurbanov was in possession of a computer disc containing material from political opposition in Turkmenistan but Annakurbanov's wife, present at the time of the arrest, says the initial search revealed nothing illegal and only some hours later was the existence of the disc announced.
Annakurbanov's wife has so far been denied permission to visit her husband and it is unknown if Annakurbanov has been allowed to see a lawyer.
The two appeals yesterday follow a November 4 appeal by Amnesty International. The U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat also is reportedly following the case.