Sazak Durdymuradov, a history teacher and contributor to RFE/RL's Turkmen Service, has been found beaten and tortured after refusing to sign a letter in which he agreed to stop reporting for RFE/RL.
Durdymuradov's commentary and analysis often focuses on educational and constitutional reform.
He was seized three days ago by Turkmen police from his home in Bakharden. He was discovered today at a detention facility run by the national security office (former KGB). His wife said he told her he "wanted to die."
The incident, condemned by RFE/RL President Jeffrey Gedmin, occurred as the Turkmen government is hosting human rights talks with the European Union in the capital, Ashgabat.
In a report issued on June 23, Amnesty International said Turkmen authorities regularly target independent journalists, including RFE/RL correspondents, in an attempt to silence independent voices.
Read the full RFE/RL press release here.
Durdymuradov's commentary and analysis often focuses on educational and constitutional reform.
He was seized three days ago by Turkmen police from his home in Bakharden. He was discovered today at a detention facility run by the national security office (former KGB). His wife said he told her he "wanted to die."
The incident, condemned by RFE/RL President Jeffrey Gedmin, occurred as the Turkmen government is hosting human rights talks with the European Union in the capital, Ashgabat.
In a report issued on June 23, Amnesty International said Turkmen authorities regularly target independent journalists, including RFE/RL correspondents, in an attempt to silence independent voices.
Read the full RFE/RL press release here.
