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Detained RFE/RL Turkmen Correspondent Released


RFE/RL Turkmen Service correspondent Rovshen Yazmuhamedov
RFE/RL Turkmen Service correspondent Rovshen Yazmuhamedov
TURKMENABAT, Turkmenistan -- A Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) correspondent based in Turkmenistan has been freed after being detained by police earlier this month.

Rovshen Yazmuhamedov told RFE/RL that he was released on May 22 after spending two weeks in custody.

It is still unclear why he was detained in the northeastern city of Turkmenabat.

Yazmuhamedov, 30, has worked for RFE/RL since September.

His reports have focused mainly on social issues.

Last week, the European Union expressed concern about his detention and urged Turkmen authorities to explain why he was being held.

Yazmuhamedov's relatives said the journalist was being held at a detention center run by the Interior Ministry's Directorate No. 6, which investigates organized crime and terrorism-related cases.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

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