Text of report by Ukrainian television TV 5 Kanal on 21 March

Turkmen human rights groups are seeking Ukraine’s support. The Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation has sent Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko an open letter asking him for help in solving problems related to human rights abuses in that country, the Ukrainian service of Deutsche Welle radio has said.

The Turkmen activists believe that the human rights situation in that country is catastrophic. Almost all political freedoms have been destroyed, and civil society is gradually being wiped out.

[Yushchenko is to pay an official visit to Turkmenistan on 22 March.]

BBC Original source: TV 5 Kanal, Kiev March 21, 2005