05 May 2009 Open Letter to the President of Czech Republic Mr. Václav Klaus

Dear President Klaus,

Given the presence of senior representatives of Turkmenistan to the summit, "Eastern Partnership" and "Nabucco", human rights organization Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation is expressing our concern about human rights situation in that country. Since for more than two years from inauguration of President of Turkmenistan, the international community calls to Kurbankuli Berdymuhamedov to stop repressive acts, inherited from the former President Niyazov’s era, who continued to overshadow human rights situation.

Before the high-level meeting, we once again call on the president and government of Turkmenistan (to):

1. Respond to a request by the tens of thousands of people in the world to release Turkmen political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. Start a serious investigation into the death in prison in September 2006, journalist of Radio Liberty Ogulsapar Muradova. 2. Start a nationwide process to provide legal protection, compensation and rehabilitation for victims of unfair treatment Niyazov. 3. Give the freedom of movement and activities of the opposition, activists, as well as their relatives and friends. 4. Provide independent NGOs to operate without interference from the state, as well as Turkmen NGO, registered abroad, to work within Turkmenistan . 5. To provide an independent media to carry out their activities in the country.

We appeal on you, dear president Vaclav Klaus and on Turkmenistan’s international partners, in particular European Union member states and the United States, to advance our recommendations as part of their dialogues with Ashgabad and overall to press the Turkmen leadership for concrete human rights improvements.

Tadzhigul Begmedova, Chair of THF http://www.amnesty.cz/zpravy/Mluvte-o-lidskych-pravech-vyzvali-pribuzni-turkmenskych-politickych-veznu/