Saparmamed Nepeskuliev is a Turkmenistan freelance journalist who has contributed to Alternative Turkmenistan News, a human rights group based in The Netherlands, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.[1] Until July 2015, he worked in Turkmenistan reporting on "poverty, official privilege, failing infrastructure, and deficient schools"[2] when he was detained on July 7 at the Awaza resort by agents from the Turkmen National Security Ministry.
Saparmamed Nepeskuliev | |
|---|---|
 Saparmamed Nepeskuliev in 2016 | |
| Occupation | journalist |
| Known for | Detained for 34 months by Turkmenistan's government |
On 19 May 2018 Nepeskuliev was released from prison after having served a sentence on drug charges that human rights groups claim were fabricated in retaliation for his government critical reporting.[3]
Arrest details
editAccording to an interview with one of Nepeskuliev's former cellmates published on the Broadcasting Board of Governors website, the journalist was in Krasnovodsk to take pictures of the Awaza resort in Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan when he was framed for possession of an illegal drug. When he was out of his hotel taking pictures, he left his luggage at the hotel where Tramadol, a pain medication containing opioids, was placed inside of it. When Nepeskuliev returned to the hotel and tried to leave, he was met by two agents from the Turkmen National Security Ministry who arrested him.
According to the cellmate, such matters are usually the responsibility of the "Drugs Police" [sic], not the National Security Ministry.[4]
International reaction
editSince Saparmamed's arrest, several NGOs and governmental officials like Human Rights Watch,[5] Dunja Mijatović (the Representative on Freedom of the Media for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe),[6] the Committee to Protect Journalists,[7] John Lansing (the CEO and Director of the Broadcasting Board of Governors),[8] U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff,[9] and the United Nations[10] have called for his release.
On June 30, 2016, thirteen representatives of media and human rights organizations sent a letter to Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow (as well as other international officials like U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the Turkmen foreign minister Rashid Meredov) calling for Nepeskuliev's release.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Turkmenistan: Free Rights Activist Immediately". 2015-07-30. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
- ^ "RFE/RL Calls On Turkmenistan To Release Journalist". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 2016-06-22. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
- ^ "Turkmen Journalist Nepeskuliev Released After Serving Prison Sentence". rferl.org. 2018-05-26. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
- ^ "Saparmamed Nepeskuliev". BBG. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
- ^ "Turkmenistan: Free Rights Activist Immediately". 2015-07-30. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
- ^ "OSCE Representative calls for release of detained journalist in Turkmenistan | OSCE". osce.org. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
- ^ "Freelance reporter arrested in Turkmenistan - Committee to Protect Journalists". cpj.org. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
- ^ "CEO statement and video on World Press Freedom Day". BBG. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
- ^ "RFE/RL calls for Turkmen journalist's release". BBG. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
- ^ "UN Finds Nepeskuliev's Imprisonment Arbitrary, Calls For Release". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 2016-01-15. Retrieved 2016-07-13.