Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights
Encyclopedia
The Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights is a non-governmental organization, based in Bulgaria
, for the promotion of human rights
in Turkmenistan
. The organization was founded on July 21, 2003 in Varna, Bulgaria as a branch of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
.
In 2006, THF activists Annakurban Amanklychev
and Sapardurdy Khadzhiev
were arrested by Turkmenistani security forces on espionage charges, later changed to illegal firearm charges. Amnesty International
considers them prisoners of conscience
and named them a 2011 "priority case." Front Line
, Reporters Without Borders
, and Human Rights Watch
have all described the charges as fabricated. On 11 December 2010, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
also called for their immediate release, stating that their detention was a violation of international law.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, for the promotion of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
. The organization was founded on July 21, 2003 in Varna, Bulgaria as a branch of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights was a self-governing group of non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations that act to protect human rights throughout Europe, North America and Central Asia...
.
In 2006, THF activists Annakurban Amanklychev
Annakurban Amanklychev
Annakurban Amanklychev is a Turkmenistani human rights activist currently serving a prison sentence in Turkmenbashi. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience and named him a 2011 "priority case".-Arrest and trial:...
and Sapardurdy Khadzhiev
Sapardurdy Khadzhiev
Sapardurdy Khadzhiev is a Turkmenistani human rights activist currently serving a prison sentence in Turkmenbashi. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience and named him a 2011 "priority case".-Arrest and trial:...
were arrested by Turkmenistani security forces on espionage charges, later changed to illegal firearm charges. Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
considers them prisoners of conscience
Prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience is a term defined in Peter Benenson's 1961 article "The Forgotten Prisoners" often used by the human rights group Amnesty International. It can refer to anyone imprisoned because of their race, religion, or political views...
and named them a 2011 "priority case." Front Line
Front Line (NGO)
Front Line or The International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders is an Irish-based human rights organisation founded in Dublin, Ireland in 2001 to protect human rights defenders at risk, i.e...
, Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
, and Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
have all described the charges as fabricated. On 11 December 2010, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is a UN-mandated body of independent human rights experts that investigates cases of arbitrary arrest and detention that may be in violation of international human rights law....
also called for their immediate release, stating that their detention was a violation of international law.