Urgent Action Needed!

Here is a letter from Kate Watters from Crude Accountability

Dear friends,

We have just learned that Andrey Zatoka’s (imprisoned environmentalist
in Turkmenistan) trial is likely to be this Saturday, January 20th.

I am writing to ask you to please send letters (model below) to the US
Embassy in Ashgabat, and to the OSCE representative in Ashagabat,
asking
them to send a representative to the trial to ensure that Andrey
Zatoka’s human rights are protected, and to ensure that he is given a
fair trial.

Thank you for taking the time to write–Andrey has been charged with
illegal weapons possession and illegal possession of a dangerous
substance–charges that could lead to his imprisonment for up to eight
years.  He has been targeted because of his environmental work.

I apologize for the short notice,  but we only received this
information
today.

Sincerely,
Kate

Address the letters to:

Dr. Dieter Matthei
Political Officer
OSCE Centre in Ashgabad
Turkmenbashy Shayoly, 15
744005 Ashgabad
Turkmenistan
FAX: +993-12-35-30-41
EMAIL: dieter.matthei@osce.org

Ms. Jennifer L. Brush
Charge d’Affaires a.i.
Deputy Chief of Mission
US Embassy
9 1984 Street
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 744000
Fax: + 993-12-39-26-14
Email: brushjl@state.gov

Suggested letter text:

I am writing you with regard to Mr. Andrey Zatoka, a renowned
environmentalist who was detained in Tashauz on December 17, 2006 and
is
still being held by the authorities without access to a lawyer or to
his
family. He has been charged with illegal weapons possession and illegal
possession of a dangerous substance.  The combined maximum sentence for
these charges is eight years in prison.  We believe that these charges
are a mistake and that Mr. Zatoka has been targeted for his
environmental activity.

I am writing to respectfully request that the OSCE/US Embassy send a
representative to Andrey Zatoka’s upcoming trial.  As you know, the
presence of an international witness at the trial will be extremely
important, and may have a profound impact on Mr. Zatoka’s fate and
welfare.  I ask that the OSCE/US Embassy representative request to
speak
with Mr. Zatoka and to his lawyer, and to observe whether he has been
treated properly, his human rights protected, and that he has been
provided with a proper defense in this case.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

*******************************************
Kate Watters
Executive Director
Crude Accountability
P.O. Box 2345
Alexandria, VA 22301
Tel/Fax: 703-299-0854
Email: kate@crudeaccountability.org
Web:  http://www.crudeaccountability.org

Who I am

My name is Derek Wood and I am a returned Peace Corps Volunteer from Turkmenistan, 2002-2004.  I worked in the Dashoguz Veleyat in the city of Konye-Urgench.  Currently I am a middle school teacher in Minneapolis, Minnesota.