Andrei Zatoka sentenced to five years in prison!

Environmental activist Andrei Zatoka has just been sentenced to five years in Prison!  He was set up by the Turkmen authorities  in the Dashoguz Bazaar, where he was attacked by an unknown man and arrested when went to two police officers for help.

For more information on his arrest and the situation as a whole check out Crude Accountability, Human rights Watch, and Ferghana.ru.

Here is a letter written by Andrei Zatoka in the case that he should be arrested, where he recounts the constant harassment he has been under from the Turkmen authorities for the past two years.

Check out Amnesty International for how to help! Also, please sign international petition for his release

Here are some photos from the demonstrations to free Andrei:

From Washington, D.C. in Front of the Turmenistan Embassy

From Moscow, in front of the Turkmenistan Embassy

 

How to help Andrei!

Here is a way you can help Andrei Zatoka:

1. Read the following urgent action just released by Amnesty International.

2. Send a letter or fax to the President of Turkmenistan and/or the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Here a sample letter you can copy and paste on to a word document and the address and fax of the President of Turkmenistan and/or the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Dear _________,

I am very concerned about the safety and health of Andrei Zatoka. He has been a commited ecologist and community servant for Turkmenistan. I am especially concerned at allegations that Andrei Zatoka was targeted for arrest because of his peaceful work as an environmental activist.  Mr. Zatoka is a prisoner of conscience and should be released because Turkmenistan is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

We would like to see him released as soon as possible.

Thank you,

President of Turkmenistan
Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov
Presidential Palace
744000 Ashgabat
Turkmenistan
Fax: +993 12 35 51 12
Salutation: Dear President of Turkmenistan

Minister of Foreign Affairs
Rashit Meredov
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
83 pr. Magtymguly
744000 Ashgabat
Turkmenistan
Fax: +993 12 35 42 41
Email: 	mfatm@online.tm
Salutation: Dear Minister

Vigil For Andrei in Washington, D.C

There was a vigil/protest in Washington, D.C. in front of the Turkmenistan Embassy. About twenty people attended according to one participant. There was no response from the Turkmenistan Embassy, besides one man looking out the window.

The protest was organized by Crude Accountability. There may be more protest to come.

Protest Planned for Andrei

There are plans for a protest in Washington, D.C and possibly Moscow near the Turkmenistan Embassies. Crude Accountability is organizing the protest. I will write more as soon as I get more information.

Organizations Involved in Helping Andrei

Here are a list of organization that are helping with the release of Andrei Zatoka.
This list is put together by Crude Accountability

Organizations that are helping out and possible good news

Check out the following organizations that are helping with the release of Andrei Zatoka.

-The World Movement for Democracy - there letter to the Turkmen acting president is here, it is also on this blog on comments for Talk with State Department and Turkmenistan Embassy. Thank you Cate Urban

- International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

News- I have heard from a unidentified source in Turkmenistan the Andrei is doing ok, he has not been tortured and is in good health. This source also told me on Janurary 1st that he would be released on the 2nd of Janurary. We are still waiting. Keep the letters coming, to the Turkmenistan Embassy and acting President.

Thank you for all you do!