Turkmen activist's candidacy for parliament rejected
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 5 December 2008 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Turkmen activist's candidacy for parliament rejected, 5 December 2008, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/49422e6519.html [accessed 7 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
December 05, 2008
Sazak Durdymuradov
Another Turkmen activist has had his candidacy to run for parliament rejected by Turkmen officials.
Sazak Durdymuradov told RFE/RL's Turkmen Service that he was rejected as a candidate in the Bakharden district in the December 14 elections, even though 23 people joined an initiative group to support his candidacy. The election law requires only 10 people.
Durdymuradov's rejection comes one week after Turkmen dissident Gurbandurdy Durdykuliev's candidacy was rejected.
Durdymuradov, 59, said he has recently received death threats against himself and his children. He adds that there has been no campaigning in his district ahead of the December 14 elections.
Durdymuradov worked as a reporter for RFE/RL until he was seized at home by Turkmen secret police on June 20 and taken to a psychiatric clinic.
He was forced to sign a letter agreeing not to work as a journalist before being released in early July.
