OSCE Representative welcomes release of journalist in Turkmenistan

VIENNA, 22 February 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed the recent release of Khudayberdy Allashov, a contributor to Azatlyk, the Turkmen Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

“I am pleased that Allashov and his mother have been released from custody,” Mijatović said. “I hope that criminal charges against him will be dropped soon.”

In early December 2016 Allashov and his mother were detained on charges of possessing chewing tobacco and on 15 February the pair was sentenced to three years on parole. The Representative was in touch with the authorities on several occasions about his case and issued a public statement calling his release on 6 December (see: //www.osce.org/fom/286531).

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.