Omruzak Omarkuliev (born 1994) is a citizen of Turkmenistan and civic activist who was sentenced to 20 years "deprivation of liberty." [1] Omarkuliev's current status is not known as he has been allowed no visitors and the Turkmen authorities will not release his location. [1]
Omarkuliev was a second year university student in Turkey when he founded a society of "compatriot students." [2] The Turkmen Embassy in Turkey told Omarkuliev they were interested in supporting his organization, and invited Omarkuliev to return home and attend an event held by Turkmenistan's Central Election Commission. [1]
Omarkuliev returned to Turkmenistan for the event, but when he tried to return to his university in February 2018, he found he was under a travel ban and could not board his flight. [3]
RFE/RL and the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights reported that Omarkuliev was sentenced to 20 years in prison on unknown charges after a closed-door trial. [4] RFE/RL reported in September 2018 that Omarkuliev appeared in a video, which the authorities claimed was evidence that Omarkuliev was serving his two-year military service and had not actually been arrested. [4] The truth of this is suspect, and journalists have claimed that it is more likely he is being held in Ovadan-Depe prison. [5] The conditions in this prison are notoriously inhumane. [6]
The international human rights organization Freedom Now and the law firm Hogan Lovells has filed a petition on behalf of Omarkuliev to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. [7] In December 2021, Freedom Now also included his detention on a list of issues to be considered for Turkmenistan's periodic review for the UN Human Rights Council. [8]
The U.S. Department of State mentioned Omarkuliev's case in its 2020 country report on human rights practices in Turkmenistan. [4] In June 2020, a bipartisan group of senators wrote a letter to the president of Turkmenistan, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, requesting the release of political prisoners. [9]
The European Union, the United Nations, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have also been demanding to know his whereabouts. [5]
Eleven United States Senators wrote a letter calling for his immediate release in June 2020. [10]
Omruzak Omarkuliev (born 1994) is a citizen of Turkmenistan and civic activist who was sentenced to 20 years "deprivation of liberty." [1] Omarkuliev's current status is not known as he has been allowed no visitors and the Turkmen authorities will not release his location. [1]
Omarkuliev was a second year university student in Turkey when he founded a society of "compatriot students." [2] The Turkmen Embassy in Turkey told Omarkuliev they were interested in supporting his organization, and invited Omarkuliev to return home and attend an event held by Turkmenistan's Central Election Commission. [1]
Omarkuliev returned to Turkmenistan for the event, but when he tried to return to his university in February 2018, he found he was under a travel ban and could not board his flight. [3]
RFE/RL and the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights reported that Omarkuliev was sentenced to 20 years in prison on unknown charges after a closed-door trial. [4] RFE/RL reported in September 2018 that Omarkuliev appeared in a video, which the authorities claimed was evidence that Omarkuliev was serving his two-year military service and had not actually been arrested. [4] The truth of this is suspect, and journalists have claimed that it is more likely he is being held in Ovadan-Depe prison. [5] The conditions in this prison are notoriously inhumane. [6]
The international human rights organization Freedom Now and the law firm Hogan Lovells has filed a petition on behalf of Omarkuliev to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. [7] In December 2021, Freedom Now also included his detention on a list of issues to be considered for Turkmenistan's periodic review for the UN Human Rights Council. [8]
The U.S. Department of State mentioned Omarkuliev's case in its 2020 country report on human rights practices in Turkmenistan. [4] In June 2020, a bipartisan group of senators wrote a letter to the president of Turkmenistan, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, requesting the release of political prisoners. [9]
The European Union, the United Nations, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have also been demanding to know his whereabouts. [5]
Eleven United States Senators wrote a letter calling for his immediate release in June 2020. [10]