Russia
07.08.03
Urgent Interventions
Russia: exiled Turkmen opposition leader Mr. Avdy Kuliev has been brutally beaten in Moscow
Case RUS 070803
Violation of personal integrity / Death threats
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in the Russian Federation.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by a Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights, a member of the OMCT network, and the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights that the exiled Turkmen opposition leader Mr. Avdy Kuliev has been brutally beaten in Moscow in the Russian Federation.
According to the information received, Mr. Avdy Kuliev, a former Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan who, while in exile in Moscow founded the United Democratic Opposition of Turkmenistan, was brutally beaten near his home on the outskirts of Moscow, on the afternoon of August 6th, 2003 by a young man who waited for him there.
Kuliev, who is 67 years old, told the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights that he believes the attack was ordered by agents of the Turkmen government. Three months ago, Kuliev was publicly threatened by President Niazov who said "Everybody is sick of Kuliev, it is time to send him to another world."
Kuliev reportedly added that he preferred not to go to a hospital for fear of further attacks.
The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned for Mr. Avdy Kuliev's physical and psychological integrity, notably because of the death threats that have been proffered against him by the Turkmen President. OMCT therefore calls upon the Russian authorities to guarantee his integrity at all times, to launch an investigation into this attack, in order to identify the perpetrators of these acts, and to bring them to justice.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in the Russian Federation urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to guarantee Mr. Avdy Kuliev's physical and psychological integrity;
ii. intervene with the proper authorities to ensure that he is provided with adequate medical assistance as a matter of urgency;
iii. guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of these events, in order to identify those responsible, bring them before a competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
iv. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses
· Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russian Federation, Kremlin, Moscow, Russia, Faxes:+ 7 095 206 8510, Email: president@gov.ru
· Procurator General of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Ustinov, Rossiyskaya Federatsiya, 103793 g. Moskva K-31, Ul. B. Dimitrovka, d 15a, Prokuratura Rossiyskoy Federatsii, Generalnomu prokuroru Ustinovu V., Russian Federation, Fax: + 7 095 292 88 48
· Chairwoman of the Presidential Human Rights Commission of the Russian Federation, Ella Pamfilova, Rossiyskaya Federatsiya, 103132 g. Moskva, Staraya ploshchad, d 8/5,pod 3,Predsedatele Komissii po pravam cheloveka pri Prezidente, Pamfilove, Elle., Russian Federation, Fax: + 7 0952064855
· Nikolai Patrushev, Director General of the Federal Security Service, Bolshaia Lubianka 1/3, Moscow, Russia, Fax: + 7 095 975 2470
· Minister of Internal Affairs, Boris Gryzlov, ul. Zhitnaya, 16, 117049 Moscow, Russian Federation, Fax: + 7 095 237 49 25
· Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igor Ivanov, Smolenskaya-Sennaya pl, 32/34, 121200 Moscow, Russian Federation, Fax: + 7 095 244 2203
· Ambassadeor Leonid Skotnikov, Av. de la Paix 15, CH-1211, Genève 20, Suisse, e-mail : mission.russian@ties.itu.int, fax: + 4122 734 40 44
Please also write to the embassies of the Russian Federation in your respective country.
Geneva, August 7th, 2003
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
Violation of personal integrity / Death threats
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in the Russian Federation.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by a Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights, a member of the OMCT network, and the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights that the exiled Turkmen opposition leader Mr. Avdy Kuliev has been brutally beaten in Moscow in the Russian Federation.
According to the information received, Mr. Avdy Kuliev, a former Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan who, while in exile in Moscow founded the United Democratic Opposition of Turkmenistan, was brutally beaten near his home on the outskirts of Moscow, on the afternoon of August 6th, 2003 by a young man who waited for him there.
Kuliev, who is 67 years old, told the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights that he believes the attack was ordered by agents of the Turkmen government. Three months ago, Kuliev was publicly threatened by President Niazov who said "Everybody is sick of Kuliev, it is time to send him to another world."
Kuliev reportedly added that he preferred not to go to a hospital for fear of further attacks.
The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned for Mr. Avdy Kuliev's physical and psychological integrity, notably because of the death threats that have been proffered against him by the Turkmen President. OMCT therefore calls upon the Russian authorities to guarantee his integrity at all times, to launch an investigation into this attack, in order to identify the perpetrators of these acts, and to bring them to justice.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in the Russian Federation urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to guarantee Mr. Avdy Kuliev's physical and psychological integrity;
ii. intervene with the proper authorities to ensure that he is provided with adequate medical assistance as a matter of urgency;
iii. guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of these events, in order to identify those responsible, bring them before a competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
iv. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses
· Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russian Federation, Kremlin, Moscow, Russia, Faxes:+ 7 095 206 8510, Email: president@gov.ru
· Procurator General of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Ustinov, Rossiyskaya Federatsiya, 103793 g. Moskva K-31, Ul. B. Dimitrovka, d 15a, Prokuratura Rossiyskoy Federatsii, Generalnomu prokuroru Ustinovu V., Russian Federation, Fax: + 7 095 292 88 48
· Chairwoman of the Presidential Human Rights Commission of the Russian Federation, Ella Pamfilova, Rossiyskaya Federatsiya, 103132 g. Moskva, Staraya ploshchad, d 8/5,pod 3,Predsedatele Komissii po pravam cheloveka pri Prezidente, Pamfilove, Elle., Russian Federation, Fax: + 7 0952064855
· Nikolai Patrushev, Director General of the Federal Security Service, Bolshaia Lubianka 1/3, Moscow, Russia, Fax: + 7 095 975 2470
· Minister of Internal Affairs, Boris Gryzlov, ul. Zhitnaya, 16, 117049 Moscow, Russian Federation, Fax: + 7 095 237 49 25
· Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igor Ivanov, Smolenskaya-Sennaya pl, 32/34, 121200 Moscow, Russian Federation, Fax: + 7 095 244 2203
· Ambassadeor Leonid Skotnikov, Av. de la Paix 15, CH-1211, Genève 20, Suisse, e-mail : mission.russian@ties.itu.int, fax: + 4122 734 40 44
Please also write to the embassies of the Russian Federation in your respective country.
Geneva, August 7th, 2003
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.