Environmental Activist Arrested in Turkmenistan
Rushed Trial Sends Environmentalist to Prison for Five Years
Nov 12, 2009
Over the past fifty years, environmental activism has evolved from a few controversial and outspoken citizens into a growing cultural movement. Environmentalists, once thought of as alarmists and tree-hugging hippies, are now often respected and, most importantly, listened to. Unfortunately many governments around the world still see a greater threat from the environmental activist than their own contaminated water. On October 20th of this year (2009), the Turkmenistan government demonstrated this sentiment by arresting biologist and environmental activist Andrey Zatoka.
The well known Zatoka was attacked in a marketplace in the Turkmenistan city of Dashoguz. The assailant, a suspected drug addict, suddenly assaulted the fifty-three year old Zatoka. Police immediately intervened and arrested Zatoka on charges of assault. Witnesses of his arrest, Zatoka’s colleagues and the environmental and human rights community state that Zatoka’s arrest was not for any illegal activity, but for his environmental and civic activism.
The Trial and Sentencing of Zatoka
Just nine days after his arrest, Zatoka was tried and sentenced to five years in prison. According to the November 3, 2009 Frontline website article “Turkmenistan - Update - Human Rights Defender Mr Andrey Zatoka Sentenced to Five Years in Prison,” Zatoka’s trial did not follow fair trial provisions and was rushed in order to prevent foreign intervention. The evidence presented against Zatoka bore obvious manipulation. Those that testified against Zatoka did not witness the onset of the assault and their written statements showed multiple sets of handwriting.
This is not the first time that the Turkmenistan government has targeted and imprisoned Zatoka. In December 2006, he was detained on charges of vandalism. He was pardoned in September 2007, after the Turkmenistan government received heavy pressure from Russia, where Zatoka shares dual citizenship, and over 280 civic organizations across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. However, Zatoka has not been allowed to leave the country since he was detained and has been unable to visit with his wife and children who currently reside in Russia.
Zatoka’s Environmental Activism
According to Vera Ponomareva in her January 2007 article “Russian Environmentalist Held in Custody in Turkmenistan” for the Bellona Foundation, Zatoka has been a prominent leader in promoting environmental change in former Soviet regions. Additionally, he is a founder of the Dashhowuz Environmental Club and is the co-chairman of the Socio-Ecological Union. He also worked at the Kaplankyr State Park for ten years.
Turkmenistan’s Environmental Issues
According to “Turkmenistan - A Country Study,” for the Country Data website, Turkmenistan faces many serious environmental issues. Since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Turkmenistan’s leaders have taken some steps to improve environmental problems. However, parts of the country face an unsanitary and contaminated water supply. This has caused serious illness and high infant mortality. There is also the problem of widespread desertification, loss of wildlife and biological diversity, and pollution. Chemical pollution has been caused, in part, by improper use of chemical fertilizers for cotton farming.
It is clear that Zatoka's work was important and necessary. The Turkmenistan government’s actions to pressure environmental activists into silence will only prolong the nation's health and environmental problems.
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