Turkmen Activist Murat Dushemov Remains Imprisoned on New Charges After Serving Full Sentence

Turkmenabat, Turkmenistan – Civil activist and political prisoner Murat Dushemov has not been released after completing his four-year prison sentence, which expired on June 14. Instead, he remains in custody, facing new, seemingly fabricated charges, with his family being denied visits and kept in the dark about his legal proceedings, according to reports from Turkmen.news.

Dushemov was initially convicted on August 16, 2021, and sentenced to four years in a general-regime penal colony on charges of extortion and intentional infliction of medium-severity bodily harm. Human rights defenders have consistently maintained that the case against him was fabricated, a retaliation for his active civic stance and efforts to defend his rights. His persecution by authorities dates back to June 2020, when he was detained for publishing a YouTube video expressing his views on the Turkmen opposition abroad and the government. He was later fined in June 2021 for inquiring about mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations and subsequently detained in July 2021 at a police checkpoint, leading to the original criminal charges after an alleged provocation in his cell. The extortion charge stemmed from a hospital doctor's claim that Dushemov extorted money to prevent the spread of a video recorded at the hospital.

New Charges and Continued Detention

Despite his scheduled release on June 14, Dushemov was secretly transferred from the Seydi penal colony to a pre-trial detention center (SISO LB-D/9, also known as Abdyshukur prison) in Turkmenabat on June 10. This transfer reportedly occurred in violation of criminal procedural code procedures and without his family's knowledge. He now faces new accusations that, shortly before his release, an inmate claimed Dushemov broke his arm during an alleged fight.

The investigation into this alleged assault has now stretched into its second month, a duration deemed disproportionate to the "simplicity" of such a case. For comparison, the investigation and trial of former Minister of Internal Affairs Isgender Mulikov, which involved examining crimes over a decade, took a mere 19 days.

Family Denied Access and Information

Murat Dushemov's mother, Tyazegul Mammedova, and his younger son, Alty, have made repeated attempts to see him and deliver essential items, but have been consistently denied access. On June 20, Turkmen.news reported her initial visit attempt was refused. On June 30, Tyazegul Mammedova again traveled to Turkmenabat, enduring hours of waiting and a thorough search—including being forced to remove a special medical belt despite her medical condition—only to be told by an administrator that visits were "not permitted by law." Her attempts to deliver a package, even a crossword puzzle, were also refused, with officials claiming Dushemov had everything he needed.

The family has been kept entirely in the dark regarding the new case: its nature, who is leading the investigation, whether it has been referred to court, or who has been appointed as his lawyer. Security forces have reportedly tried to ascertain how the family even learned about the new charges, suggesting an intent for a secret trial. Dushemov's lawyer has also avoided meeting the family in person, advising them to return home to Ashgabat and promising to call when a court date is set. This lack of transparency has led the family to fear they will only learn about the hearing at the last moment, making it impossible to attend.

International Concern and Call for Release

International organizations, including Amnesty International, consider Murat Dushemov a prisoner of conscience. An April report from Amnesty International highlighted that both Dushemov and human rights defender Mansur Mingelov continue to serve long sentences in Turkmenistan on politically motivated charges for their work exposing human rights violations.

Ruslan Myatiyev, editor of Turkmen.news, views Dushemov's continued detention as an arbitrary act and an act of revenge by the special services for his persistent defense of his rights, even while incarcerated. Myatiyev stated that accusations of Dushemov starting a fight are "implausible," given the activist's careful conduct while awaiting release. Human rights organizations and representatives of the European Union were informed of Dushemov's situation during a human rights dialogue with Turkmen officials on June 17.

The editorial board of Turkmen.news insists that the case against Murat Dushemov is fabricated and that he should be immediately released. They warn that a new unlawful sentence for the activist will severely tarnish Turkmenistan's international image and personally impact the reputation of President Serdar Berdymukhamedov. As of July 14, exactly one month after his expected release, the investigation against Murat Dushemov continues.