Turkmenistan
On June 25, 2025, Human Rights Watch reported that Turkmenistan's authorities have brought new charges against imprisoned activist Murad Dushemov, who was due for release on June 14, 2025. Dushemov, initially jailed in 2021 for criticizing government policies, now faces additional allegations, raising concerns about the use of the justice system to suppress dissent.
In 2021, Dushemov published videos criticizing the Turkmen government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and demanded access to accurate information. Following his activism, he was sentenced to a four-year prison term on charges of extortion and intentional infliction of moderate bodily harm, which many human rights organizations consider to be politically motivated.
Shortly before his scheduled release, authorities transferred Dushemov to a pretrial detention facility, alleging that he assaulted another inmate. Human Rights Watch and other organizations have expressed skepticism about these charges, suggesting they may be fabricated to extend his imprisonment and further silence dissent.
Human Rights Watch has called on Turkmen authorities to immediately release Dushemov and drop all new charges against him. The organization emphasizes the need for Turkmenistan to respect freedom of expression and to cease using the judicial system to punish peaceful activism.
