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TURKMENISTAN: Two more conscientious objectors sentenced to prison
War Resisters' International learned via Forum 18 News Service about two more conscientious objectors from Turkmenistan who presently serve prison sentences. Atamurat Suvkhanov (TKM14707), 18, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment in the north-eastern town of Dashoguz on 17 December 2004. Begench Shakhmuradov, 26, was sentenced around 10 February in the Azatlyk district of the capital Ashgabad to one year's imprisonment. Both Suvkhanov and Shakhmuradov were sentenced under Article 219 of the Criminal Code, which punishes refusal to serve in the Armed Forces. Presently, two more conscientious objectors serve prison terms, both were sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment in May and June 2004.
War Resisters' International calls for protest letters to the Turkment authorities, and Turkmen embassies abroad. Saparmurad Niyazov
President of Turkmenistan
Respublika Turkmenistan
744000 g. Ashgabat
Apparat Prezidenta
Prezidentu Turkmenistana
NIYAZOVU S.A.
TURKMENISTAN
fax +993-12-355112
A protest email can be sent to the Turkmen embassy in Washington at http://wri-irg.org/co/alerts/20050218a.html .
War Resisters' International calls for the immediate release of Atamurat Suvkhanov, Begench Shakhmuradov, and all other imprisoned conscientious objectors.
Andreas Speck
War Resisters' International
wri-irg.org