Radio Liberty Correspondent Arrested in Turkmenistan

Local police has arrested Radio Liberty Turkmenistan Service correspondent Rovshan Yazmuhamedov.  As the journalist’s mother Farcha Yazmuhamedova told Radio Liberty, her son did not return home after noon 6 May.  Later a Prosecutor called me and I met with Rovshan, but police did not make any clarification about his arrest.

Rovshan Yazmuhamedov, 30, who has been working for Radio Liberty since September 2012, was detained in Turkmenabat city of Turkmenistan Monday.  Journalist’s friends say that Rovshan Yazmuhamedov has previously been interrogated by intelligence representatives several times before and police even organized surveillance at his house.  Turkmenistan is believed to be among the most closed countries of the world.  All media outlets are controlled by the State and receiving of information from outside is a big problem.

www.media.ge