Amnesty International: Croatian authorities must release Pussy Riot activist News
© WikiMedia (Igor Mukhin)
Amnesty International: Croatian authorities must release Pussy Riot activist

Amnesty International Wednesday urged Croatian authorities to release Turkmenistan-born Russian activist Aysoltan Niyazova because she faces a “great risk of suffering serious abuse, including torture and other ill-treatment, should she be extradited to Turkmenistan.’

Niyazov is a member of Pussy Riot, a Russian performance and protest group. Niyazov traveled to Croatia this week to participate in the anti-war Riot Days tour and was arrested in Zagreb based on an Interpol red notice issued by Turkmenistan in 2002. The notice stated that Niyazov is wanted on charges of alleged embezzlement of funds ($40 Million) belonging to the country’s central bank. 

Niyazova dismissed the accusations as fabricated and politically motivated. Niyazova’s father joined an Turkmenistani opposition political group, was arrested and died in prison.

Julia Hall, Amenesty International’s Deputy Director for Europe, commented:

Turkmenistan is not a safe country for [Niyazova] or any human rights defender. Interpol warrants have been notoriously abused by a number of authoritarian regimes and countries with appalling human rights records to try to silence activists and those who speak out about human rights violations. Croatia should not be complicit in such practices. International law requires Croatia not to return or extradite any person to a country where they would face a risk of serious human rights violations. The authorities in Zagreb must refuse Turkmenistan’s request for Aysoltan Niyazov’s extradition and immediately release her from detention.

A Croatian court is expected to adjudicate Niyazova’s possible extradition.

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