The following is based on a communication written by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and other UN experts to the Government of Turkmenistan on 7 March 2025. The communication remained confidential for 60 days before being made public, giving the Government time to reply. Regrettably, the Government did not reply within this timeframe. If a reply is received it will be posted on the UN Special Procedures communications database.
Since the communication was sent, no investigation has allegedly been undertaken.
This is a shorter version of the original communication.
BACKGROUND
Topics: the alleged attempts to poison Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova and her children, the involuntary hospitalisation of both her and Ms. Maya Achilova that prevented their travel to Geneva for the Martin Ennals Award ceremony, and Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova’s ongoing harassment, which includes alleged surveillance, alleged monitoring of her online communications and calls, alleged failure to provide alternative housing or financial support after the demolition of her house, and alleged lack of an effective investigation into the attacks on her son’s car.
Ms. Gurbansoltan (Soltan) Achilova is an independent journalist and woman human rights defender. She has been reporting on social and political life of Turkmenistan since 2007, with a focus on persons in poverty and socioeconomic vulnerability. In 2021, she became a Martin Ennals Award finalist in recognition of her contribution to the defence of human rights.
Ms. Maya Achilova is Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova’s daughter.
We previously wrote to the Government of Turkmenistanon 19 June 2020 (AL TKM 1/2020) regarding the retaliation against Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova’s independent journalistic work, in the form of repeated assault, harassment, arbitrary detention, threats and theft, as well as the refusal to compensate her for the demolition of her house or provide her with alternative accommodation. We regret not receiving a reply to communication AL TKM 1/2020.
We also wrote to the Government of Turkmenistan on 11 January 2024 (AL TKM 1/2023) regarding the customs authorities’ prevention of Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova and Ms. Maya Achilova from travelling through Ashgabat airport to Geneva, Switzerland, to participate in an event in the context of the Geneva Human Rights week and to engage with representatives of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. We acknowledge the reply from the Government dated 26 February 2024 and particularly the assurances that they will be able to leave the country without hindrance, and we are gravely concerned given the allegations below.
ALLEGATIONS
In the morning of 20 November 2024, Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova was scheduled to travel to Geneva for the Martin Ennals Award ceremony, accompanied by Ms. Maya Achilova, as she is 75 years old and requires assistance.
Poisoning attempts
Between 10 and 16 November, unknown individuals allegedly distributed food sadaqah (an Islamic charitable tradition), including juice, which Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova allegedly accepted but set aside. Around the same time, a man allegedly visited her, seeking help with publicising violations of his rights and later offering juice, which she also allegedly put aside. On 18 November, the same man allegedly returned with approximately five samosas as a thank-you gift. Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova allegedly placed them on the table for a guest who was visiting at the time. The guest allegedly ate one samosa and, within 15 minutes, allegedly experienced severe symptoms, including fainting, loss of speech, and facial distortion, requiring urgent intensive care.
Upon inspecting the juice she had set aside from the unknown individuals and the man, Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova allegedly found that all five packs had been punctured, with at least one containing an oily substance and four – an unusual sediment.
The poisoning attempts were allegedly targeted at Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova, her son who lives with her and Ms. Maya Achilova who usually visits daily, in retaliation for Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova’s work and to prevent her from travelling to Geneva.
Involuntary hospitalisation and home “disinfection”
In the morning on 20 November 2024, the phones of Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova and several family members were allegedly disabled.
At 6.30 a.m., as Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova was preparing to leave for the airport, several ambulance cars arrived. Four individuals in doctor’s uniforms allegedly claimed she had a suspected infectious disease and needed urgent hospitalisation. They allegedly twisted her arms, leaving a bruise, and forced her into the ambulance. She was allegedly not allowed to call her relatives or take her mobile phone. They also allegedly confiscated her apartment keys, commenting, “Why do you need a key in the other world?” Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova was taken to an infectious disease hospital, where she was allegedly told her hospitalisation was linked to her guest’s health condition and the need to examine those in contact with the guest.
At around 6.15 a.m., Ms. Maya Achilova and her husband, who was meant to drive them to the airport, allegedly set off. As soon as they reached the main road, a traffic patrol allegedly stopped them and began delaying them with a series of checks – documents, alcohol testing, and checking whether the car had been involved in any recent offences. Ms. Achilova allegedly tried to call her mother, but both her phone and her husband’s had allegedly been disabled. She then allegedly attempted to take a taxi, but the officer allegedly ordered drivers to move on. Deciding to walk, she was allegedly followed by an inspector who allegedly tried to stop her, despite her not being the driver under scrutiny. Then, another patrol car allegedly arrived, and an inspector allegedly joined the one who was already following her. Eventually, they allegedly left, allowing her to take a taxi. By the time she arrived, her mother had already allegedly been taken to hospital, and two men – one in plain clothes and the other in a doctor’s uniform – were allegedly attempting to unlock the door using the confiscated key. After she allegedly asked them what they were doing and requested the return of the key, they allegedly quickly left.
Around 8 a.m., Ms. Maya Achilova and her husband were allegedly forcibly hospitalised near Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova’s home. Three security service officials were allegedly present and helped the paramedic to force Ms. Achilova and her husband into the ambulance. Ms. Achilova allegedly fell to the floor of the ambulance after being shoved. One of the officials allegedly accompanied them to the hospital.
The key to Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova’s apartment was allegedly returned to her around 9 p.m. that day. The same evening, Ms. Maya Achilova’s phone allegedly started working again.
Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova, Ms. Maya Achilova, and Ms. Maya Achilova’s husband were involuntarily hospitalised for six days, until the human rights event had concluded. For the first three days of their hospitalisation, they were allegedly not provided with food, water, soap, towels, or toilet paper. According to Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova’s and Ms. Maya Achilova’s medical documents, they were not diagnosed with any infectious disease. Ms. Maya Achilova’s husband and Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova’s guest were also allegedly not diagnosed with any infection.
On 25 November 2024, shortly before their release – when it should have already been clear that there was no infection – Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova’s apartment was allegedly “disinfected,” leaving it in disarray. The guest’s home was also allegedly “disinfected.”
Ongoing harassment
Surveillance of Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova, along with monitoring of her online communication and phone conversations, allegedly continues. There has also allegedly been no effective investigation into the incidents on 11 April 2017 and 26 September 2024, when the windows of her son’s car were smashed, despite her alleged reports to the police and provision of video evidence. Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova has allegedly still not received alternative housing or financial support following the demolition of her home in 2006.
CONCERNS
In the communication, we express our grave concern regarding the reported attempts to poison Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova and her children.
We also remain deeply concerned that, despite the Government’s assurances, Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova and Ms. Maya Achilova remain unable to travel. Their forced hospitalisation on the day of their planned departure strongly suggests a deliberate attempt to prevent them from attending the Martin Ennals Award ceremony.
We are further concerned by reports of excessive force used against Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova and Ms. Maya Achilova during their hospitalisation and by the allegations that they were not provided with food, water, and basic sanitary necessities for three days. Additionally, we are seriously concerned about the alleged “disinfection” of Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova’s home in her absence, which could have been aimed at accessing confidential journalistic information.
We remain concerned with allegations of persistent harassment Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova endures, including surveillance, monitoring of her online communications and calls, the non-provision of alternative housing and financial support following the demolition of her home, and the failure to conduct an effective investigation into attacks on her son’s car.
We are greatly concerned that the poisoning attempts, as well as the travel ban and other measures imposed against Ms. Achilova, including the pattern of repeated harassment and intimidation, already addressed in our previous communications, appears to be a direct act of retaliation for her journalistic and human rights work.
Beyond these serious concerns, we once again emphasise the chilling effect such actions have on all those who seek to exercise their right to free expression and engage in legitimate human rights work.
We call on the Government of Turkmenistan to immediately end all acts of reprisal and intimidation against human rights defenders, to guarantee the safety of Ms. Gurbansoltan Achilova and her family, and to allow her to travel freely and safely in order to fulfil her legitimate commitments and activities as a human rights defender, accompanied by Ms. Maya Achilova or another person of her choosing as necessary. Furthermore, we call for an immediate, thorough, and impartial investigation into the allegations outlined above and accountability for those responsible.
