Human Rights and Democracy - Official Documents

Torture and other ill treatment
There remained no access for international bodies such as the International
Committee of the Red Cross to detention facilities in Turkmenistan, and it was
therefore difficult to ascertain an accurate picture of the treatment of prisoners.
However, there were reports pointing to the use of torture and inhumane practices in
prisons. Although the International Committee of the Red Cross continued to
cooperate with the government of Turkmenistan through assistance with
humanitarian law as well as in other areas, there was no progress on their access to
prisons in 2010, despite UK and EU efforts.
Prisons and detention issues
There is no independent monitoring of prisons and conditions remain poor. There
are reports that some prisoners have only limited access to basic food and
healthcare, and visits by family members remain extremely difficult. However, we
understand that the government is considering the construction of new prisons. We
are looking at how we might be able to support this process, for instance by putting
the government in touch with appropriate British companies. Our Embassy also
worked with the government on the reform of their penal code, in particular on
compliance with international human rights standards, including prison management
procedures. A new criminal procedural code was adopted in August which took into
account important elements of our advice. Our Embassy also funded a visit to the
UK in February by the deputy interior minister which focused on prison management,
reform and rehabilitation of offenders.
Human rights defenders
We remain concerned that no human rights defenders are able to operate in
Turkmenistan. On a number of occasions during 2010, the Turkmen authorities tried
to prevent those Turkmen human rights defenders based outside the country from
attending international human rights and civil society meetings held outside
Turkmenistan. There were also reports of the Turkmen authorities taking action
against human rights defenders based abroad by targeting the extended family still
living in Turkmenistan. This included preventing family members from securing jobs,
gaining access to schools and medical facilities, or from leaving the country. We
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