Annamuradov, Chary [Saryev, Oraz]
Who, Why and How exiled: Annamuradov worked as an independent journalist in Turkmenistan in the 1990s, under the pen name of ‘Oraz Saryev’ and as well as for Radio Liberty. He moved to Sweden when persecution forced him to flee in 1999 (Human Rights Watch, 2016). In 2008, Annamuradov stopped working as a journalist (Human Rights Watch, 2016).
Stage 1 details (accusations/ charges/ Interpol notice/ extradition requests): He was sentenced to 18 years in prison in Turkmenistan in 1997 on trumped-up charges, but was released under amnesty in 1999 (Human Rights Watch, 2016). When Annamuradov first fled to Russia, Turkmen security services repeatedly detained and threatened his wife and brother, who were still in Turkmenistan (Human Rights Watch, 2016). In addition, three of Annamuradov’s brothers died under suspicious circumstances within a year after he fled Turkmenistan in 1999 (RFERL, 2016).
Stage 2 details (arrest/ detention/ extradition): Belarusian border police arrested Annamuradov in July 2016, when he arrived at passport control at Minsk airport (Human Rights Watch, 2016). He was on holiday in Minsk with his daughter and the police held them both for four hours, before releasing his daughter and then arresting Annamuradov (Human Rights Watch, 2016). He stayed for two months in a pre-trial detention facility in Minsk at Turkmenistan's request for extradition, before being released (Chronicles of Turkmenistan, 2016).
Other actions during Stages 1–3 (dispossession/ overseas assets frozen/ intimidation/ action against associates/ …): When Annamuradov was in pre-trial detention in Minsk, his brother was killed in Turkmenistan by ‘unknown assailants’ (RFERL, 2016). Independent human rights activists think this was an act of retaliation against exiled activists, in particular Annamuradov (RFERL, 2016).
Legal status (refugee/ asylum seeker/ resident): Annamuradov has asylum status in Sweden (Human Rights Watch, 2016).
Current status: Residing in Sweden.
Press sources: Chronicles of Turkmenistan. (2016). Niyazov's Trap Worked 16 Years Later. Available: https://en.hronikatm.com/2016/08/niyazovs-trap-worked-16-years-later/. Last accessed 3rd April 2018. Human Rights Watch. (2016). Belarus: Turkmen Dissident Arrested. Available: https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/08/20/belarus-turkmen-dissident-arrested. Last accessed 3rd April 2018. Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty (RFERL). (2016). HRW Urges Investigation into Death of Turkmen Dissident Journalist's Brother. Available: https://www.rferl.org/a/turkmenistan-journalist-annamuradov-brothers-death-hrw/28061341.html. Last accessed 3rd April 2018.