Ovezberyev, Saparmurat
Who, Why and How exiled: Ovezberyev was an Ashgabat correspondent of Radio Liberty, as well as a poet and a translator. Ovezberyev was forced into exile in July 2004 and he requested asylum in the United States and was permitted to leave (United States Department of State, 2005). He continued to work as a Radio Liberty contributor from Washington (RFE/RL, 2009).
Stage 1 details (accusations/ charges/ Interpol notice/ extradition requests): He was persecuted by the Turkmen authorities for his political criticism (RFE/RL, 2009). Ovezberyev’s “entire family” was persecuted by the Turkmen authorities (Gundogar, 2018). During the whole month of December 2004, after Ovezberdyev had been exiled to the US, his family in Turkmenistan was interrogated by members of the Turkmen authorities (Vatan, 2004).
Stage 3 details (attack/ abduction/ rendition/ torture/ assassination/ death): He was subject to an abduction and torture by Turkmen authorities in 2003 (United States Department of States, 2005).
Legal status (refugee/ asylum seeker/ resident): Ovezberdyev received asylum status in the United States (Refworld, 2005).
Current status: Ovezberdyev passed away in June 2009, aged 70 (RFE/RL, 2009).
Press sources: Gundogar. (2018). Media in Turkmenistan: Nothing but the carefully directed shows. Available: http://www.gundogar.org/?0220042187000000000000000000 Last accessed 3rd April 2018. Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). (2009). Saparmurad Ovezberdiev Dies Aged 70. Available: http://archive.is/QGk36#selection-169.0-172.0. Last accessed 3rd April 2018. United States Department of States. (2005). U.S. Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004 - Turkmenistan. Available: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4226d9872f.html. Last accessed 3rd April 2018. Vatan. (2004). Conversation on the Family of Saparmurad Ovezberdiyev Continues. Available: http://archive.is/QGk36#selection-611.8-619.63. Last accessed 3rd April 2018.