Abuse of power & retaliationOversight & ethics enforcement
A UN expert urged Turkmenistan on 3 April 2025 to investigate alleged poisoning attempts against journalist and rights defender Gurbansoltan Achilova and to let her travel abroad.
Confidence: Confirmed · 1 sourceTurkmenistan · Oct 13, 2026
Subject of this story
Government of Turkmenistan
Also named
Oversight
UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
Affected
Gurbansoltan Achilova, Independent journalist and human rights defender
What happened
In a press release dated 3 April 2025, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, said she was concerned about alleged poisoning attempts in November 2024 against 75-year-old Gurbansoltan Achilova and her family, and about her forced hospitalisation with her daughter on the day they were due to travel to Geneva for the Martin Ennals Award ceremony. The Rapporteur said the allegations, if confirmed, would constitute a violation of Achilova's right to life, and that she had raised concerns about the case with the Government on 19 June 2020 and 11 January 2024. The press release states the Rapporteur is in contact with the Government on the issue.
Sources (1)
UN expert urges Turkmenistan to investigate alleged poisoning attempts on Gurbansoltan Achilova, harassment must end (Press Release)These are extremely serious allegations which, if confirmed, would constitute a violation of Achilova’s right to life
Response
Government of Turkmenistan
Not yet contacted
Not yet contacted for this story.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.