Aysoltan Niyazov, a member of the Russian band Pussy Riot, was arrested in Croatia on Wednesday and faces possible extradition to Turkmenistan.
The artist, of Russian and Turkmen nationality, was in Croatia to start the Riot Days tour with the band, which passes through Portugal on June 9, when she was captured by an Interpol warrant issued in 2002 for the Asian country.
Niyazov is allegedly accused of embezzling funds from Turkmenistan’s central bank.
Amnesty International’s statement calls on the Croatian authorities not to proceed with the extradition, due to the risk that the singer will suffer ill-treatment. “The Croatian authorities know that Aysoltan Niyazov’s activism would put her in risk of serious abuse, including torture and ill-treatment, if he is extradited to Turkmenistan. This is not a safe country for your security or for human rights defenders.”
This non-governmental organization claims to have already documented a number of cases of the Turkmen authorities “making serious accusations based on arguments ‘fabricated’ or with little evidence” so that they can mistreat those suspected of these same accusations.
It also says that Interpol orders have been used by political and government forces in countries that do not guarantee respect for human rights.
Interpol arrest warrants have been flagrantly abused by certain authoritarian regimes and countries with utter disregard for fundamental rights in an attempt to silence activists and all those who speak out for these very rights. Croatia must not be complicit in these practices.” — says Julia Hall, deputy director in Europe.
Amnesty International’s request to Croatia is that extradition request denied and Niyazov may be released as soon as possible. “The authorities in Zagreb must deny the extradition request made by Turkmenistan and release her immediately.”
This is not the first time the gang has had an episode with the authorities. In May, fellow Pussy Riot singer Maria Alyokhina fled to Lithuania dressed as a courier for fear of Russian repression.
Pussy Riot activist Maria Alyokhina fled Russia disguised as a food courier
Source: Observadora
