Rights defender demand to consider asylum application of Choliev, KChR resident

Five human rights organizations have called on the Russian FSB to allow Rozgeldy Choliev, a citizen of Turkmenistan, to apply for asylum. For the eighth day, Choliev stays in the neutral zone of a Moscow Airport; he is running out of money, while his friends with food and advocate are not let to him.

On March 2, Choliev was detained while trying to return to Cherkessk to his wife and child. If Choliev is extradited to Turkey, he may be then sent to Turkmenistan, where he will be persecuted, human rights defenders assert.

The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", the Human Rights Watch, the International Partnership for Human Rights and the Turkmen Helsinki Fund have noted that not only Choliev, but also his relatives in Turkmenistan are being persecuted because of his publications on the Internet.

Choliev has complained about everyday difficulties, noting that the education of his wife, Mekhrjamal Khudainazarova, a 23-year-old citizen of Turkmenistan, was paid for by the authorities until the end of the academic year, but the Turkmen party refuses to pay further. In this case, Khudainazarova will be expelled and evicted.

In the opinion of Vitaly Ponomaryov, the director of programmes for Central Asia of the HRC "Memorial", Choliev has already spent the entire period of time at the airport due at applying for asylum.