2002 Press Releases

U.S. Statement on Aftermath of Assassination Attempt in Turkmenistan

Dec. 3, 2002

Statement by Philip T. Reeker, U.S. Department of State Deputy Spokesman

The United States deplores the violence committed during the reported assassination attempt against President Niyazov on November 25. We offer condolences for victims of the attack.

While we understand the desire to investigate thoroughly the attack and bring those guilty to justice, we are concerned by the manner in which the investigation is being conducted. We have received numerous reports of wide scale arrests, including the arrest or detention of entire families of those individuals accused of participating in the reported attack.

We are also concerned that the U.S. Embassy did not receive immediate notification of and was not allowed timely consular access to an arrested American citizen - a clear violation of Turkmenistan's obligations under international law to provide immediate notification of the arrest of and consular access to detained foreign citizens.

We call on the Government of Turkmenistan to conduct its investigation in a full, fair and transparent manner consistent with its obligations under the Constitution of Turkmenistan and international law.