On August 14, 1999, after three days of proceedings, a criminal court in Ashgabat sentenced democracy activist and former parliamentarian Pirimkuli Tanrykuliev to eight years imprisonment on charges of stealing government property and misusing his government position.

Human rights groups have charged that Tanrykuliev's arrest was related to his political activities, particularly his efforts to run as an opposition candidate in parliamentary elections, tentatively scheduled for December 1999, and to form an independent political party.

The circumstances of Tanrykuliev's arrest, trial and sentencing violate the spirit and letter of Turkmenistan's commitments as a participating state in the OSCE.

We urge the government of Turkmenistan to respect its OSCE commitments to provide a fair and open judicial process to its citizens.