Detainment of Pygamberdy Allaberdyev

Pygamberdy Allaberdyev is a lawyer from Turkmenistan, who was sentenced to a 6-year prison term on hooliganism charges but was released after 2 years. In May 2022, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at the United Nations concluded that Turkmenistan had violated international human rights law in detaining Allaberdyev, as his detention was likely related to his pro-democracy work. On December 10, 2022, he was released as part of a mass amnesty related to Turkmenistan's Day of Neutrality.

Activism and career Allaberdyev worked in Balkanabat for the oil and gas government office. Turkmen authorities alleged that he was in contact with activists abroad, and questioned him on this issue. Ten lawyers refused to defend Allaberdyev in court, and he refused a government appointed lawyer.

On 22 October 2020, Human Rights Watch and nine other organizations demanded that, "Turkmenistan's authorities should immediately and unconditionally release ... [Allaberdyev, who is] imprisoned on bogus charges that appear to be in retaliation for his alleged ties with activists abroad."

In 2022, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the United Nations ruled that Allaberdyev's detention was in violation of international law.