November 20, 2024 - Turkmenistan, Ashgabat

Update: November 25, 2024

Authorities forcibly hospitalized 74-year-old photojournalist Soltan Achilova to prevent her from traveling to Switzerland. Known for exposing human rights abuses in one of the world’s most repressive regimes, she was detained under the false pretense of an “infection” and held without a clear diagnosis.

Achilova returned home days later, without receiving an apology or any explanation for this blatant violation of her rights. The veteran journalist has faced years of harassment, travel bans, and physical attacks.

Women Press Freedom demands accountability for this egregious violation of Achilova’s rights. This is the second year in a row she has been prevented from attending an event honoring her human rights work. The international community must call for an end to the harassment of independent journalists in Turkmenistan and work to ensure their protection.