Well-known Environmentalist-Activist Andrey Zatoka
Arrested in Turkmenistan
December 19, 2006



Sources in Turkmenistan have reported that Andrey
Zatoka, environmentalist and member of the
international Socio-Ecological Union, was detained and
taken to an unknown location.

The last news from A. Zatoka was at 10PM when Andrey
Lvovich asked his friends for assistance in an SMS
message. However, the explanation for his arrest and
the location where he is being held are unknown. He
is officially being held until December 23rd.
According to our source, �that is how they make
arrests before demonstrating guilt.�

Andrey Zatoka was born in 1956 in Sverdlovsk [Russia].
He finished the biological faculty at Uralsk
University and in 1982 moved with his family to
Turkmenistan, where he worked at the Kaplankyr
Zapovednik until 1992, successfully merging his
scientific and public work. With his active
participation, the Dashkhovuz Ecology Club was formed
along with several other environmental NGOs in
Krasnovodsk, Ashgabad, Karakal and Sverdlovsk. In
addition, A. Zatoka participated in the creation of
two Central Asian public �umbrellas��LEEP and Biostan.
A. Zatoka has been a member of the Socio-Ecological
Union (SEU) since its creation. In 1992 he was
elected to the Board of the SEU. According to his
friends, A. Zatoka �did not get involved in politics,
did not drink, smoke, or have any vices.�


Kate Watters
Executive Director
Crude Accountability
http://www.crudeaccountability.org

photo: Andrey Zatoka, photograph by Michelle Kinman

Copyright Crude Accountability 2005