On April 15, Maral Annayeva was extradited from Dubai at the request of Turkmenistan.She had appeared in online broadcasts hosted by Turkmen activists, where she complained about her ex-husband — a police officer who, she said, had beaten her.
After failing to find justice at home, she left for the United Arab Emirates, but Turkmen law enforcement authorities were able to reach her there as well.Annayeva, 30, had been married to Perhat Orazov, a senior engineer in the communications department of the police directorate of Ahal Province.
In the broadcasts, she said Orazov beat her and also covered up criminal acts committed by her sisters, one of whom was his lover.The sisters, who sought to take over Annayeva’s business, also assaulted her.
In addition, she said they poisoned her and her young daughters with unknown medications.In Turkmenistan, Annayeva filed numerous complaints against her husband and sisters with law enforcement agencies and the courts, but authorities failed to respond adequately.
To protect herself and her children, she left the country with them.She first traveled to Iran and then to the United Arab Emirates.From the UAE, Annayeva joined online streams hosted by well-known Turkmen activists Talyb Abasov and Nurmuhammet Annayev.
She spoke about what she described as inaction and abuses by law enforcement and judicial authorities and complained about the lack of response from the country’s top leadership, to whom she had also submitted appeals.Apparently, Annayeva’s online activity did not go unnoticed in Turkmenistan.
Shortly before her extradition, she was accused in the UAE of engaging in prostitution — an allegation she believes was initiated by the Turkmen consulate.She hired a lawyer who was able to prove the claim was unfounded defamation.
Nevertheless, the situation alarmed the owner of the apartment she was renting, and he asked her to leave.She and her daughters moved to a hotel.Just a few days later, on April 14, Dubai police detained Annayeva again, citing an Interpol request.
The specific charges remain unknown.Her request for asylum, based on alleged persecution by Turkmen law enforcement, was denied.On April 15, Annayeva and her two daughters were placed on a flight to Ashgabat.In recent years, other activists have also been deported from abroad at Turkmenistan’s request.
Among them are Saddam Gulamov and Malikberdi Allamuradov (who were in Russia), as well as Abdulla Orusov, Alisher Sahatov, Farhad Meymankuliyev, Merdan Muhammedov, Rovshen Klychev and Serdar Durdylyev (who were in Turkey).
Various charges were brought against them in their home country; the fate and whereabouts of some remain unknown.