Committee for National Security

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Turkmenistan

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Turkmenistan

Constitution President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow Assembly People's Council Military of Turkmenistan (incl. State Security Council) Political parties Democratic Party of Turkmenistan Elections 2007 presidential 2007 parliamentary 2008 parliamentary Provinces Districts Human rights Foreign relations Ruhnama

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The Committee for National Security or KNB is an intelligence agency for the government of Turkmenistan. It is composed largely of the remnants of KGB organs left over after the collapse of the Soviet Union; its functions remain largely the same as well. The KNB and the national police force are under the direction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs^[1]

[edit] Human Rights Concerns

Amnesty International has claimed that the KNB has persecuted Turkmens for their religious beliefs, and that only members of the Russian Orthodox Church and Sunni Muslims are tolerated^[2]. Human Rights Watch has asserted that the KNB has repeatedly imprisoned and harassed political opponents. Both organizations cite the use of torture by KNB agents^[3].

[edit] See also

• Human rights in Turkmenistan
• Intelligence (information gathering)
• KGB
• List of intelligence agencies

[edit] References

1. ^ Curtis, Glen (1996-03-01). Library of Congress Country Study: Turkmenistan. Library of Congress. Retrieved on 2007-10-26.
2. ^ Amnesty International (2000-12-5). "Fear for safety; torture/ill-treatment". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-10-26.
3. ^ Human Rights Developments. Human Rights Watch (1999). Retrieved on 2007-10-26.