A/HRC/39/41 115. Following the issuance of the opinion, Turkish pro-Government media circulated information distorting the opinion of the Working Group containing various accusations against Mr. Çevik. On 4 August 2017, the Turkish pro-government media accused Mr. Çevik of having acted as an intelligence officer for the French government, and accused “the United Nations” of requesting his release “because he had been set to leave Turkey for holidays” on 16 July 2016. The Working Group opinion also triggered reprisals at Mr. Çevik’s place of detention, where his cell was reportedly moved to separate him from his friends and colleagues, and he was denied food and purchases from the prison mess (A/HRC/39/45). 116. On 31 July 2018 the Government responded to the allegations. With regard to the reported hacking of the websites of the Housing and Land Rights Network - Habitat International Coalition, the Government noted that the “perpetrators and/or sponsors of the attacks in question could be any source, based anywhere in the world” and that Turkish authorities are not in the possession of any previous record or information about the “Yarma Security Team.” The Government further noted that it has committed to international efforts to identify cyber threats and build a more secure network, and will continue to work with United Nations agencies to this effect. 117. Pertaining to the case of Mr. Kursat Çevik, the Government affirmed it had submitted to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention information on the procedures and remedies available, and that it rejected the conclusion that his detention was arbitrary. It further noted that Mr. Çevik was moved from Mardin Penitentiary to Sanhurfa Penitentiary on 17 July 2016, before the release of the report on 16 June 2017, and that subsequently “his cell was changed three times, in accordance with administrative needs.” The Government stated he was not subject to solitary confinement, separated from other detainees with similar charges, or denied food or purchases from the prison mess. The Government further noted that there is no government media outlet in Turkey other than the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, and any publication or broadcast by private media outlets reflect their own opinion. 28. Turkmenistan 118. On 18 May 2018 at the end of his visit to Kyrgyzstan, the Assistant SecretaryGeneral for Human Rights attended the Human Rights Defender Platform Security Meeting for Central Asia and engaged with human rights defenders from four countries, but said he regretted that the OHCHR regional office had not felt able to invite representatives from Turkmenistan for fear that they might face intimidation or reprisals from their Government for cooperation with the United Nations.27 29. Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 119. According to information received, representatives of the Government of Venezuela allegedly threatened and harassed four civil society representatives at a side event of the thirty-fifth session of the Human Rights Council on 6 June 2017. Mr. Alonso Medina Roa (Foro Penal), Mr. Julio Henriquez (Refugee Freedom Program), Ms. Laura Louza (Acceso a la Justicia) and Ms. Mercedes De Freitas (Transparencia Venezuela) were participating in a panel co-sponsored by the United States of America and were reportedly threatened that their passports would be confiscated. 120. Several civil society representatives are alleged to have been targeted by Mr. Diosdado Cabello Rondon, then member of the National Constituent Assembly and Vice-President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). According to the allegations received, Mr. Diosdado Cabello Rondon has used his programme “Con el Mazo Dando,” a weekly broadcast on Venezuelan public television, to launch a smear campaign against human rights defenders, including those that have cooperated with the Human Rights Council and OHCHR. 27 GE.18-13325 OHCHR, “Kyrgyzstan: Ethnic minorities need equal treatment, says senior UN official; salutes Central Asian rights defenders,” 18 May 2018. 39