U.S.-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday the European Union\'s decision to abandon a trade pact with the reclusive Central Asian state of Turkmenistan was a \"landmark move against tyranny.\" Global rights groups have long criticized the European Union for negotiating a trade pact with gas-producing Turkmenistan, run by an autocratic leader with a personality cult. The deal has been on hold since the 1990s due to human rights concerns. The International Trade Committee of the European Parliament voted earlier this week against pursuing the pact any further pending \"clear tangible and sustained progress on the human rights situation.\" \"(The) vote signals that the EU will not allow grossly abusive governments to profit from EU engagement,\" said Holly Cartner, HRW\'s Europe and Central Asia director, in a statement. \"This decision gives some teeth to EU statements about conditions for engagement with Central Asia. Now it\'s up to the Turkmen government to meet its international human rights obligations and stop isolating itself.\" Officials in Turkmenistan could not be reached for comment. Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov -- officially titled Turkmenbashi, or Head of the Turkmen -- tolerates no dissent. Most opposition activists and journalists have been driven into exile or jailed. In the latest incident, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty said last month that its correspondent in Turkmenistan had died in jail after she was imprisoned for illegally possessing weapons. The EU parliament resolution said conditions for pursuing any trade agreement included releasing political prisoners and allowing independent political parties. It also called for the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations and independent human rights groups to be allowed to operate freely in the country. (Reuters)