Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Justice is tracking former law enforcement officials to monitor emigration. This initiative is coupled with new travel restrictions, requiring retired officials to obtain medical justification for leaving the country. The measures extend to students who must surrender their passports to attend universities, indicating a broader governmental strategy to restrict travel and migration.
Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Justice has initiated a data collection campaign on former Interior Ministry officials to monitor those who have emigrated. This enforcement action is part of ongoing governmental measures aimed at restricting citizens’ travel abroad. The new initiative targets individuals who retired as major or higher between 1991 and 2024, with assistance from various state agencies, and is anticipated to finish by the end of April.
The Ministry of Justice seeks to identify retired law enforcement officers who have relocated to other countries. There are theories suggesting that the monitoring efforts stem from findings of ex-officers residing abroad post-retirement. Furthermore, the initiative may be influenced by controversies linked to Rustam Inoyatov, the former chief of Uzbekistan’s National Security Service, who acquired citizenship through a scheme that raised concerns among Turkmen authorities.
Ex-officers must now submit detailed reports regarding their current residences and occupations, while the relatives of deceased officers are required to provide pertinent documentation. Additionally, retired law enforcement officials face new travel restrictions, requiring official health authorization to leave the country solely for medical reasons. This marks a continuation of the government’s trend of imposing stricter travel regulations on its citizens.
In September 2024, it was reported that public sector employees were being pressured to return their biometric passports or confirm that they did not possess one. Observers attribute these developments to the increasing trend of citizens emigrating in search of better opportunities. Moreover, reports suggest involvement of some Turkmen nationals in military conflicts abroad in exchange for citizenship benefits.
The travel restrictions now extend to students as well. Reports from fall 2024 indicate that students commencing their studies at Turkmen universities are required to surrender their passports to prevent overseas travel. Students who refuse to comply risk being denied admission, a policy reportedly in place for the past two years, whereby faculty deans retain students’ passports for the duration of their education.
While official explanations for these policies have not been provided, university faculty speculate that the measures aim to minimize youth emigration. The shift from merely requiring signed acknowledgments to confiscating passports entirely reflects heightened governmental control over student movement and intentions.
In summary, Turkmenistan is intensifying its surveillance and control over former law enforcement officials and students amidst growing emigration trends. The Ministry of Justice’s initiative to monitor retired officers, mandatory reports on their whereabouts, and stringent travel restrictions exemplify the government’s overarching strategy to maintain internal stability. The confiscation of student passports further underscores the concerns associated with youth migration, reflecting the regime’s efforts to curtail exodus by young citizens seeking better prospects abroad.
Original Source: timesca.com
