Nearly a year after the disappearance of Turkmen civil activists Alisher Sahatov and Abdulla Orusov in Türkiye, a case that remained in the shadows for months is now gaining new momentum. According to statements by the Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, the Edirne Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has officially requested surveillance footage from the removal center — the very place where the two activists disappeared without a trace in July 2025. This request could mark a turning point. Previously, officials at the center claimed that Sahatov and Orusov had been released. However, they refused to provide any video evidence to support these claims. Moreover, as human rights defenders report, there was a systematic effort to conceal information, while responsibility was shifted between different state institutions. Lawyers were denied access to key materials for a long time, effectively blocking any possibility of an independent investigation. The international community expressed concern, yet the main question remained unanswered: Where are Alisher Sahatov and Abdulla Orusov? Today, the situation may begin to change. The prosecutor’s request for all surveillance footage from the day of their disappearance is not just a procedural step. It is a real opportunity to uncover the truth that has been hidden for far too long. At the same time, it raises serious questions: Why only now? Why did it take nearly a year to initiate real investigative actions? Who and why obstructed the search for the truth? And how many similar cases remain unnoticed? The families of the missing activists continue their struggle. For them, this is not just a case — it is the fate of their loved ones, their pain, and their right to know the truth. Human rights organizations are calling for a transparent, independent, and impartial investigation. They demand that the fate and whereabouts of the missing be established, their safety ensured, and all those responsible for possible enforced disappearance be held accountable. This case is not an isolated one. It reflects a broader pattern of transnational repression faced by Turkmen citizens beyond their country’s borders. When people cannot feel safe even abroad, it becomes a challenge not only for individual states, but for the entire international human rights system. Silence is complicity. Today, nearly a year later, we have a chance to move closer to the truth. But this chance must not be wasted. We must demand answers. We must speak out. We must remember. Alisher Sahatov and Abdulla Orusov must not become just names without a story. 📌 Source: Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights https://tmhelsinki.org/ru/article/14c30318-f4f1-4363-b687-38795c86591a� 📷 Photo: sourced from the website of the Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights
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