DISCRIMINATION AS STATE PRACTICE: IN TURKMENISTAN, EVEN INTERNET ACCESS DEPENDS ON HAVING THE “RIGHT” BACKGROUND

DISCRIMINATION AS STATE PRACTICE: IN TURKMENISTAN, EVEN INTERNET ACCESS DEPENDS ON HAVING THE “RIGHT” BACKGROUND A report by Radio Azatlyk on access to high-speed GPON internet in Balkanabat once again raises an issue that goes far beyond internet connectivity. It concerns systemic discrimination that permeates various areas of life in Turkmenistan and, according to citizens’ accounts, is effectively reinforced by the decisions and practices of state institutions. According to Azatlyk’s sources, GPON lines are being installed in certain areas of Balkanabat, but not all residents are allowed to connect. Sources claim that access is granted primarily to “selected” individuals and that potential subscribers are screened. Particularly alarming are reports that ethnic background may be among the criteria used in this selection process. According to Azatlyk’s interlocutors, connections are allegedly prohibited for members of several ethnic minorities, including Russians, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, and Kazakhs. Restrictions are also reportedly imposed on people whose close relatives live or work outside Turkmenistan. If these reports are accurate, this is no longer simply an issue of unequal access to telecommunications services. It raises serious concerns about discrimination based on origin, ethnicity, family ties, and social status. Discrimination Starts at the Top and Spreads Downward The problem in Turkmenistan is not limited to isolated acts of discrimination between individuals. When state institutions themselves divide people into categories such as “reliable” and “unreliable,” “ours” and “others,” or “worthy” and “unworthy,” discrimination gradually becomes normalized throughout society. That is why the reports from Balkanabat cannot simply be treated as an isolated incident. Discrimination in Turkmenistan can be encountered virtually everywhere — in employment, education, freedom of movement, access to public services, obtaining documents, interactions with government institutions, and now, according to the information being reported, even in access to modern communications technology. At the same time, there are virtually no independent and effective mechanisms within the country through which citizens can protect themselves against discrimination, particularly when state institutions themselves are alleged to be responsible for the violation. Where should a person turn if they are denied a service because of their ethnicity or origin? Who will conduct an independent investigation? Who will hold those responsible accountable? And most importantly, how can a citizen obtain justice when discriminatory practices originate from the very system that is supposed to protect their rights? Residents of Dashoguz and Lebap Feel This Problem Particularly Acutely The Human Rights Platform of the Dayanç Civil Movement / Turkmenistan has repeatedly drawn attention to reports of discriminatory practices in the country. The consequences of such treatment are felt particularly strongly by residents of the Dashoguz and Lebap velayats, including members of ethnic minority communities. People face not only social and economic inequality but also the perception that their place of birth, origin, ethnicity, or region of residence can determine how they are treated by state authorities. We have previously reported on this problem and brought it to the attention of the international community. Today, we are compelled to do so once again. Discrimination does not disappear through silence. On the contrary, the absence of independent oversight, investigations, and accountability creates conditions in which it can spread even further. Internet Must Not Be a Privilege Reserved for the “Chosen” It is particularly symbolic that the issue today concerns the internet. In the 21st century, access to information and modern communications technology is directly connected to people’s ability to obtain an education, work, maintain contact with relatives, access public and commercial services, and exercise their freedom of expression. Yet internet access in Turkmenistan is already subject to extensive restrictions. Azatlyk notes that the country remains one of the most digitally closed societies in the world. The report also points out that in Reporters Without Borders’ 2026 World Press Freedom Index, Turkmenistan ranked 173rd out of 180 countries. Against this background, reports are now emerging of yet another layer of inequality: even access to better-quality internet may be selectively distributed among citizens. Internet access must not become a reward for loyalty, ethnic background, origin, or membership in a supposedly “acceptable” group. Constitutional Equality Must Exist in Practice, Not Only on Paper Azatlyk also draws attention to Article 28 of the Constitution of Turkmenistan, which guarantees equality of human and civil rights and freedoms, as well as equality before the law and the courts. But a constitutional guarantee loses its meaning if, in everyday life, citizens can be treated differently because of their origin or ethnicity. Discrimination is not a minor social issue, nor is it an “internal matter” that can simply be ignored. Systematic discrimination constitutes a serious violation of fundamental human rights, and the state has an obligation not only to refrain from discriminatory practices itself but also to establish genuine mechanisms for preventing, investigating, and eliminating discrimination. We once again remind the authorities of Turkmenistan: equality among citizens is not merely a declaration or an attractive provision written into the Constitution. It is a binding obligation of the state. We call on the authorities to establish effective and independent mechanisms for filing complaints about discrimination, ensure transparent investigations into such allegations, and guarantee equal access to public and socially significant services regardless of ethnicity, origin, place of residence, or whether a person has relatives living abroad. We also once again call the attention of the United Nations, international human rights organizations, diplomatic missions, and Turkmenistan’s international partners to the problem of systemic discrimination in the country and urge them to raise this issue in their dialogue with the Turkmen authorities. Discrimination that begins at the top gradually becomes normalized throughout society. That is why it is necessary to address not only its consequences, but above all the system of impunity that allows it to persist. Neither ethnicity, origin, place of birth, nor having relatives abroad can ever constitute a legitimate basis for restricting a person’s fundamental rights. Rights belong to everyone. Equality belongs to everyone. And the state has an obligation to guarantee both. Source: Radio Azatlyk, July 29, 2026 https://www.azathabar.com/a/balkanabatda-saylanan-yasayjylara-guycli-internet-cekilyar-esasy-talap-arassalyk/33817520.html