New Restrictions on Overseas Tuition Payments in Turkmenistan: Parents Demand Answers as Students Face the Risk of Losing Their Right to Education 4 July 2026

New Restrictions on Overseas Tuition Payments in Turkmenistan: Parents Demand Answers as Students Face the Risk of Losing Their Right to Education 4 July 2026 The Dayanç Human Rights Platform / Turkmenistan expresses its deep concern over new restrictions introduced by the Turkmen authorities regarding the payment of tuition fees for Turkmen students studying abroad. According to information published by the independent media outlet Azatlyk Radiosy, hundreds of families have found themselves in a situation where state-owned banks no longer process tuition payments at the official exchange rate for a large number of foreign universities. These new restrictions have placed the education of hundreds of young Turkmen citizens at risk, including both students who have already enrolled in foreign universities and those preparing to begin their studies in the autumn of 2026. Parents Travelled to Ashgabat but Authorities Refused to Meet Them According to Azatlyk Radiosy, on 2 July dozens of parents from the Mary Region travelled to Ashgabat to appeal directly to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Justice, demanding a solution to the problem of paying tuition fees for their children studying abroad. However, officials from both ministries reportedly refused to receive the parents, declined to register their complaints, and instructed them to address their concerns through local authorities in their home regions. As a result, citizens were effectively denied an opportunity to obtain official clarification on an issue that directly affects their children's future. Parents stated that their children had already completed preparatory courses at foreign universities and are expected to begin their first academic year in September. Many families have already submitted admission documents, received acceptance letters, and purchased airline tickets. They now face complete uncertainty regarding whether their children will be able to continue their education. New Restrictions on Tuition Payments According to the published reports, Turkmen state banks now process tuition payments at the official exchange rate only for students admitted to universities included in the list of the world's top 1,000 universities approved by the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. For students enrolled in other foreign universities, the tuition payment mechanism has effectively ceased to function. Many families report being forced to seek intermediaries, explore alternative payment methods, or remain uncertain whether their children will be able to continue their studies. Independent sources have also reported a significant increase in bureaucratic requirements and additional administrative procedures, making tuition payments substantially more difficult even in cases where such transfers are formally permitted under existing regulations. Lack of Official Explanation The absence of any official explanation from the Turkmen authorities is particularly alarming. As reported by Azatlyk Radiosy, representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Justice, and other government institutions did not respond to journalists' requests for comment. No public explanation of the new restrictions has been published on the official websites of the Ministry of Education, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH), or other government bodies. Consequently, thousands of families are forced to make life-changing decisions without access to clear and reliable official information. Possible Reasons Behind the Restrictions The Dayanç Human Rights Platform notes that independent observers and experts have put forward several possible explanations for these developments. These include: the continuing shortage of foreign currency and the country's ongoing currency crisis; efforts to tighten state control over educational migration; attempts to reduce the number of young citizens leaving Turkmenistan to study abroad; reports from independent sources concerning shortages of military personnel and possible efforts to reduce the departure of young people of conscription age. It should be emphasized that the Turkmen authorities have not publicly confirmed any of these motives. They therefore remain assessments made by independent observers rather than established facts. The Case of Malikberdi Allamyradov: A Warning to Students The case of Malikberdi Allamyradov, a Turkmen student, deserves particular attention. He was among the first students to publicly raise the issue of the authorities' refusal to allow tuition payments abroad through official currency conversion mechanisms. In an effort to draw public attention to the problem, Allamyradov staged a peaceful one-person protest, calling on the government to ensure students' right to education. According to human rights organizations, he subsequently became a victim of transnational repression. After being returned to Turkmenistan, Malikberdi Allamyradov was convicted in what many international human rights organizations consider to be a politically motivated and fabricated criminal case. He is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence. His case has become a symbol of the dangers faced by those who publicly defend social and educational rights in Turkmenistan. Human Rights Concerns The Dayanç Human Rights Platform believes that the current situation raises serious concerns regarding Turkmenistan's compliance with its international human rights obligations. The new restrictions may interfere with several fundamental rights, including: the right to education under Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR); the right to freedom of movement under Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); the right to equal access to education without discrimination; the right of young people to freely choose where to pursue higher education; the rights guaranteed under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, including the right to develop one's abilities and talents. Furthermore, the refusal of government institutions to receive parents' complaints raises concerns regarding citizens' right to petition public authorities and to receive effective administrative responses. Conclusion The Dayanç Human Rights Platform / Turkmenistan calls upon the authorities of Turkmenistan to: immediately provide clear and transparent public explanations regarding the newly introduced restrictions; ensure a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory mechanism for processing tuition payments for all Turkmen students studying abroad; guarantee the right to education regardless of the country or university of study; cease creating administrative obstacles that restrict young people's access to education; ensure that citizens are able to submit petitions to public authorities and receive timely and meaningful responses. The right to education is a fundamental human right and must never become an instrument of administrative pressure or political control. --- Sources 1. Azatlyk Radiosy. Türkmenistanyň daşary ýurtlardaky okuw töleglerini geçirmegine degişli täze çäklendirme girizildi (23 June 2026) https://www.azathabar.com/a/turkmen-talyplarynyn-dasary-yurtlardaky-okuw-toleglerini-gecirmegine-degisli-taze-caklendirme-girizildi/33787050.html 2. Azatlyk Radiosy. Maryly ene-atalar Aşgabada baryp, okuw töleglerini geçirmek meselesiniň çözülmegini talap etdi, ýöne... (3 July 2026) https://www.azathabar.com/a/maryly-ene-atalar-asgabada-baryp-okuw-toleglerini-gecirmeg-meselesinin-cozulmegini-talap-etdi-yone/33795535.html 3. Progres.online. Children in Turkmenistan Are Raised to Serve the Authoritarian State https://x.com/i/status/2073067480000446770 4. Dayanç Human Rights Platform / Turkmenistan – documentation on transnational repression, including the case of Malikberdi Allamyradov. https://dayanchcivil.com/