“People Are Being Thrown Out of Their Homes: Mass Demolitions Continue in Turkmenistan Without Proper Compensation”

People Are Losing Their Homes for the Sake of a “Beautiful Image” Mass demolitions of residential properties are once again continuing in Turkmenistan. According to local residents, authorities in the areas of Anau and Gami, located near Ashgabat, have begun demolishing summer houses and residential homes where many families have lived for decades. Residents report that people were given only two days to vacate their homes. Some families did not even have enough time to remove their belongings and were forced to leave in panic and confusion. According to eyewitnesses, authorities first cut off gas supplies, while electricity is reportedly available only for a few hours in the evening. Residents believe this is being done deliberately to force people to leave the area more quickly. What makes the situation especially tragic is that for many families these homes were their only place to live. People spent years saving money, taking loans, building houses with their own hands, paying taxes and utility bills. Now many of them are being left literally homeless. Residents state that most people are not receiving adequate compensation. Some are promised land plots or mortgage opportunities, but in reality obtaining new housing is nearly impossible. At the same time, rental prices around Ashgabat reportedly reach 4,000 manats per month, while the salaries of ordinary citizens are far too low to cover even basic living expenses. Many of the demolished homes had existed for more than 35–40 years. According to residents, authorities did not provide advance notice and informed people about the demolitions only days before the destruction began. Meanwhile, the authorities continue constructing elite residential complexes, expensive buildings, and showcase districts where apartment prices can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. For ordinary citizens, however, affordable housing remains practically inaccessible. Residents increasingly speak about living in constant fear of losing their homes at any moment. In Turkmenistan, the absence of an independent judiciary and a transparent compensation system leaves people completely defenseless against decisions made by the authorities. The right to housing is one of the fundamental human rights. Yet in Turkmenistan, thousands of families continue living under the constant fear of losing their homes, property, and future. Source: Azatlyk Radiosy https://www.azathabar.com/a/anevde-we-gamide-daca-jaylary-yykylyar/33406468.html⁠� Photo: Photos used from the Azatlyk Radiosy / RFE-RL report.