Restrictions on Freedom of Movement and Family Reunification Statement by the Human Rights Platform of the Civil Movement “Dayanch” – Turkmenistan

Restrictions on Freedom of Movement and Family Reunification Statement by the Human Rights Platform of the Civil Movement “Dayanch” – Turkmenistan Distinguished Chair, Esteemed representatives of the OSCE participating States, Dear colleagues, The Human Rights Platform of the Civil Movement “Dayanch” – Turkmenistan would like to draw attention to a serious issue concerning restrictions on freedom of movement and the right to family reunification for citizens of Turkmenistan. Freedom of movement is a fundamental human right, guaranteed by international legal instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. However, today thousands of citizens of Turkmenistan face restrictions on leaving the country, which effectively deprives them of the opportunity to exercise this basic right. One of the reasons for such restrictions is Article 30, paragraph 9 of the Migration Law of Turkmenistan, which allows authorities to deny citizens the right to leave the country if they have previously violated migration regulations in a third country. In our view, this provision raises serious concerns regarding its compatibility with international human rights standards. Violations of migration rules in other states should not serve as grounds for restricting a person's right to leave their own country. As a result of the application of this provision, many families are effectively separated, and citizens are prevented from reuniting with their relatives. The Human Rights Platform “Dayanch” has documented several concrete cases, including the Minmuratov family, the Sazonov family, and Lachyn Gench, among others. In addition, there are cases where restrictions have been applied even to individuals who have not committed any administrative violations, including Nurgeldy Khalykov and independent journalist Soltan Achilova. These examples demonstrate that the problem is systemic in nature and has already affected hundreds of families who have effectively become hostages of the current system. Of particular concern is the fact that many citizens seek to travel abroad in search of employment opportunities due to economic difficulties, yet they encounter legal barriers that make the realization of this right extremely difficult. It should also be noted that this issue has already been raised multiple times at international platforms, yet meaningful progress has not been achieved. In this regard, the Human Rights Platform of the Civil Movement “Dayanch” calls on: the authorities of Turkmenistan to review the application of Article 30, paragraph 9 of the Migration Law; to ensure that national legislation is brought into compliance with international human rights obligations; and to guarantee citizens of Turkmenistan their fundamental right to freedom of movement and family reunification. Further information and documented cases are available on our website: https://dayanchcivil.com⁠� We hope that this issue will receive the necessary attention from the international community and the participating States of the OSCE. Thank you for your attention.