THE WORLD IS IN CHAOS. AND IN TURKMENISTAN — SILENCE?

THE WORLD IS IN CHAOS. AND IN TURKMENISTAN — SILENCE? What Right Do You Have to Remain Silent? The world is rapidly descending into another wave of instability. The conflict around Iran, strikes on military facilities, closed borders, attacks on infrastructure, rising regional tensions. Governments are taking emergency measures. Azerbaijan is organizing evacuations. Ministries of foreign affairs in various countries are issuing recommendations, instructions, and warnings. And what is Turkmenistan doing? The President of Turkmenistan expressed condolences following the death of Iran’s spiritual leader. Yet even in that statement, the circumstances of what happened were not clearly addressed. Caution? Diplomacy? Or fear of calling reality by its name? At the same time — not a single address to its own citizens. Not from the President. Not from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Not from Turkmen diplomatic missions in Iran or Dubai. Not from state media. We conducted monitoring of the official pages of diplomatic missions. There are no instructions, no action plan, no warnings, no information about evacuation. Nothing. Absolute silence. At the same time, information has been circulated on social media stating that Russian citizens may leave Iran through the territory of Turkmenistan. This has been voiced publicly. But where is the official clarification for citizens of Turkmenistan? Where is the direct address to your own people? Where are the safety instructions? Where is the action plan in case of danger? Where is the hotline? Where is the evacuation plan? What does this mean? It means the demonstrative disregard of one’s own citizens. It means the absence of responsibility for their safety. It means that within the Turkmen authorities’ system of priorities, a person is not a rights-holder, but a statistical unit. While other governments inform, coordinate, and warn — Turkmenistan remains silent. Are Turkmen citizens expected to guess on their own? Wait? Panic? Search for rumors in messaging apps? What right do you have to remain silent? You are the guarantors of the Constitution. You are obligated to protect your citizens, not to create the illusion that “nothing is happening.” You are obligated to warn about risks. You are obligated to publish clear instructions. You are obligated to ensure an evacuation plan. Or are the citizens of Turkmenistan merely expendable? People without the right to information? Inside the country, price increases are already being recorded. Logistical chains have been disrupted. A significant portion of supplies traditionally passed through the Iranian direction. Economic consequences are inevitable. Yet instead of an open dialogue with society — once again, silence. The authorities pretend that the world is not burning. But the world is burning. The responsibility of the state is not in parades, slogans, or personality cults. The responsibility of the state is in action during times of crisis. Today we see the absence of: a public crisis plan, warnings for citizens, a hotline, coordinated evacuation measures, official explanations. Silence in a time of danger is not neutrality. It is irresponsibility. The Human Rights Platform of the Civic Movement “DAYANÇ” / Turkmenistan demands: An immediate official address to citizens of Turkmenistan. Publication of clear safety instructions for citizens in Iran and the region. Development and public announcement of an evacuation plan. Transparent information about risks and economic consequences. The state exists for its citizens. Not the other way around. If you call yourselves guarantors of security — act. If you call yourselves the people’s authority — speak to the people. If you assume responsibility — bear it. The world is in chaos. And you choose silence. What right do you have to do so?