Use of Turkmenistan’s Diplomatic Missions by Security Service Officers and Their Possible Involvement in Transnational Repression

Dear representatives of the international community, human rights organizations and diplomatic institutions, The Civil Human Rights Platform “DAYANÇ” Turkmenistan expresses serious concern regarding information published by independent sources, particularly the media outlet Turkmen.news, about the кадров policies within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. According to these reports, a significant number of diplomatic appointments abroad are made among career officers of the Ministry of National Security (MNS). These appointments reportedly include diplomatic missions in countries such as the United States, France, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Turkey and several other states. Of particular concern is the information that many of these individuals are active or reserve officers of the security services who have been integrated into the diplomatic system. Such practices raise serious questions regarding the real role of Turkmenistan’s diplomatic missions abroad. Diplomatic representations of any state are expected to fulfill their fundamental responsibilities, including: protecting the rights and interests of their citizens abroad; providing consular assistance to their nationals; promoting international cooperation; maintaining diplomatic dialogue between states. However, numerous testimonies from citizens of Turkmenistan living abroad indicate a different reality. Instead of supporting and protecting citizens, diplomatic structures are often associated with: monitoring civil activists and human rights defenders; collecting information about members of the Turkmen diaspora; exerting pressure on critics of the current regime; restricting access to basic consular services such as passport issuance and renewal. Particularly alarming are reports suggesting that representatives of Turkmenistan’s diplomatic structures may be involved in practices of transnational repression. This includes actions aimed at targeting civil activists and critics of the government beyond the borders of Turkmenistan, including: pressure on activists and their families; surveillance and information gathering on human rights defenders and journalists abroad; facilitating attempts to deport or persecute critics of the authorities; coordination with security structures within Turkmenistan. Such actions effectively make certain representatives of diplomatic missions participants in transnational repression directed against citizens of Turkmenistan who exercise their legitimate rights to freedom of expression and civic activity. We believe that using diplomatic institutions as instruments of political control over a country’s own citizens contradicts the fundamental principles of international law, including: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and generally accepted norms of diplomatic practice. In light of the above, the Civil Human Rights Platform “DAYANÇ” Turkmenistan calls on the international community to: Pay attention to the possible use of Turkmenistan’s diplomatic missions for monitoring and pressuring civil activists and human rights defenders abroad. Conduct international monitoring of the activities of Turkmen diplomatic missions in the context of possible transnational repression. Ensure additional protection for Turkmen civil activists, journalists and human rights defenders living outside the country. Support the efforts of international organizations aimed at protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens of Turkmenistan. We firmly believe that diplomacy should serve peace, cooperation and the protection of citizens, not become a tool of surveillance, pressure and persecution. The Civil Human Rights Platform “DAYANÇ” Turkmenistan will continue to monitor this situation closely and inform the international community about potential human rights violations. Respectfully, Diana Dadasheva Chairperson Civil Human Rights Platform “DAYANÇ” Turkmenistan