The Civil Movement Human Rights Platform DAYANÇ Turkmenistan expresses serious concern regarding the situation in the armed forces of Turkmenistan, where reports of soldier deaths, violence, hazing, and the resignation of military personnel are becoming increasingly frequent. According to information reported by Radio Azatlyk Turkmenistan, a conscript soldier from the Balkan region died in an artillery military unit located in Turkmenabat, Lebap region. According to the report, the soldier entered the bathhouse and never came out alive. Later he was found there without signs of life. The body of the deceased soldier was delivered to his family by five military personnel, yet no official explanation regarding the cause of death was provided to the relatives. According to preliminary information, the death may have been caused by poisoning, although there has been no official confirmation or investigation results made public. Journalists from Radio Azatlyk attempted to obtain comments from military authorities in both the Lebap and Balkan regions, but were unable to receive any information. Such secrecy has long become a systematic practice within the armed forces of Turkmenistan. Information related to deaths of conscripts, suicides, abuse, poisoning, and other tragic incidents is effectively concealed and inaccessible to the public. Relatives of deceased soldiers report that when they try to ask questions about investigations or demand clarification regarding the circumstances of their sons’ deaths, they are often “advised” to remain silent, and in some cases even intimidated. Within the armed forces of Turkmenistan, widespread problems include: hazing (dedovshchina) physical violence abuse of young conscripts corruption among commanders extortion of money from soldiers Many young conscripts are unable to endure such conditions and some end up taking their own lives. Particularly alarming is the fact that in recent years, due to a shortage of personnel, young men with health problems are also being conscripted into military service. In Turkmenistan, military service is mandatory, lasting from the ages of 18 to 20, and no alternative civilian service exists. At the same time, the conditions of soldiers, problems within the army, and the rights of servicemen are not publicly discussed, and attempts to raise these issues are often suppressed. Against the backdrop of these tragic incidents, reports have also emerged about serious кадровые problems within the armed forces. According to independent media outlet Turkmen.news, Turkmenistan is currently facing a wave of officer resignations, which has raised concerns within the military system. In an attempt to stop this trend, the authorities have reportedly begun offering officers the possibility to serve in their home regions, hoping that this will persuade them to remain in the army. However, such measures do not address the underlying systemic problems. The reasons behind the crisis in the armed forces are clear: extremely low salaries for military personnel lack of social guarantees corruption within the system poor service conditions an atmosphere of fear and impunity As a result, the army is gradually losing professional officers. Against this backdrop, the deaths of conscript soldiers become an even more alarming signal. The army should be an institution that protects the country and its citizens. Yet in Turkmenistan an increasingly urgent question arises: Who will protect the soldiers themselves? The Civil Movement Human Rights Platform DAYANÇ Turkmenistan calls for: an independent investigation into the death of the soldier in Turkmenabat transparency in all investigations related to the deaths of servicemen an end to the intimidation of families of deceased soldiers investigations into hazing, violence, and corruption within the armed forces public access to information concerning the rights of military personnel An army cannot be built on fear, violence, and secrecy. Patriotism means loyalty to one's homeland and responsibility to its people. But when a system cultivates loyalty not to the country, but to a ruling clan, the result is an army in which fewer and fewer people are willing to serve. And more and more parents are left asking one painful question: Will their son return home alive after military service? Sources Turkmen.news https://turkmen.news/2026/03/13/oficeram-v-turkmenistane-predlagayut-sluzhit-v-svoih-regionah-chtoby-ostanovit-uvolneniya/� Radio Azatlyk Turkmenistan https://youtu.be/xcU_M4APFHc�
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