Turkmenistan Requests Deportation of Fifty Activists and Journalists
The Chronicles of Turkmenistan reports that Turkmenistan has sent a list to several countries comprising 50 people, asking that they not be permitted to enter their territory, or to have them deported to Turkmenistan. The appeal was sent to Belarus, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Iran, Moldova, Georgia, and Armenia. According to the authorities, the index lists civil activists, journalists, independent media, and opposition representatives as threatening state security. Turkmenistan has prioritized the return of nine people from this list. It remains to be seen whether the aforementioned foreign countries will execute the Turkmen authorities wishes. However, Turkmen.news journalist Ruslan Myatiev, who went to Turkey on summer vacation with his family on July 25, was not allowed to enter the country. After several hours of interrogation by the Turkish National Security Service, Myatiyev was deported to Turkmenistan. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that the daughter of a Turkmen activist was not allowed to fly to Turkey. This follows on from an increasing number of cases where Turkmen citizens have been removed from flights abroad without explanation; the same thing is reportedly happening when attempting to cross the border by land.
