Police raid - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 7

Politics

Ashgabat Police Intensify Crackdown on Internal Migrants Ahead of Neutrality Day

Security forces in Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat have stepped up operations targeting visitors from other regions in the lead-up to the country’s 30th anniversary of neutrality. Witnesses report harsh interrogations at checkpoints, physical abuse, ethnic slurs, and widespread raids in areas where day laborers gather. Systematic Interrogations and Raids Recent media reports highlighting police crackdowns on non-resident workers appear to represent only a fraction of a broader campaign against internal migrants. According to residents, anyone arriving in Ashgabat now faces multi-stage inspections at all major entry points, including from the Gokdepe, Dashoguz, Mary, and Lebap regions. Checkpoint officers question travelers in detail, asking where they are going, who they are visiting, the length of their stay, and their purpose. Those suspected of seeking work are often forced to return to their regions of origin. Within Ashgabat, authorities continue searches at the Gurtly bus station and expand checks to markets, construction sites, and agricultural outlets, any location where day laborers might be found. The raids extend to suburban areas, including the city of Arkadag. Ethnic Discrimination and Unofficial Policies Longstanding unofficial policies appear to disproportionately affect ethnic Uzbeks. Residents of Dashoguz and Lebap regions report that career advancement in government is often limited for Uzbeks, with many being encouraged to change their names from childhood to improve their prospects. Even in districts where Uzbeks form the majority, leadership roles are predominantly held by ethnic Turkmen. According to Turkmen.news, the surge in pressure on non-residents coincides with preparations for high-profile events. In the summer, similar measures were observed in the resort town of Avaza before a United Nations forum. Now, authorities appear focused on “cleaning up” Ashgabat and Arkadag ahead of Neutrality Day. Eyewitnesses believe the government aims to present an idealized image of the capital as Turkmenistan prepares to mark 30 years of neutrality. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, the previous president and current Chairman of the country's People's Council, is reportedly placing significant emphasis on the celebrations. High-ranking international delegations are expected to attend. Institutionalized Control Since 2022 The origins of the current policy trace back to January 2022, when Berdymuhamedov, during a Security Council meeting, directed the head of the migration service, Nazar Atagaraev, to increase controls on internal movement. Since then, raids have become routine, with enforcement intensifying ahead of state events.

Labor Market

Ashgabat Police Reportedly Crack Down on Non-Resident Workers

In Turkmenistan, police raids targeting non-resident laborers seeking short-term work in the capital are intensifying, according to Turkmen.News, placing additional pressure on citizens from regions that face chronic unemployment at home. Day Laborers Targeted Police in Ashgabat have reportedly been extorting money from non-resident day laborers, threatening them with detention and forced removal from the city. These raids are concentrated near the newly opened transport hub in the Gurtly district, which recently replaced the former central interchange near the Tekin Bazaar, a long-established site for informal employment. For many from Turkmenistan’s regions, Ashgabat offers the only opportunity to earn a daily wage of $2.50 to $3.50. But this marginal lifeline is vanishing as police expel day laborers from Gurtly and threaten to drive non-residents out of the capital entirely. The area has developed its own informal employment system. Several women operate as unofficial coordinators, posing as passengers at the bus stop. They maintain notebooks filled with phone numbers, service prices, and available workers. Locals approach them with tasks, such as moving furniture or doing basic repairs, and are promptly matched with laborers who remain discreetly nearby. Raids and Intimidation Authorities appear intent on dismantling this system. Eyewitnesses say police conduct daily patrols in Gurtly, stopping young men, checking residency documents, and confiscating their earnings. The money is allegedly pocketed by officers, with no official record kept. Victims report being insulted, intimidated, and threatened with deportation to their home provinces before being released following brief “educational conversations.” Such operations are not new. In late October, Ashgabat police issued mass fines to non-resident taxi drivers. During the summer’s UN forum in Avaza, day laborers in Turkmenbashi were reportedly detained en masse, held in temporary facilities, and then forcibly returned to their home region. These actions are part of what appears to be an ongoing, unofficial campaign of pressure against internal migrants. Erasing Poverty from the Capital’s Image Some Ashgabat residents believe the relocation of the main bus hub to the outskirts is part of a broader strategy to conceal poverty behind the capital’s polished facade. “This is an attempt to cleanse the capital of any hints of the real, unsightly side of life,” one resident remarked. Income levels outside the capital remain significantly lower. For many families, irregular work in Ashgabat is their only source of supplemental income. Yet instead of addressing inequality, observers argue that authorities are reinforcing regional discrimination, further marginalizing non-resident workers.

Police raid

Uzbek Singer Concert Raided in Krasnoyarsk by Russian Guard

A concert by Uzbek singer Jaloliddin Ahmadaliyev in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk region was abruptly interrupted when officers from the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya) raided the venue with sniffer dogs and began conducting mass document checks. According to Russian state media RIA Novosti, the raid took place on September 22 at the Korona banquet hall in the Yemelyanovo district. Authorities said the operation was aimed at identifying foreign nationals in violation of migration laws and individuals potentially linked to drug trafficking. More than 600 people attended the event, and officers reportedly checked the documents of 620 individuals, including 210 foreign citizens. Witnesses said some attendees were forcibly removed from the venue, but no illegal substances or contraband were discovered during the sweep. Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the incident, stating that eight Uzbek nationals were found to be in violation of Russian migration regulations. Four were fined and ordered to be deported, while the remaining four were placed in a temporary detention facility for foreign citizens in Krasnoyarsk. The ministry stated that law enforcement actions must have a legal basis and should not disrupt cultural events. The Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Novosibirsk is providing legal assistance to the detained individuals. In a statement published via its official Telegram channel, the consulate clarified that the concert had not been coordinated with local authorities. In contrast, a previous Ahmadaliyev performance in Novosibirsk was formally approved and took place without incident. The consulate noted that the event in Krasnoyarsk was privately organized by Russian citizens in a venue not designed for large-scale cultural gatherings. While acknowledging that Russian authorities have the right to enforce migration regulations, the consulate urged that such operations not interfere with cultural events. It added that all required documentation has been submitted to local law enforcement in Krasnoyarsk for a legal review of the incident.