“The Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights” has prepared an address to the Ombudsperson of Turkmenistan in connection with the fact that the Embassies of Turkmenistan offer no assistance to citizens who are currently abroad and unable to return back to their home country because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic it is impossible to send an official address to the Ombudsperson of Turkmenistan from the EU.The TIHR does not have the Ombudsperson’s e-mail address.
In this connection the document is being published on the website of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan”.A copy of the letter will be sent to the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Vienna.
Dear Ms Gurbannazarova,
“The Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights” receives letters from Turkmen nationals who are currently abroad temporarily and are experiencing difficulties with returning to their home country because of the border closures related to the outbreak of coronavirus.
In many cases their visas or passports have expired or/and they have run out of means of subsistence. Turkmen nationals are contacting the Embassies of Turkmenistan for support in their host countries because they expect Turkmenistan, as other countries, to undertake measures to promptly return them to their home country and alleviate their current situation.
However, according to reports the TIHR has obtained, the Embassies have not responded to any appeals by citizens as their telephone calls and e-mail messages remain unanswered. The TIHR decided to verify this information and attempted to contact the Embassies in some countries.
The Consulate General of Turkmenistan in Turkey (Istanbul)
An announcement has been posted on the website, pursuant to which effective 18 March, 2020 the Consulate Office was switching to a remote working mode. The telephone number and the email address Turkmen nationals could use in cases of urgency was indicated in the announcement.
On 27 May, 2020 a TIHR representative tried to contact the Consulate office at the indicated telephone number. No person answered the phone: the voice mail was on.
Later the same day a TIHR representative sent an email to the Consulate Office with a request for information on the measures of support being offered to Turkmen nationals staying in Turkey who are unable to return to their home country due to the border closures because of the coronavirus pandemic.
As of 15 June, 2020 no response was received.
The Embassy of Turkmenistan to the Russian Federation (Moscow)
An announcement has been posted on the website, pursuant to which effective 17 March, 2020 the Consulate Office was switching to a remote working mode. However, there was no mention of the support being offered to Turkmen nationals in case of urgency.
On 27 May, 2020 a TIHR representative called the Embassy. The voice mail “responded” that because of coronavirus the Embassy was closed and recommended to contact the Embassy by email on all matters.
Later the same day a TIHR representative sent an email to the Consulate Office with a request for information on the measures of support being offered to Turkmen nationals staying in the Russian Federation who are unable to return to their home country due to the border closures because of the coronavirus pandemic.
As of 15 June, 2020 no response was received.
The Embassy of Turkmenistan to the Republic of India (New Delhi)
The Embassy is keeping regular hours.On 3 June, 2020 a TIHR representative called the Embassy of Turkmenistan to India.
An Embassy official answered the call.When asked what assistance the Embassy provides to Turkmen nationals, who are in India during the coronavirus quarantine and wishing to return to their home country, the interlocutor said that he is not the Ambassador and that the Ambassador was not currently available. “You can contact our Consulate department via email and they will reply to your questions”.
Later the same day the TIHR sent an email to the Embassy of Turkmenistan to India with the same questions. As of 15 June, 2020 no response was received.
The Embassy of Turkmenistan to the United States of America (Washington, D.C.)
The website notifies that in connection with the coronavirus pandemic the Embassy has switched to a remote working mode and has recommended using emails in case of urgency.
On 3 June, 2020 the TIHR sent a letter to the Embassy of Turkmensitan to the U.S.with a request for information on the measures being offered to Turkmen nationals who are in the USA during the coronavirus quarantine and wishing to return to their home country.
As of 15 June, 2020 no response was received.
By depriving those citizens of Turkmenistan who are currently abroad of support and help the authorities of Turkmenistan violate article 6 of the law “On citizenship of Turkmenistan”, pursuant to which
Citizens of Turkmenistan shall be guaranteed protection and defense of the State on the
territory of Turkmenistan and abroad.
The State, its diplomatic missions and consular offices and their officials are obligated to take measures to ensure that Turkmen citizens may fully exercise all rights extended to them by the legislation of a host country and by international agreements, to which Turkmenistan and the host country are parties, in order to protect their rights and legitimate interests as prescribed by the existing legislation, and when necessary, to restore infringed rights of citizens of Turkmenistan.
Dear Ms Gurbannazarova,
We kindly request you to use your good offices to ensure that Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs fulfills its obligation in representation offices in order to facilitate the return to their home country of those Turkmen nationals who are temporarily forced to stay abroad because of the border closures related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sincerely,
The TIHR Chairperson
Farid Tukhbatullin
The PDF document is available here.