Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Justice is compiling data on former law enforcement officials to track those living abroad, amid new travel restrictions. The move aims to identify retired officers who relocated, enforcing stricter controls on travel for various demographics, including students. These measures are viewed as responses to rising emigration and security concerns.
Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Justice has initiated a campaign to compile data on former Interior Ministry officials, focusing on those who have left the country. This effort is part of the government’s ongoing strategy to monitor and restrict citizens’ travel abroad, marking a significant step in tracking retired law enforcement officers.
Beginning in February 2025, the ministry has been gathering information on law enforcement individuals with ranks of major or higher, covering service years from 1991 to 2024. Cooperation has been sought from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Migration Service, and the Prosecutor’s Office to complete the initiative by late April, aiming to identify officers who have relocated internationally.
Speculation exists concerning the government’s motives for this data collection. One theory suggests a response to cases of retired officers establishing residency abroad. Another posits a connection to Rustam Inoyatov’s situation, a former Uzbek official whose citizenship acquisition has raised concerns about similar actions among Turkmenistan’s ex-officers. These individuals, especially those with ties to Inoyatov, are subject to heightened scrutiny.
Recently, restrictions on travel for retired officials have become more stringent. They are now only allowed to exit Turkmenistan for medical reasons, requiring official approval from the Ministry of Health. This limitation is a continuation of earlier travel constraints imposed on public sector employees, including demands to return biometric passports or prove their absence.
Additionally, the government is responding to the phenomenon of rising emigration, particularly among individuals seeking work. Reports indicate some Turkmen citizens have engaged in military service abroad, notably in Russia’s conflict against Ukraine, in exchange for citizenship.
Travel constraints are also extending to students at Turkmen universities, with requirements to surrender their passports to prevent international travel. Those refusing to comply may face rejection from admission. Reports date this policy back two years, with professors suggesting impacts on mass emigration as a primary motivator behind such actions.
The Turkmenistan government is intensifying its monitoring of former law enforcement officers and imposing stringent travel restrictions to mitigate emigration trends. Efforts include data collection on ex-officers, authorization requirements for medical travel, and confiscating student passports. These moves are believed to be in response to concerns about officers settling abroad and increasing citizen emigration for work opportunities.
Original Source: timesca.com
