Turkmenistan is actively monitoring former law enforcement officials to track those who have emigrated. The initiative includes travel restrictions for retired officers, requiring special permissions for any travel abroad. Additionally, students enrolling in local universities must surrender their passports to prevent overseas movement, illustrating the government’s heightened scrutiny over citizen mobility.
The government of Turkmenistan has undertaken a new initiative to monitor former law enforcement officials, specifically those from the Interior Ministry, as part of its broader strategy to curtail citizens’ travel abroad. Since February 2025, the Ministry of Justice has been compiling a list of retired officials from ranks of major and above, who served between 1991 and 2024. This data collection, expected to finish by the end of April, involves collaboration with several ministries and is aimed at identifying those who have emigrated.
This initiative appears to stem from recent discoveries that several former officers have relocated to different countries after retirement. Notably, the government’s actions may be influenced by the case of Rustam Inoyatov, former head of Uzbekistan’s National Security Service, who was linked to a citizenship acquisition scheme in Vanuatu. Authorities are particularly focusing on individuals with prior connections to Inoyatov, enforcing them to provide updates on their living conditions.
Furthermore, retired law enforcement officers have been directed that any travel abroad must be for medical reasons, needing explicit permission from the Ministry of Health. This marks a continuation of the government’s previous travel restrictions, which began to intensify in September 2024 when public sector employees were asked to submit biometric passports or confirm their lack thereof.
The reach of these travel limitations has further extended to students, who are now compelled to surrender their passports to enroll in Turkmen universities. This measure, reportedly in place for two years, is aimed at preventing youth emigration, with any student who resists risking denial of their admission. Professors indicate these actions signify a governmental strategy to stem mass youth flight from the country.
In summary, Turkmenistan’s recent policies regarding former law enforcement officials and students reflect a concerted effort to monitor and restrict the movement of its citizens. The Ministry of Justice’s data collection on retired officers aims to identify those who have settled abroad, while stringent travel requirements for both former officers and students indicate an underlying concern regarding emigration. These actions may be symptomatic of broader socio-political issues within the nation as it grapples with increasing outflows of citizens in search of opportunities elsewhere.
Original Source: timesca.com
