25 Turkmen activists in Turkey face forced return to their homeland. The Turkish authorities view the activities of the activists as a "national security issue," the Turkmen Helsinki Foundation (THF) reported January 31.
Last week, THF received a copy of a confidential document from the Turkish police. It contains the details of 25 activists from Turkmenistan who may face detention and forced deportation to their homeland. According to human rights activists, activists are included in it at the request of Ashgabat.
The document, which contains surnames, first names and patronymics, dates of birth, numbers of passports and Turkish certificates issued to foreign citizens, is not dated and does not contain signatures or seals. During detentions and interrogations last fall, two Turkmen activists and four lawyers independently managed to see this list, but the police forbade it to be copied. Police representatives also refused to say from which authority the document came to them.
Previously, representatives of civil society in Turkey were only aware of a list of 13 names of activists who allegedly threaten the safety of diplomats, sent to the Turkish authorities by the consulate of Turkmenistan in Istanbul. The names of 11 citizens of Turkmenistan living in Turkey also appear in the new police document (the “list of 25” did not include two: oppositionist Murad Kurbanov , who lives in France, who was denied entry to Turkey in early September 2021, and a citizen of Uzbekistan , Zhumasapar Dadebaev ).
Four of the persons on the list last fall were already in the process of deportation. One of them, Dursoltan Taganova , was detained for three days in September despite her earlier asylum application being registered. Vepa Orazmukhamedov was detained on November 11, 2021 and continues to be held in one of the deportation centers. His case is handled by lawyer Abdulhalim Yilmaz .
It is a matter of concern that some peaceful critics of the Turkmen regime are being code-coded G-87 by Turkish authorities, indicating circumstances that pose a threat to Turkey's security, leading to a ban on entry for up to five years (can be extended twice) and other restrictions on civil rights. If forcibly deported to Turkmenistan, activists face the risk of torture and politically motivated criminal prosecution. According to Turkish lawyers, the chances of challenging the legality of using this code are very low.
Code G-87 appeared both in the case of Vepa Orazmukhamedov and in the case of Zhumasapar Dadebaev, a Turkmen activist from Karakalpakstan, who was illegally taken to Uzbekistan in January.
List of Turkmen activists:
1. Abulov Kamil, born in 1986
2. Allalyyev Bayram, born in 1987
3. Annayev Dovran, born in 1985
4. Annayev Nurmuhammet, born in 1981
5. Altyyeva Narjemal, born in 1968
6. Gayypov Halnazar, born in 1992
7. Gochiyeva Hamragul, born in 1982
8. Jorayev Merdan, born in 1985
9.Islamov Kerim, born in 1990
10. Kurbandurdyyev Rozymurat, born in 1966
11. Mamedov Aziz, born in 1992
12. Matyusupova Nargiza, born in 1990
13. Meymankulyyev Farhad, born in 1992
14.Muhamedov Merdan, born in 1990
15. Orazkulyyev Govshut, born in 1991
16. Orazmuhammedov Vepa, born in 1992
17. Rasulova Hanum, born in 1990
18. Rakhmanov Ahmed (Rahmanov Ahmet), born in 1974
19. Salyhova Enejan, born in 1972
20. Setdarova Patma, born in 1957
21. Taganova Dursoltan, born in 1991
22. Tayyrov Atabek, born in 1987
23. Tachnazarov Gadam, born in 1987
24. Hayytbayev Azat, born in 1990
25. Hodzhanepesov Serdar, born in 1975
Source: Chronicles of Turkmenistan