On the evening of September 2, Murad Kurbanov , head of the Turkmen opposition movement Democratic Choice of Turkmenistan (DVT), was detained at the Istanbul International Airport . He flew to Turkey on a Turkish Airlines flight from Toulouse (France). While passing through passport control, Kurbanov was detained and placed in a cell for deportees, according to the human rights center "Memorial" with reference to the Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights.
Officials told the oppositionist that he was denied entry on the basis of Article 9 (1) of the Law on Aliens and International Protection No. 6458 and that entry into Turkey was closed for him until August 20, 2026. According to the law, the General Directorate for Migration under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, "if necessary, taking into account the opinions of the relevant state bodies and institutions, may prohibit the entry of foreign citizens ... into the territory of the Republic of Turkey, if foreign citizens pose a threat to the state system, public safety and public health " for a period of up to five years.
Now lawyer Mustafa Yaman is trying to prevent the deportation of the oppositionist.
On August 1, Turkmen migrants held a protest at the Turkmen consulate in Istanbul. 10 activists were detained by the police, but then released. Five more people were beaten by unknown people, allegedly connected with the Turkmen special services. Unknown persons also tried to persecute Murad Kurbanov, who, together with another activist, was near the place of the picket. On August 9, the victims, including Kurbanov, filed applications with the Turkish prosecutor's office with complaints of beatings, harassment and threats, Memorial notes.
In turn, the Consul General of Turkmenistan in Istanbul, Myratgeldi Seyitmammedov , filed a complaint with the police on August 1, claiming that the protesters endanger the safety of buildings and staff, insult the President of Turkmenistan and provoke citizens against the state, "disturbing peace and tranquility." The document says about the need for the Turkish side to take "all necessary measures to prevent the repetition of such illegal actions."
According to participants in the Turkmen protest movement, the ban on Murad Kurbanov's entry into Turkey on August 20 is most likely related to this and other similar appeals from the Turkmen authorities.
Memorial's reference. Murad Kurbanov was born on October 15, 1965 in Ashgabat. Since 2005 he has been permanently residing in France and is a citizen of this country. In 2020, he created the opposition National Democratic Movement "Democratic Choice of Turkmenistan" ("Türkmenistanyn Demokratik Saylawy"), whose activists tried to organize protests abroad and in Turkmenistan. Kurbanov has a Youtube channel where he criticizes the regime of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Source: Chronicles of Turkmenistan