“Celebration” by Compulsion: Workers from Turkmenistan’s Regions Sent to Ashgabat under National Security Ministry Surveillance

“Celebration” by Compulsion: Workers from Turkmenistan’s Regions Sent to Ashgabat under National Security Ministry Surveillance Ahead of the upcoming session of the Halk Maslahaty and Independence Day celebrations, new reports have emerged in Turkmenistan concerning the compulsory involvement of workers in state-organised events. According to Radio Azatlyk, residents of Balkan Province, including employees of cultural institutions, state-funded organisations and other public bodies, are being sent to Ashgabat to participate in mass events. According to sources cited by the outlet, some people are taken away from their regular jobs for almost a month for the sake of ceremonies lasting only a few hours on state television. Participants are accommodated in hotels, while reportedly being required to cover a significant part of the related expenses themselves. There are also reports of money being collected from work collectives. Of particular concern are reports that participants are being monitored by officers of the Ministry of National Security (MNB) and that attempts to refuse participation may result in pressure at the workplace. When Participation Is No Longer Voluntary A state event cannot serve as a justification for violating labour rights. If a worker is effectively unable to refuse participation because of threats of dismissal, disciplinary measures, pressure from management or other adverse consequences, serious questions arise as to whether such participation is genuinely voluntary. Workers have the right to decent work, fair working conditions, rest, respect for human dignity, and protection from coercion and persecution. People take jobs to perform their professional duties and provide for their families — not to spend weeks serving state propaganda events at their own expense. We Call on Citizens to Report Labour Rights Violations The Human Rights Platform of the Civil Movement “Dayanch” / Turkmenistan addresses employees of state-funded organisations, cultural and educational institutions, healthcare facilities, state enterprises and other organisations directly: Do not accept such pressure as normal. If you are forced to participate in state events, ordered to leave your regular workplace, required to contribute money, threatened with dismissal or other consequences for refusing, or compelled to perform work or participate in activities against your will, document these incidents whenever it is safe to do so. Citizens can report cases of forced labour, child labour and other violations of workers’ rights to the International Labour Organization (ILO): Email: teswir@ilo.org Telephone: +993 71 659970 Office address: UN House, 21 Archabil Avenue, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan A complaint should preferably state briefly where and when the violation occurred, the organisation or institution involved, the nature of the coercion, what was demanded of workers, and what consequences they were threatened with. If submitting a complaint could put you or your family at risk, carefully consider your personal security and the amount of identifying information you disclose. Decent Work Is a Right, Not a Privilege Participation in state celebrations must be voluntary. Neither a public holiday, a session of the Halk Maslahaty, nor an image created for state television can take precedence over human dignity and labour rights. We call on citizens not to remain silent about such violations. The more documented complaints that reach international institutions, the harder it becomes to portray systematic coercion as the “voluntary participation of citizens.” Workers are not free extras for state propaganda. Their labour, time, dignity and rights must be respected.