Didar Must Not Be Forgotten: Remembering the Blogger Who Dared to Speak the Truth

Didar Must Not Be Forgotten: Remembering the Blogger Who Dared to Speak the Truth In authoritarian states, people do not disappear only because of political activism. Sometimes, all it takes is asking a simple question. Why are meat prices rising? Why can ordinary people no longer afford basic food? Why does the government remain silent while living standards continue to deteriorate? These were the questions publicly raised by Turkmen blogger Didar, known on social media by the pseudonym "Hitrowskin." In late 2025, he published a video openly discussing the sharp rise in meat prices and the worsening socio-economic conditions faced by ordinary citizens. He was not talking about politics. He was speaking about the everyday reality experienced by millions of people across Turkmenistan. His message quickly spread across social media. Soon after publishing the video, Didar disappeared. When Asking Questions Becomes Dangerous Some time later, Azatlyk Radiosy published its own investigative report. The journalists reported that they had located Didar's grave. To this day, however, the circumstances surrounding his death have not been subjected to an independent, impartial, effective, and transparent investigation. Society has never received clear and credible answers to the many questions that remain unanswered. In the same investigation, Azatlyk also documented an ongoing escalation of pressure against social media users. According to testimonies from people inside the country, citizens have been summoned for questioning, their mobile phones searched, and they have been pressured to delete critical comments, refrain from communicating with independent media, and avoid expressing opinions that differ from the official narrative. Several of Azatlyk's sources also stated that Didar's fate had allegedly been used as a warning to intimidate others who might consider criticizing the authorities. If these accounts are accurate, they point to a deeply troubling climate of fear in which many citizens of Turkmenistan are forced to live. Why It Is Important to Remember Didar Remembering Didar is about more than preserving the memory of one individual. It is a reminder of how fragile human rights become when freedom of expression is undermined. When society fails to protect journalists, bloggers, and civic activists, it gradually loses its ability to defend its own social and economic rights. Today, the issue is food prices. Tomorrow, it may be access to education. The day after tomorrow, it could be healthcare. Silence has never solved social problems. It only allows them to grow deeper. Every Voice Matters Didar's story should serve as a lesson for all of us. A strong civil society is not built solely by human rights defenders or journalists. It begins with ordinary people who are willing to stand with one another, refuse to ignore injustice, and ensure that those who suffer for speaking the truth are never forgotten. When only one person speaks, that individual can be silenced. When thousands speak together, they cannot be ignored. That is why mutual support, civic solidarity, and independent journalism are the foundations of every free and democratic society. An Appeal from the Dayanç Human Rights Platform We call on the authorities of Turkmenistan to conduct an independent, impartial, effective, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Didar's death, ensure that those responsible are held accountable, and guarantee the safety of journalists, bloggers, and all citizens who peacefully exercise their right to freedom of expression. We also call upon the United Nations, the OSCE, the European Union, international human rights organizations, diplomatic missions, and democratic governments to continue paying close attention to the situation of independent journalists, bloggers, and civil society representatives in Turkmenistan. Remembering Didar is not only about the past. It is about the present and the future. As long as the circumstances surrounding his death remain without an independent investigation, and as long as people continue to fear speaking openly about the problems affecting their lives, his story remains unfinished. Didar must not be forgotten. His story is a powerful reminder that the right to speak the truth must be protected with the same determination as the rights to life, liberty, and human dignity.