Diplomatic Cooperation Must Not Sideline Human Rights

Diplomatic Cooperation Must Not Sideline Human Rights The Human Rights Platform of the Civil Movement “Dayanch” / Turkmenistan appeals to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of the Netherlands following the meeting in The Hague between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Tom Berendsen. According to the information published, the parties discussed expanding political and diplomatic, trade and economic, and cultural and humanitarian cooperation, as well as cooperation in transport, energy, agriculture, technology and other areas. We consider it important to emphasise that the development of relations with Turkmenistan must not take place separately from discussions concerning systematic human rights violations committed within the country and beyond its borders. We call upon the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of the Netherlands to give priority, during current and future contacts with representatives of Turkmenistan, to the following specific issues: — Transnational repression, including the case of Alisher Sakhatov and Abdulla Orusov, whose disappearance after being held in migration removal centres in Türkiye requires urgent international attention, clarification of their whereabouts and official answers; — Violence against women and children and the lack of effective protection, in particular the case of Jeren Altyyeva and her daughter Ogulnur Palvanova; — The refusal or effective inability of Turkmen citizens to obtain or renew passports through Turkmenistan’s diplomatic missions abroad, leaving people in a state of legal and immigration uncertainty; — Exit bans imposed on citizens of Turkmenistan, which separate families and restrict freedom of movement without transparent procedures or an effective mechanism for appeal. It is particularly important to us that human rights are not reduced to general diplomatic language. Behind every one of these issues are real people, families and children. The Human Rights Platform of the Civil Movement “Dayanch” has previously sent appeals and letters to the Dutch authorities concerning violations of the rights of Turkmen citizens. We sincerely hope and believe that the issues we raised and the information we provided were brought to the attention of the Turkmen side during this meeting. We also call upon the Netherlands to continue raising these matters in future bilateral contacts and to seek from the authorities of Turkmenistan not general assurances, but concrete answers and concrete action. Economic and diplomatic cooperation is important. But human rights must not be left outside the negotiating room. Human Rights Platform of the Civil Movement “Dayanch” / Turkmenistan