Fire at Bayramaly Correctional Facility: Authorities Must Immediately Disclose Information

Fire at Bayramaly Correctional Facility: Authorities Must Immediately Disclose Information According to information shared by Muhammet Dewejiniyazat, Chairman of the Coordination Council of the Democratic Forces of Turkmenistan, a fire has occurred at a correctional facility located in the city of Bayramaly. According to the available information, a large number of fire engines were dispatched to the scene. At present, there is no official information regarding casualties, injuries, or the cause of the fire. As has happened in many similar cases, the authorities of Turkmenistan and the state-controlled media have not informed the public about the incident, causing serious concern and increasing the anxiety of the relatives of those detained in the facility. Muhammet Dewejiniyazat has called on the families of prisoners held in the facility to make every possible effort to obtain information about the condition of their loved ones. The Dayanç Human Rights Platform expresses its deep concern over the incident and calls on the authorities of Turkmenistan to immediately provide the public with complete and accurate information. We call on the authorities to: - officially confirm that the fire occurred and disclose the circumstances surrounding the incident; - publish information on the number of people killed, injured, or missing, if any; - ensure that relatives of prisoners are promptly informed about the condition and whereabouts of their family members; - guarantee that all injured individuals receive timely and adequate medical assistance; - conduct an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the causes of the fire with the participation of qualified experts; - make the findings of the investigation public and hold accountable anyone found responsible for negligence or violations of fire safety regulations. The very fact that a fire could occur at a facility under complete state control, where strict safety standards are expected to be maintained, raises serious concerns. If such a tragedy has indeed taken place, the public has the right to know how it was possible, whether all fire safety requirements were observed, and whether every necessary measure was taken to protect human life. Concealing information does not protect the state. On the contrary, it fuels distrust, gives rise to rumors, and deepens the suffering of the relatives of those held in custody. The rights to life, personal safety, timely medical care, and access to information about the fate of one's loved ones are fundamental human rights that must be respected regardless of a person's legal status, including those deprived of their liberty. The Dayanç Human Rights Platform will continue to monitor this situation closely and calls on international organizations to follow developments carefully and to urge the authorities of Turkmenistan to ensure transparency, accountability, and full compliance with their international human rights obligations.