Forced Participation of Students and Public Sector Workers in Mass Events in Turkmenistan: Sport as a Tool of Pressure

Statement by the Human Rights Platform of the Civic Movement “DAYANÇ” / Turkmenistan In Turkmenistan, the participation of students and public sector workers in mass events continues to be compulsory and supervised at the highest levels of government. Another confirmation of this practice has emerged through an investigation by the independent outlet turkmen.news, which obtained a copy of an official letter from 2024 issued by the Chairman of the State Committee for Physical Culture and Sports, Allaberdy Saparov. The document reveals that state authorities systematically assign attendance quotas to universities, ministries, and public institutions in order to fill stadiums and arenas. Thousands of students, along with employees from education, healthcare, science, culture, and other budget-funded sectors, are forcibly mobilized to participate. Beyond compulsory attendance, citizens are subjected to financial pressure, as they are required to purchase tickets at their own expense. For the upcoming football match between FC “Arkadag” and “Al-Nassr,” in which Cristiano Ronaldo’s team is involved, ticket prices reportedly range from 200 to 400 manats — a significant financial burden for most residents of Turkmenistan. Students are also required to comply with specific dress codes, purchase additional uniforms, and take part in rehearsals for chants and staged crowd scenes intended for televised broadcasts. In effect, they are turned into unpaid extras to project an image of public enthusiasm. These practices resemble forms of forced labor and constitute serious violations of fundamental human rights, including freedom of choice, freedom of assembly, and protection from economic coercion. The Human Rights Platform “DAYANÇ” / Turkmenistan emphasizes that the use of citizens as a controlled mass for state propaganda and image-building events represents systemic exploitation. We call on the international community, human rights organizations, and sports institutions to pay close attention to these abuses and to assess the ongoing forced mobilization of the population in Turkmenistan. 📌 Source: turkmen.news — independent media outlet covering Turkmenistan (Investigation published January 28, 2026)