New German Ambassador to Turkmenistan: Hope for a Dialogue with Human Rights at Its Core

New German Ambassador to Turkmenistan: Hope for a Dialogue with Human Rights at Its Core The Human Rights Platform of the Dayanch Civil Movement / Turkmenistan congratulates Ms Petra Dachtler on her appointment as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Turkmenistan. We wish Ambassador Dachtler every success and a productive diplomatic mission. We sincerely hope that this new chapter in German–Turkmen relations will encompass not only economic and interstate cooperation, but also meaningful dialogue on human rights, the rule of law, and the protection of people in vulnerable situations. On 24 August 2026, Ms Petra Dachtler presented her credentials to the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov. As she begins her diplomatic mission, we, as representatives of independent Turkmen civil society, would like to draw the Ambassador’s attention to several issues that, in our view, require particular attention from Turkmenistan’s international partners. Beyond Official Statements: People Must Be Seen and Heard Turkmenistan regularly speaks of expanding cooperation with European countries. However, genuine cooperation cannot be complete without an open and substantive discussion of the human rights situation. We continue to receive appeals from citizens concerning violence against women and children, arbitrary restrictions on the right to leave the country, difficulties obtaining passports, persecution for public criticism, pressure on relatives, and transnational repression. At the same time, independent civil society has virtually no opportunity for meaningful engagement with state institutions inside Turkmenistan. We hope that the German Embassy will be prepared to listen not only to the official position of state authorities, but also to the voices of victims, their families, independent human rights defenders, and civil society representatives. Jeren Altyyeva and Ogulnur Palvanova: Violence and the Inability to Obtain Justice First and foremost, we ask Ambassador Dachtler to pay particular attention to the case of Jeren Altyyeva and her daughter, Ogulnur Palvanova. As reported by Turkmen.news, the family’s appeal to law enforcement authorities regarding alleged violence did not result in the alleged perpetrator being held accountable: the prosecutor’s office found no grounds for criminal prosecution. Cases such as this demonstrate how vulnerable a woman or child can become when existing state mechanisms fail to provide effective protection. We call for assistance in ensuring that Jeren Altyyeva and Ogulnur Palvanova receive urgent, qualified psychological and legal support, that their allegations are examined objectively and effectively, and that the Turkmen authorities address and remove restrictions preventing them from freely leaving the country. Maral Annayeva: From Domestic Violence to Transnational Repression The case of Maral Annayeva requires particular international attention. According to Turkmen.news, Annayeva, who had previously reported violence by her husband, a member of the security services, was in the United Arab Emirates but was extradited to Turkmenistan in April 2026. This case is especially alarming because it concerns not only allegations of domestic violence. After leaving Turkmenistan and publicly criticising the authorities, her situation took on the characteristics of transnational repression. The case also affects her two young children, who, according to the information available to us, were themselves subjected to domestic violence. We insist on the need to ensure Maral Annayeva’s safety and to facilitate the relocation of her and her children to a safe country, where the family can receive protection, access to legal counsel, and the necessary psychological assistance. Exit Bans, Passports and Transnational Repression The cases of these women cannot be viewed merely as isolated incidents. The Human Rights Platform of the Dayanch Civil Movement has repeatedly drawn the attention of international organisations and diplomatic missions to reports of arbitrary restrictions on citizens’ right to leave Turkmenistan, difficulties in obtaining and renewing passports through Turkmen diplomatic missions abroad, and the persecution of government critics beyond the country’s borders. The inability to obtain a valid passport abroad can place a person in an extremely vulnerable legal position. Without valid documentation, individuals may face serious difficulties with legal residence, employment, freedom of movement and family reunification and, in some countries, may even face detention and the risk of being returned to Turkmenistan. We hope that Germany, as a member state of the European Union, will consistently raise these concerns in its dialogue with Turkmenistan. Animals Are Also Defenceless Victims of Cruelty We would also like to draw Ambassador Petra Dachtler’s attention to an issue that is too often excluded from major diplomatic discussions: cruelty towards animals in Turkmenistan. Turkmen.news has reported, among other cases, the brutal rounding-up of stray dogs in the city of Turkmenbashi ahead of a presidential visit. We have also seen other reports, photographs and videos that raise serious concerns about the treatment of stray animals. From a publicly available video featuring Ambassador Dachtler, we learned that she came to Turkmenistan with her cats. For us, this is more than simply a personal detail. It gives us hope that, as someone who clearly cares about animals, she will understand particularly well that animals are entirely dependent on the humanity and responsibility of those who have power over them. We therefore make a special appeal to Ambassador Dachtler: please help us draw attention to the protection of animals in Turkmenistan. We hope for support in promoting humane approaches to managing stray animal populations, ending cruel round-ups and killings, and establishing effective legal mechanisms to prevent and punish cruelty to animals. Protecting animals does not compete with protecting human beings. On the contrary, intolerance of cruelty — whether directed against a woman, a child, or a defenceless animal — is one of the hallmarks of a humane society. We Are Ready for Dialogue and Cooperation The Human Rights Platform of the Dayanch Civil Movement / Turkmenistan documents individual cases of human rights violations, works with citizens’ appeals, and publicly raises issues concerning violence, transnational repression, freedom of movement, passport restrictions, the protection of women and children, and other systemic human rights concerns. We are open to direct dialogue with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and are prepared to provide the materials and documentation available to us concerning individual cases. Ambassador Dachtler, once again, please accept our sincere congratulations on your appointment. We wish you every success and a productive mission in Turkmenistan. We sincerely hope that human rights and the protection of women, children and animals will receive the attention they deserve during your diplomatic mission. We believe that diplomacy can be more than a language of relations between states. It can also be a means of protecting those whose voices too often remain unheard. With respect and a profound hope for cooperation in the field of human rights, Diana Dadasheva Chair Human Rights Platform of the Dayanch Civil Movement / Turkmenistan France Lala Abdyrakhmanova Representative Human Rights Platform of the Dayanch Civil Movement / Turkmenistan Türkiye Human Rights Platform of the Dayanch Civil Movement: https://dayanchcivil.com/ Related materials Maral Annayeva — “Woman Who Complained About Security Officer Husband Extradited from UAE to Turkmenistan” — Turkmen.news: https://turkmen.news/2026/04/16/iz-oae-v-turkmenistan-ekstradirovali-jenshinu-zhalovavshuyusa-na-muzha-silovika/ Jeren Altyyeva and Ogulnur Palvanova — “‘Our Rights Have Been Trampled On.’ Ashgabat Prosecutor’s Office Finds No Crime in the Actions of an Official Accused of Abusing His Wife and Stepdaughter” — Turkmen.news: https://share.google/I7GP6h79ZZFA7KH8K “Stray Dogs Brutally Rounded Up in Turkmenbashi Ahead of Presidential Visit” — Turkmen.news: https://share.google/dzL9kKjrLeANU3CtB Video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BFABCoNrL/