We draw urgent attention to the systematic violations of the rights of Turkmen citizens living abroad, caused by the refusal of Turkmen diplomatic missions to issue or renew passports, as well as to a newly emerging and extremely dangerous consequence: the recruitment of Turkmen citizens into illegal armed formations involved in the war against Ukraine. Violation of Article 29 of the Law of Turkmenistan “On Migration” Article 29 explicitly obliges Turkmen diplomatic missions to issue and renew passports for citizens residing abroad. In practice: Embassies refuse to accept applications; Applications are rejected without justification; Citizens are required to return to Turkmenistan despite credible risks of persecution. Thus, diplomatic missions deliberately fail to comply with their own national legislation. Additional Critical Factor: Recruitment into Illegal Armed Groups Due to the lack of passports, legal residence, and access to protection mechanisms, many Turkmen citizens: Are forced to accept dangerous survival offers; Become dependent on criminal intermediaries; Are exposed to recruitment into armed formations; Remain undocumented in the Russian Federation; Become highly vulnerable to coercion into military activities. The absence of a passport renders a person: Legally invisible; Fully dependent on criminal structures; Unable to seek protection from police or consular services; An ideal target for recruiters. Consequences Violation of International Humanitarian Law The recruitment of undocumented foreign nationals into armed conflict without genuine consent constitutes a grave violation of the Geneva Conventions. Risk of Death and Enforced Disappearance There are already cases of Turkmen migrants disappearing after attempted crossings or following forced recruitment. Threat to International Security The involvement of undocumented migrants in illegal armed groups increases risks of transnational crime and destabilization. Violation of the Principle of Non-Recruitment of Migrants The UN and OSCE have repeatedly emphasized the prohibition of coercive or manipulative recruitment of migrants into armed conflicts. Why Turkmen Citizens Cannot Return Home Economic Collapse Unemployment and poverty levels are extreme. Risk of Exit Bans Thousands of returnees are placed on blacklists and prevented from leaving again for years. Risk of Persecution Migrants returning from Turkey, Russia, or the EU face interrogations, surveillance, and possible detention. What Passport Denial Creates People without legal identity or rights; Increased deportations and transnational repression; Loss of access to healthcare, education, and social services; Inability to work and support families; Exposure to criminal networks; Forced vulnerability to illegal military recruitment. Violations of International Law Article 12 ICCPR (freedom of movement) Articles 7 and 8 CRC (right of the child to identity) Article 3 Convention against Torture (non-refoulement) Geneva Conventions ICESCR (right to work and dignity) Article 16 ICCPR (right to legal personality) Requests to the United Nations We respectfully request the United Nations to: Demand an official explanation from Turkmenistan regarding non-compliance with Article 29 of its Migration Law. Initiate an urgent inquiry by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants concerning the risk of mass legal invisibility and de facto statelessness. Conduct an international investigation into the recruitment of Turkmen citizens into illegal armed formations. Call on host states to ensure: Protection from deportation, Temporary legal documentation, Legal assistance, Monitoring of forced mobilization risks. Request UNHCR to include Turkmenistan among countries with elevated risk of transnational repression and coercive recruitment of migrants. “It’s Like I Live in a Cage” - https://www.hrw.org/report/2024/11/11/its-i-live-cage/turkmen-authorities-denial-passports-turkmen-citizens-turkiye
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