The fate of dozens of Turkmen citizens convicted eight years ago for alleged links to the Gülen movement remains unknown, while limited information has surfaced about four of them. The individuals, convicted in 2017 following closed-door trials, included educators and successful entrepreneurs.

Arslan Meredov, Allanur Garaev, and Serdar Ovlyaguliyev were sentenced to 15 years in strict-regime penal colonies on January 25 and 31, 2017, under charges of propagating the “Nurcular” Islamic movement, according to court documents obtained by Radio Azatlyk. Their sentences, issued by the Berkararlyk District Court of Ashgabat, also mandated the confiscation of their property.

The 2022 revision of Turkmenistan’s Criminal Code replaced the charges under Articles 177 and 275 with Articles 189 and 304. Sources indicate the three men were initially held at the Ovadan-Depe prison before being transferred to a facility in Bayramali, where they now receive limited family visits but suffer from inadequate food and medicine supplies.

Another individual, Kyyas Shanarov, convicted on similar charges in 2018, served a three-year sentence. However, his current status remains unknown. Advocacy for amnesty has so far been unsuccessful for all involved, as concerns over their welfare persist.

From my point of view, the convictions and treatment of these individuals highlight significant human rights concerns. Closed-door trials without access to legal representation violate fundamental principles of due process and fair trial standards. Reports of inadequate food, medical care, and restricted family contact in prisons raise questions about compliance with international norms for the treatment of prisoners, such as those outlined in the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Mandela Rules). Advocacy for transparency, legal reforms, and improved conditions for detainees in Turkmenistan remains critical to addressing these issues.

Ayna Matiyeva

08/02/2025