On July 25, Ruslan Myatiev, editor of the independent news site Turkmen.news, was barred from entering Turkey on claims of being a “national security threat.” Myatiev, one of the few journalists dedicated to covering human rights and social issues in Turkmenistan, was with his family on a summer vacation to Antalya when Turkish authorities detained him. After hours of questioning at the Antalya airport, he was escorted out of the country under the watch of security officials. The entry ban, which Turkish authorities confirmed, was reportedly issued upon Turkmenistan’s request.

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The Airport Encounter

Myatiev and his family had traveled to Antalya, one of Turkey’s popular vacation spots. However, during passport control, Turkish police called Myatiev aside, closed his inspection window, and took him to a senior officer’s office. After a quick check in the system, the officers identified a “G-82” code on his profile, which labeled him as a threat to national security.

While Myatiev had previously visited Turkey without issues, authorities informed him that the entry ban had been added to his profile in late 2023, months after his last visit. This timeline aligns with an entry ban placed on another Turkmen human rights advocate, Tajigul Begmedova, who was also tagged with the G-82 code. Begmedova, a head of the Turkmen Helsinki Foundation, has been a prominent figure in supporting Turkmen migrant workers and activists in Turkey.

Questioned and Escorted Out

After being informed of his entry ban, Turkish authorities called in their intelligence counterparts, who arrived in plain clothes and began an intense questioning session, probing Myatiev’s work history, connections with international organizations like the United Nations, and recent travels. After hours of interrogation, Myatiev was handed a document confirming his deportation and barred from re-entry.

Growing Cooperation Between Turkish and Turkmen Authorities

The origins of the Turkish-Turkmen cooperation appear to trace back to early 2020. In May 2020, a severe hurricane ravaged Turkmenistan’s Mary and Lebap regions, displacing thousands, with some reports citing dozens of casualties. With no official acknowledgement from Turkmen authorities or relief for affected citizens, this disaster, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, ignited widespread protests among Turkmen labor migrants in Turkey. Activists in Istanbul mobilized rallies and held demonstrations, most notably in Istanbul’s Aksaray district, where large numbers of Turkmen migrants reside. Protestors openly criticized Turkmenistan’s leadership, displayed anti-government banners, and even organized a march.

But recent years have seen Turkish authorities increasingly clamp down on Turkmen dissent, allegedly under pressure from Turkmenistan. Since 2020, the protest movement has been largely stifled, with some activists extradited back to Turkmenistan, while others have fled to Europe for asylum. A few who remained have ceased their public opposition, while others have faced unknown fates.

The expulsion of Turkmen journalists and rights defenders like Myatiev seems to be an extension of this bilateral crackdown on dissent.

Source: Turkmen.news

Editor: Ayna Matiyeva