Turkey Moves to Deport Turkmen Activists Despite Grave Torture Risks

Caption: Turkmen activists Alisher Sakhatov (left) and Abdulla Orusov (right).

A Samsun city court in Turkey has ruled for the deportation of two prominent Turkmen activists, Alisher Sahatov and Abdulla Orusov, back to Turkmenistan, a country where human rights organizations warn they face severe risks of torture and arbitrary imprisonment for their criticism of the government.

Sahatov, 39, and Orusov, 31, have resided in Turkey since 2018, having fled Turkmenistan. Both have been vocal critics of the Turkmen government, utilizing online social media platforms to highlight issues such as the authorities' refusal to renew passports for citizens abroad, violations of freedom of movement, lack of support for Turkmen migrants, suppression of free speech, and abuses by the Ministry for National Security and law enforcement agencies. Sahatov operated the YouTube channel "Erkin Garaýyş" (Free View), while Orusov, a blogger, founded the "Abdulla" YouTube channel.

Their current predicament escalated following their detention in Sinop in April 2025, after which they were transferred to the Akyurt Deportation Center in Ankara. During this period, both activists had been in the process of applying for international protection in Turkey, which typically safeguards applicants from deportation while their cases are under review. However, Turkish authorities officially denied them international protection, accusing them of engaging in activities "against Turkey's national security." According to Human Rights Watch, the authorities provided no concrete evidence or explanation to substantiate this claim.

The Samsun city court issued its deportation decision on June 13, though their lawyer was only informed two weeks later. The lawyer plans to file an appeal against this ruling with a higher court, arguing that the Turkish judge failed to consider the significant risk of persecution and ill-treatment the activists would face upon return to Turkmenistan.

Human Rights Watch has strongly urged Turkish migration authorities to immediately suspend any plans to deport Sahatov and Orusov, emphasizing that they face a "serious risk of persecution, torture, an unfair trial, and enforced disappearance" if forcibly returned. Rachel Denber, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, stated, "Returning a person to a country where there is a real risk that the person will be tortured is a serious breach of international law."

Turkmenistan is known for its severe punishment of government critics, with no tolerance for independent media or human rights scrutiny. The country's justice system lacks independence, torture is reportedly widespread, and dozens have been forcibly disappeared in prisons, some for over two decades. Turkmen officials have also been reported to promptly detain and imprison activists deported from Turkey on what appear to be politically motivated charges.

Turkey's international partners are called upon to urge Ankara to uphold its international legal obligations, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning anyone to a place where they would face a real risk of persecution, torture, or other ill-treatment. Despite these warnings and its treaty obligations under conventions like the European Convention on Human Rights and the Convention against Torture, Turkish authorities routinely detain and deport Turkmen migrants who become undocumented due to their government's refusal to renew passports abroad.

The legal battle continues for Alisher Sahatov and Abdulla Orusov, as their lawyer prepares to appeal the deportation order. Human rights organizations remain vigilant, advocating for their protection and resettlement to a third country where they can be safe from the grave dangers awaiting them in Turkmenistan.