Turkmen Government Intensifies Harassment of Exiled Activists and Their Families

Umida Bekchanova

Turkmen Government Intensifies Harassment of Exiled Activists and Their Families

In recent months, Turkmen authorities have escalated their campaign against dissidents—detaining activists abroad, attacking relatives back home, and pressuring those who speak out. From the forced detention of Istanbul-based activist Umida Bekchanova to the stone‐throwing assault on the elderly mother of TIHR director Farid Tukhbatullin, this crackdown underscores the regime’s determination to silence critical voices both inside and outside Turkmenistan.

Since 2017, a growing number of Turkmen activists have sought refuge in Turkey and elsewhere, publicly criticizing President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s authoritarian rule. The Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights (TIHR)—headquartered in Vienna—has been one of the leading exile organizations documenting abuses. Its director, Farid Tukhbatullin, regularly highlights human rights violations, earning him frequent threats. Meanwhile, Istanbul has become a hub for Turkmen expatriate activism, with community members organizing protests, running social‐media channels, and offering recorded testimonies about life under the Turkmen regime.

Despite their relocation, exiled activists and journalists have remained under the watchful eye of Turkmen security services. In many cases, authorities retaliate by targeting family members who still live in Turkmenistan—fabricating criminal charges, cutting phone lines, or directly threatening relatives. This tactic serves a dual purpose: to intimidate the activist abroad and deter others from speaking out.

Recent Developments

Detention of Umida Bekchanova in Istanbul

On May 30, 2025, Umida Bekchanova—a Turkmen citizen known for her vocal criticism of the Turkmen government—was detained in Istanbul by unidentified men in plain clothes and taken to a deportation center before being moved toward Istanbul Airport (according to Turkmen.news). Bekchanova, who had lived legally in Turkey since 2017, had participated in diaspora protests and contributed to Telegram channels exposing human rights abuses in Turkmenistan.

Modus Operandi:

Turkish sources report that Turkmen agents used Bekchanova’s daughter‐in‐law—who was in Turkey for seasonal work—as bait. After locating her daughter‐in‐law’s apartment, plainclothes officers falsely presented themselves as police, lured Bekchanova there, and seized her in a minibus (Turkmen.news, May 31).

Legal Status and Family Pressure:

At the time of arrest, Bekchanova carried no identification documents. Her relatives remaining in Turkmenistan faced reprisals: her younger son was arrested on trumped‐up charges and reportedly tortured during investigation; her other son was beaten. Bekchanova’s lawyer reported that, after initial detention at the Arnavutkoy deportation center in Istanbul, she was transferred on June 1 to the deportation center in Incegiz rather than directly to the airport (Azattyk Asia, June 2).

Human Rights Concerns:

Bekchanova’s arrest is emblematic of broader patterns: expatriate activists in Turkey have repeatedly received threats to cease their work. Turkish‐Turkmen diplomatic cooperation in repressing critics has drawn criticism from rights groups, who warn that deportation would subject her to arbitrary arrest, torture, or forced disappearance back in Turkmenistan.

Attack on TIHR Director’s Mother in Dashoguz

On the night of October 28–29, 2017, unknown assailants targeted 76-year-old Khalida Izbastinova, mother of TIHR director Farid Tukhbatullin, in her Dashoguz apartment (TIHR, October 2017). Stones and bricks shattered several windows, sending her to the hospital in shock. Although Izbastinova escaped physical injury, the incident forced an ambulance to respond, and local police opened an investigation—one that remains unresolved. Her phone line had already been cut off on October 28, leaving her isolated for days.

Pattern of Intimidation:

Prior to this attack, Turkmen security services had repeatedly threatened Tukhbatullin by targeting his family. His younger son was convicted on fabricated charges and incarcerated; other relatives were summoned and coerced to distance themselves from him. In 2015, Tukhbatullin fled Turkmenistan, citing persistent harassment.

Official Silence and International Calls:

Organizations such as the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) and RFCT condemned the stone‐throwing as retaliation for Tukhbatullin’s work. IPHR director Brigitte Dufour urged Turkmen authorities to “ensure a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation” and bring the culprits to justice. TIHR continues to document similar attacks on relatives of other exiled activists.

Details & Quotes

TIHR’s Perspective:

“The attack on my mother shows that the government remains intent on silencing those who dare to express disapproval of its arbitrary and repressive policies,” said Farid Tukhbatullin, TIHR director.

Family Reprisals:

Bekchanova’s lawyer emphasized:

“Her detention in Turkey is just the latest step; back home, her sons face torture and imprisonment. Deporting Umida to Turkmenistan would place her life in grave danger.”

Other Harassment Cases (Context):

Galina Vertyakova, a social media activist in Ashgabat, was visited by four national security officers on October 22, 2017, accused of spreading “false” information, and threatened with death if she continued “disseminating lies” (RFCT). Vertyakova had already served three months in prison for allegedly extorting a housing official—charges widely viewed as punishment for her online criticisms.

Galina Kucherenko, an animal rights defender, remains under constant surveillance: a car parks outside her home to track her movements, her internet connection is disrupted, and unknown individuals have threatened her for criticizing the government’s brutal methods to eliminate stray animals. In summer 2017, an alleged law enforcement official told her she would be held responsible for “criticizing” President Berdimuhamedov.

Nataliya Shabunts, a TIHR collaborator, has had her internet cut off and was assaulted in August 2017 by a group of women shouting racial slurs and demanding she leave Turkmenistan.

RFE/RL Correspondents:

Soltan Achilova: Under surveillance, her internet and mobile services blocked, and physically prevented from taking photographs in July 2017. Her children have also faced harassment.

Khudayberdy Allashov and his mother received suspended three-year sentences in February 2017 for possessing chewing tobacco—an offense rarely prosecuted—leading to police supervision upon release.

Saparmamed Nepeskuliev, an RFE/RL contributor, remains imprisoned on charges of “unlawful possession of pharmaceuticals” since August 2015, a sentence widely believed to be retaliation for his reporting.

RFCT and Memorial Calls for International Action:

“We urge Turkmenistan’s international partners to focus on these cases. Only sustained global attention can help ensure an end to this downward spiral,” said Geldy Kyarizov, RFCT editor-in-chief.“Turkmen authorities must be reminded of their obligation to facilitate, not stifle, public discourse on social and economic challenges,” added Vitaly Ponomarev of the Memorial Human Rights Centre.

Analysis and Reactions

The synchronized pressure on exiled activists and their families signals a broader strategy by Ashgabat: extending its repressive reach beyond national borders. By:

Detaining Exiles Abroad:

Turkey’s cooperation in detaining Bekchanova—using diplomatic channels and local law enforcement—demonstrates how Turkmenistan leverages bilateral ties to target opponents overseas. Human rights organizations warn that this reliance on “legal” deportation procedures is merely a façade for sending dissidents back to face torture, imprisonment, or enforced disappearance.

Intimidating Relatives at Home:

Stone‐throwing attacks, fabricated criminal charges, and phone blackouts aim to isolate activists from their support networks. These tactics serve both to punish dissidents and deter other family members from assisting or speaking out. The regime’s unpredictability—shattering windows at midnight or staging agricultural inspections—instills perpetual fear.

Controlling Information Flow and Narrative:

Blocking internet and mobile connections, staging “house calls” by security agents, and orchestrating smear campaigns on social media maintain a climate where open criticism can quickly lead to harassment or worse. Even during high‐visibility events such as the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (September 2017), organizers prioritized image‐building over addressing underlying human rights issues.

International Implications:

Turkey’s actions against Turkmen activists raise concerns about its commitment to asylum protections and international human rights norms. Exiled communities in Europe and North America are now pressuring host governments to safeguard dissidents more effectively. Meanwhile, organizations like TIHR, RFCT, IPHR, and Memorial emphasize that only coordinated international pressure—public condemnations, targeted sanctions, or diplomatic démarches—can force the Turkmen regime to halt its transnational repression.

The recent detention of Umida Bekchanova and the violent attack on TIHR director Farid Tukhbatullin’s mother illustrate how Turkmen authorities continue to pursue critics indiscriminately, regardless of borders. By weaponizing legal mechanisms abroad and orchestrating acts of intimidation back home, the regime sends a chilling message: dissent will not be tolerated. As international attention wanes after events like the Asian Games, human rights organizations stress that sustained scrutiny is vital. Until global partners—governments, intergovernmental bodies, and NGOs—remain vigilant, independent voices and their families will face relentless persecution.

What Happens Next?

Legal Appeals for Bekchanova: Her lawyers in Turkey are filing emergency appeals to halt her deportation, arguing she faces a credible risk of torture or imprisonment upon return.

Investigation into Dashoguz Attack: TIHR and IPHR continue to press Turkmen authorities for an impartial probe into the assault on Khalida Izbastinova, though past investigations have yielded no accountability.

International Advocacy: RFCT and Memorial are mobilizing campaigns to urge Turkey, the European Union, and the United States to impose targeted sanctions on Turkmen officials responsible for these abuses. They are also calling on the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to address these cases.