On March 3, 2022, at about 16:00, several buses from Ukraine with refugees arrived in Turkey. Among them were about 20 Turkmen students who studied in various cities of Ukraine. Transportation to Istanbul Airport was organized by the Turkish government. We were unable to clarify the involvement of the Turkmen government in this, since the passengers were not aware of the issue.

The THF activists, who were at the Istanbul airport at the time, approached a conspicuous group of 20 young Turkmens who were confusedly trampling in front of a bus bound for the city. No one met them, there were no Turkish speakers among them, and they could not leave for the city due to lack of money. Our activists helped them buy tickets and asked where they intended to stay? Some have already contacted acquaintances living in Turkey and decided to temporarily stay with them, others hoped for good luck in the city itself.

Is the Turkmen consulate in Istanbul aware of the fellow citizens who arrived in Turkey and were left to their fate? The guys could not get in touch with the contact details indicated on the website of the Turkmen consulate. Young people, frightened by the authorities, were careful not to give their contacts to human rights activists.

Turkmen citizens who find themselves in a difficult situation in Moldova are also asking for help. It turned out that several dozen Turkmens themselves were able to get out of Ukraine and get to Moldova. And they, like the guys in Istanbul, were left to the mercy of fate. In a new place, they are not at all guided by whom to contact, where to stay and what to live on. Our activists are trying to reach out to the employees of the head of the presidential administration of Moldova.

Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights