The Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (THF) has received an appeal from the relatives of 38-year-old Artom Borisovich Avdeev, who died under highly suspicious circumstances on October 16, 2026.

"My brother had HIV, a condition officially denied by the Turkmen authorities. Consequently, he was misdiagnosed with tuberculosis and deprived of proper HIV treatment. He also suffered from sarcoidosis, for which he relied on medications—prednisolone and dexamethasone—that I sent him from the United States," explains his half-sister, Yulia Belova.

The young man was preparing to relocate to the US for a family reunification with his mother. He was actively gathering documents and was scheduled to undergo an official medical examination for an immigrant visa in Ashgabat.

"He resided in Ashgabat at 58 N. Batyrov Street. The property is a large plot of land situated at a crossroads in a prime, highly desirable neighborhood," his sister notes. "On the day of his death, I spoke with Artom via video call. He was in excellent spirits, joking around. He ate, lay down on the couch, and passed away just minutes later. The arriving emergency medical team pronounced his sudden death due to 'natural causes.' Subsequently, doctors altered the stated cause of death several times. I believe this is a critical detail."

What followed was a chain of systemic legal violations that have administrative uniformity in the country. First, the first responders verbally cited a "heart attack." However, once the family insisted on an autopsy, the diagnosis was abruptly changed to "probable liver cancer." Second, there was an apparent attempt to conceal facts: authorities initially refused to grant an autopsy, pressured the relatives, and demanded an immediate burial. Third, the state refuses to issue official documentation: the family has been denied the emergency services' call logs, the forensic medical report (autopsy protocol) from the morgue, and even a death certificate. Essentially, the deceased was buried without any legal document certifying his passing.

In direct violation of national laws guaranteeing citizens free access to information, relevant state agencies and medical institutions have withheld critical documents from the grieving family. These actions not only violate constitutional rights but actively prevent the family from uncovering the true cause of their loved one's death.

"I spoke with police representatives twice. The first interaction was on October 16, followed by a separate video call on October 17, 2026. The officer on the line refused to identify himself, show credentials, or state his rank and position. Furthermore, he continuously turned away to conceal his face from the camera," Yulia recounts. The individuals are presumed to be officers from the Bagtyyarlyk district police department of the capital. "During that video call, I strongly demanded an autopsy. Instead, the police pressured my relatives to rush the funeral and drop the autopsy request."

Furthermore, despite well-founded and heavily argued suspicions of foul play (specifically, potential poisoning), Turkmenistan's law enforcement agencies are actively evading their statutory duties. Authorities refuse to initiate a comprehensive investigation, conduct preliminary inquiries, or open a criminal case. A formal complaint has been filed with the General Prosecutor's Office of Turkmenistan, and the family is currently awaiting a response.

Crucially, the property at No. 58 was recently undergoing an inheritance transfer following the death of Artom’s father a couple of years ago. The real estate agents handling the case "vanished immediately after Artom's death—they stopped answering calls and are absent from their offices," according to the relatives. "Moreover, neighbors witnessed an individual holding the rank of Major arriving at the house in an official department vehicle immediately after Artom passed away. He was taking photos of the property. The family was given no explanation for this."

In a society governed by the rule of law, such circumstances would trigger an immediate criminal investigation.

"The house Artom lived in occupies a prime real estate location in the center of the capital, near the circus. In an alarmingly short timeframe, all four residents of that house have died one after another: Artom, who was still young; his 30-year-old partner, Elena; and two of our elderly relatives. This breeds legitimate suspicions that someone powerful and influential has targeted our property," Yulia Belova told THF.

Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights