Speech by the representative of the Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights Annadurdy Khadzhiev.
I want to remind you that torture is not only the infliction of physical suffering. It is also moral and ethical suffering and their intentional infliction, based on discrimination of any kind.
The other day, the Turkmen authorities banned 73-year-old believer Yakutjan Babadzhanova from leaving Turkmenistan to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. How to measure the moral trauma based on discrimination that the authorities inflicted on her twice this month by banning her from making the pilgrimage to which she aspired all her life?
Zarina Akhtyamova, a citizen of Turkmenistan, a migrant in Türkiye, she married a citizen of this country. They have two joint children, but due to artificial barriers from the Turkmen authorities, the children cannot receive any documents. As a result, they are deprived of the right to health care, attendance at kindergartens, schools, and the right to education. What is their injury compared to? And there are several thousand such Turkmen women and children in Türkiye.
Most recently, in the deportation center of the city of Van (Türkiye), hundreds of citizens of Turkmenistan were beaten by gendarmes. Citizens of Turkmenistan stay there for 6 months, sometimes up to 12 months. We understand that this is the law. However, is it not contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights to isolate people without a court decision for such a long period of time? Moreover, their so-called fault is only that the native consulate does not issue documents to them, does not confirm their citizenship.
A citizen of Ukraine Olga Belova married a citizen of Turkmenistan Z.Kh., they have an official marriage certificate. Recently they had a child, there is one more - older. And she fell ill, she has oncology, she is going to have an operation. Her spouse is in Türkiye, has a Ukrainian visa and cannot get a transit visa in any way to enter Ukraine. Where should she take her two children? Who will take care of the woman herself after the operation? Is this not a moral injury that is inflicted on the woman and children of this family.
Mr. Volodimir Zelenski, you said: “Look at us. Everything is possible!" Great. However, please note that at the same time, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Viktor Mayko, sings praises to the Turkmen dictators, the Berdimuhamedov family! It is at a time when innocent citizens are kept in the prisons of Turkmenistan on trumped-up charges, where they are created unbearable conditions, they are tortured, there are up to a hundred missing.
You are campaigning to ban Russian business in Europe, while the Ukrainian companies «Interbudmontazh», Sumy Machine-Building Research and Production Association named after Frunze, «Interpipe-Ukraine», «Zorya-Mashproekt», Kryukov car building plant and others are strengthening the Turkmen dictatorship. They participate in the implementation of large-scale projects at the national level, knowing about the pervasive corruption in Turkmenistan, knowing how Turkmen prisoners suffer, where even the Red Cross has no way!
Is there really double standards are welcome in your government?
Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights
