Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that earlier this week security guards in the quarantine zone of Turkmenabat detained a medical doctor who had a mobile phone in his pocket.
The entrance to the zone is equipped with lockers where medical staff сhange clothes. They then go through a security checkpoint and a disinfection area and only after that are they admitted to the quarantine zone.
Medical staff are obliged to leave their personal belongings in the lockers, including keys, wallets and mobile phones. When the doctor was changing his clothes, he left a phone in the pocket of his trousers, put on a gown and headed to the security checkpoint.
After identifying a mobile phone, the security guards summoned an NSM officer who had been on duty at the zone. The doctor was taken to the velayat office of the NSM (the National Security Ministry) where he was interrogated for two days.
He was accused of negligence and violation of confidentiality procedures and work ethics. The doctor was warned that criminal charges might be initiated against him if it transpires that he might have leaked information, photo or video material to foreign media outlets.
The doctor was released but he has been temporarily suspended. The NSM are keeping his mobile phone for further checks.
His spouse was subsequently interrogated to find out whether they have any family members or acquaintances overseas, who have made enquiries about the situation with coronavirus in Turkmenistan and the state of affairs in the quarantine zone. The telephone of the spouse is also being kept at the NSM office. Their home telephone has been disconnected.
“Chronicles of Turkmenistan” reported that the first confirmed coronavirus cases had been recorded in Turkmenistan.Seven people are being kept in a separate ward in the quarantine zone in Turkmenabat.
The premises are cordoned off from the remaining area and have a separate entrance.