A source at “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” reports that on 4 September, 2021 Turkmen border patrols from the military unit №2160 detained two individuals, who illegally tried to cross the Turkmen-Uzbek border at Hojambaz Talimarjan.
Two men, born 1999 and 2001, are Turkmen nationals from Turkmenabat and Kerki. They have completed a course of studies in the Uzbek city of Karshi and failed to return to their home country for a long time because due to the COVID-19 pandemic Turkmenistan had closed borders, including for its own citizens.
On 21 August, 2021 the man from Turkmenabad was informed that his father was sick and was in critical condition.He had contacted the Embassy of Turkmenistan three times seeking assistance with his return to his home country, but the officials from the diplomatic mission were not able to help him.
On 29 August, 2021 the man’s father died.
After that two nationals decided to cross the border illegally.
According to the latest reports, the detainees are being held in the temporary detention facility in Kerki. They are facing charges for the illegal crossing of the border.
In July, 2021 Turkmen students doing a course of studies in Uzbekistan told “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” that they attempted to return to Turkmenistan on their own through a border checkpoint “Alat”, but Turkmen border patrols and an officer of the Migration Office stopped the border crossing attempt informing the students that the latter are allowed to cross the border only if accompanied by officials from the Turkmen Embassy and an official letter.
Study-abroad Turkmen students are in a very complicated situation.Turkmenistan has closed its borders and young people are unable to return to their home country.
There are not enough repatriation flights, occasionally organized by the Turkmen authorities, to bring home everyone.In addition, because of the financial crisis, parents have been almost deprived of the opportunity to make money transfers to their children.The post Turkmen border patrols detain Turkmen nationals at Uzbek border first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.