The economic recession, which began in 2015 with the dramatic reduction in hydrocarbon prices – the main source of Turkmenistan’s state revenues – has led to another wave of emigration from Turkmenistan.
As previously calculated by correspondents of “Meteojournal”, in 2019 a record number of Turkmen nationals since the country’s independence – about 110 thousand people left Turkmenistan.
Residents cannot leave the country because regular air service with other countries has been suspended as a COVID-19 prevention measure.
Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” are reporting lower prices for apartments due to the large number of properties for sale. Residents are also selling used household appliances and furniture.
Rumours are being spread by panic-stricken residents that regular air service will allegedly not be resumed earlier than in 2024, and the State Program for Assisting Compatriots Residing Abroad in their Voluntary Resettlement in the Russian Federation will be terminated effective 2025.
However, the Chairperson of the Democratic Civil Union of Turkmenistan Vyacheslav Mamedov, who has experience in migration issues, told “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” that this is not the case.
Vyacheslav Mamedov
“Two groups of migrants relocate from Turkmenistan to Russia.The first group receives a resettlement permit based on migrant status obtained pursuant to the 1993 Agreement between Russia and Turkmenistan.
The agreement and protocols to it do not establish the period of validity of migrant status and therefore, anybody who has obtained a permit can relocate to Russia unhampered.
Others can apply for migrant status pursuant to the conditions of the Agreement.As of today there are no restrictions to the period of validity of the document.
The website of the Consular Department of the Russian Federal Foreign Ministry refers to the migrant status as valid.
The second group leaves Turkmenistan pursuant to Russia’s State Resettlement Support Program.Migrants receive a state program participant certificate and relocate to a specific region which is willing to host them.
The State Program, which was initiated in 2012, has no expiration date.The list of regions to where migrants can relocate is constantly growing.Russian compatriots and those who consider Russian their native tongue, as well as former nationals of the Soviet Union, can apply for a certificate and move to the region of their choice or the one which has been offered to them.
Those with a profession which is in demand in a specific region are given priority.A permit is not issued to those with previous convictions, who are on the wanted list or fail to pay alimony, the human rights activist reports.
More detailed information on the programs is available on the website of the Russian Federation in Ashgabat.
As regards property, prices for apartments have dropped by 10-30% on average.
The price for a one-room apartment in Ashgabat, which cost $20.000 in the middle of last year, was down to $16.000 by the end of last year; a three-room apartment from $40.000 to $32.000 and a four-room apartment from $65.000 to $47.000.
One-room apartments in Dashoguz now cost $8.000 instead of $10.000 and three-room apartments are sold at $27.000 instead of $35.000.
The price depends on the district, the quality of renovation and furniture availability.In addition, the price is affected by the manat exchange rate to the US dollar as well as the exchange rate of Turkish lira to the US dollar because many Turkmen families depend on migrant workers employed in Turkey.The post V.
Mamedov: Turkmen nationals hoping to emigrate to Russia should not fear the termination of the State Program first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.