Country Reports on Terrorism 2022: Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan

Overview:  In 2022 the Government of Turkmenistan (GoTM) continued its efforts to improve the capacity of law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism, ensure border security, and detect terrorist financing.  Turkmenistan actively cooperates with international organizations and participates in the C5+1 diplomatic platform to prevent violent extremism and counter international terrorism.  Turkmen authorities maintain close surveillance on the country’s population and its borders.

2022 Terrorist Incidents:  There were no reported terrorist incidents in Turkmenistan in 2022.

Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security:  There were no significant changes in the legislation pertaining to counterterrorism.  Turkmen border and customs officials attended the OSCE and UNODC-organized 17th Central Asia Border Management Initiative in December to discuss potential challenges to border security emanating from Afghanistan.  During a March ministerial conference on developing a joint action plan with other Central Asian countries to implement the UN’s Global Counterterrorism Strategy, Turkmenistan proposed to establish a regional counterterrorism office to provide activities tailored to the needs of the post-Soviet Central Asian states.

Countering the Financing of Terrorism:  Turkmenistan is a member of the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, and its FIU, the Financial Monitoring Service of Turkmenistan FMS, is a member of the Egmont Group.  There were no significant changes in 2022.

For further information on money laundering and financial crimes, see the 2022 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, Volume 2, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes.

Countering Violent Extremism:  The GoTM continued cooperation with international organizations and participated in the C5+1 diplomatic platform on countering violent extremism.  GoTM employees also participated in the following activities:

• Regional training on preventing violent extremism and countering terrorism in May co-organized by the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) and UNOCT co-organized regional training on preventing violent extremism and countering terrorism in May.
• A June high-level forum on the role of Central Asian women legislators in implementing national action plans to prevent and counter violent extremism.
• An OSCE-organized training course to raise awareness of the threat of Violent Extremism and Radicalization That Leads to Terrorism (VERLT) in October.

International and Regional Cooperation:  Turkmenistan works with international and regional organizations such as the UN Counterterrorism Implementation Task Force, the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, UNODC, the UN Counterterrorism Center, UNRCCA, the EU, and the OSCE.  As a member of the C5+1, Turkmenistan also participates in the associated Security Working Group with the United States.

The GoTM sent delegations to the following events:

• The above-mentioned March ministerial conference on developing a joint action plan with other Central Asian countries to implement the UN’s Global Counterterrorism Strategy.
• UNRCCA, UNOCT, and INTERPOL co-organized regional consultations in April as part of the UN Global Counterterrorism Program on Cybersecurity and New Technologies.
• An e-learning course launched in May by UNRCCA and UNOCT on the protection and promotion of human rights and the rule of law in the context of counterterrorism in Central Asia.
• A May UNODC and UNOCT event on Central Asian responses to transnational organized crime and terrorism.
• A June OSCE-organized regional workshop on countering terrorism, with a particular concentration on protecting critical infrastructures such as hydropower systems, energy grids, and transport lines, held in Ashgabat.
• A December regional open briefing focused on Central Asia, organized in New York by the UNSC Counterterrorism Committee.