Crime in Turkmenistan

The Criminal Code was revised on 17 April 2022 and entered into force on 1 January 2023. It covers property offences, fraud, trafficking, rape, sexual offences involving children, domestic violence-related injuries and a range of computer offences. Property offences are addressed in Articles 247–258, fraud in Article 249, trafficking in Article 128, rape in Article 132 and certain sexual acts involving people under 16 in Articles 141–142. Penalties depend on the conduct, the victim’s age, the consequences and aggravating circumstances. Trafficking penalties can range from four to ten years, rising to fifteen to twenty-five years in the most serious cases. Rape penalties can range from three to ten years and increase when aggravating circumstances apply. Reliable current national crime statistics are scarce. A World Bank and UNODC indicator recorded approximately one intentional killing per 100,000 people in 2023, while available travel information describes street crime as low. These figures do not show the full distribution of offences or victims. Underreporting is likely where victims fear stigma, official contact or retaliation. A survey supported by UNFPA and published in 2022 found that 12% of women had experienced physical or sexual violence by a partner at least once and 16% had experienced some form of partner violence. Domestic violence is addressed through injury offences, but enforcement and victim support vary. Trafficking is a major practical concern inside Turkmenistan and across borders. Risks include forced cotton harvesting, public work, unpaid agricultural or service work, domestic service, forced criminality and exploitation after fake job or marriage offers on social media or messaging platforms. Documents may be withheld. Turkmen citizens have been reported as vulnerable in Türkiye, Russia, Poland, Kazakhstan, India, the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe, while rural areas face particular exposure and Ashgabat has additional risks linked to domestic service and construction work. The Anti-Trafficking Law of 2016, amended on 12 April 2025, provides a formal protection framework involving the Baş prokuratura, MVD, Milli howpsuzlyk ministrligi, border and migration authorities and an interagency commission. A person can request victim status personally or through a representative. Authorities should decide the status application within two weeks. Protection does not depend on nationality, the person’s own conduct, consent, cooperation with police or willingness to testify. A person provisionally identified as a victim is eligible for protection while the assessment proceeds. The statutory minimum package is free and can include shelter, food, urgent medical, psychological and legal assistance, and material support. A specialised facility should receive the person within 24 hours; accommodation can last up to 30 days and may be extended until proceedings end. Children should be housed separately from adults and retain access to school and family contact. Foreign or stateless victims can receive a free interpreter and temporary residence, and should not be deported during criminal proceedings. Practical implementation remains fragmented: 2024 reporting recorded no investigations, prosecutions or convictions for trafficking and no state victim identification for the fifth consecutive year, while civil society supported 37 victims exploited abroad. For an emergency, police can be reached at 02 from a fixed line or 002 from a mobile phone. A duty officer should accept crime reports around the clock. An anonymous telephone report may be registered, but it is not enough by itself to begin an investigation; a formal report to the police or prosecutor’s office is usually needed. Ask for a police record or registration reference. A person reporting a crime may use their own language and request an interpreter, receive information about allegations and investigative measures, submit comments and evidence requests, obtain relevant document copies, hire a private lawyer and claim compensation. Police do not automatically provide legal counsel. Complaints about investigative actions can be submitted, and the Human Rights Ombudsperson is another complaint channel, although independent review and practical remedies are limited. After sexual violence, seek medical care as soon as possible. A hospital or ambulance service may notify the police, but the victim can still make a formal report. Preserve clothing and other evidence and avoid washing before a forensic examination where possible. The FCDO-listed confidential advice line at +993 12 229389 provides general, legal and psychological support; Turkmen or Russian language assistance may be needed because English-language help is limited. Investigations can be slow. Sexual-offence proceedings are generally expected to take up to two months, with possible extensions, while detention periods and further custody depend on the case and prosecutorial decisions. Digital offences include unauthorised system access, forced disclosure of information, deletion or manipulation of data, system disruption, malware, false information, illegal internet resources, SIM or IMEI manipulation and online fraud. Articles 373–383 and Article 249 address several of these acts, and the Internet Law prohibits phishing or deceptive websites, malware, unauthorised access and bypassing the internet provider. Internet access is tightly controlled, many platforms are blocked and online privacy is limited. No reliable public cybercrime hotline or national user-support channel has been documented, so preserve messages, account records and payment evidence and report suspected fraud through the police or prosecutor’s office. Routine precautions reduce exposure: carry a passport or identity document and a copy of any invitation, use licensed taxis, avoid night travel outside cities, keep valuables supervised and do not photograph police, military, government, embassy or airport facilities without permission. Drug possession or use can lead to lengthy imprisonment in basic conditions. VPN use is illegal and regularly blocked, and some online content viewed as hostile to the political system or traditions may be treated as an offence. If a police or security contact becomes coercive, record the time and location when safe, request an interpreter and lawyer, and contact the Ombudsperson or a consular service where available.