๐น๐ฒ Turkmenistan โ Country of Origin Information for UK asylum
One of the world's most closed states โ alongside DPRK and Eritrea. **Freedom House 2025: 1/100, RSF 175/180**. Total state control of all spheres. **Criminal Code Art. 133** (formerly 135) criminalises same-sex relations, up to 2 years. **December 2024 โ CO prosecutions resumed**: Arslan Wepayev sentenced to 2 years (first CO conviction since 2021 amnesty). Travel ban for activists and their relatives. 59 enforced disappearances since 2016.
How to use this COI at your interview
- Before the substantive interviewPrint or save 2-3 key sources (CPIN if available, HRW World Report, local NGO). Interviewers may ask โ best to have them ready.
- Link source to your storyIf CPIN says "in country X, Y happens" โ your job is to show Y happened to you / your family / your circle. Not just citation โ connection to facts.
- Give your lawyer all sources before submissionThe solicitor / IAA adviser will draft the skeleton argument with the right citations. Your job is to provide materials and context.
- If refused โ COI for the appealAppealing at First-tier Tribunal without COI is nearly impossible. SAR + new sources after refusal = key to a successful appeal.
Authoritative sources
ranked by strength in UK TribunalsUK Tribunal hierarchy: CPIN > UNHCR Eligibility > HRW World Report > Amnesty annual > Freedom House > country-specific NGO. Higher = more cited in Tribunal decisions.
CPIN coverage limited โ rely on UNHCR + HRW + TIHR.
Score: 2/100, Not Free โ second-lowest in CIS
- TIHR โ Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights ยท Political
- Turkmen.news โ independent diaspora media ยท Press
- Chronicles of Turkmenistan ยท Political
- Forum 18 โ religious freedom ยท Religion
- ILGA Rainbow Map / Human Dignity Trust ยท LGBTQ+
- Prove They Are Alive โ ัะฟะธัะพะบ 59 enforced disappearances ยท Detention
- Cotton Campaign โ ะผะพะฝะธัะพัะธะฝะณ forced labor ยท economic
- EBCO โ ะผะพะฝะธัะพัะธะฝะณ CO Turkmenistan ยท Military
- USCIRF โ Country of Particular Concern ยท Religion
Recent events
for context at interviewWhat to gather for interview
UK Tribunals assess credibility from concrete evidence. Cases from Turkmenistan typically need:
- Documents about detention / persecution of relatives (often the only evidence method)
- TIHR / Chronicles confirmation of your case or family case
- For LGBT cases: Art. 133 (formerly 135) remains; ECOM, ILGA, Human Dignity Trust letters
- For CO cases: military refusal documents (Wepayev/Rozbayev โ December 2024 / February 2025 precedents)
- For religious minorities: Forum 18 documents, community letters
- Turkmen.news / Chronicles publication screenshots (any mention = risk)
- Travel ban / exit refusal documents (lists are not published)
- For Ovadan Depe / other political prisons: relative testimony of regular/full no-contact
- For Karakalpak / Ersari / Baluch / other ethnic minorities: discrimination documents
- Prove They Are Alive list (TIHR) โ 59 enforced disappearances since 2016
Tip: file a SAR request to the Home Office before submitting additional evidence โ you'll see what they already hold.
Important: StartNewLife UK is a referral directory, not an immigration advice service within the meaning of the UK Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, s.84. This page is general information and navigation, not individual legal advice. All lawyers in the database are regulated by the SRA, IAA or BSB โ verify their status on the public registers before instructing. For individual advice on your case, contact an SRA solicitor or IAA adviser directly.