According to, as of now, former students, the border guards were surprised themselves: «How did you manage to get onto the black lists?» And when they heard that these are the AUCA students, the officers nodded their heads and «cheered the students up»: «If you were included on the list, you are banned at least for the next 5 – 7 years from exiting the country. These are the rules».

These cases show that despite being highly publicized abroad, the actual ban, introduced by the authorities on young Turkmenistani people studying outside Turkmenistan, continues to be in effect. Moreover, the situation is getting worse due to the absence of a proper reaction by the international community on this new case of mass human rights violations in Turkmenistan.

In his interview with «Radio Liberty» Turkmen Service, a representative of the US Embassy in Turkmenistan Mr William Stevens stated that the Turkmen authorities unofficially commented on their ban; however, the US diplomat refused to announce on air the explanation given by the Turkmen side.  

Meanwhile, the Turkmen authorities continue to make the life of those, who failed to leave the country for studies (but still hope to do this in the near future), more complicated. It has become known that several young women and men were refused new passports (with biometrical data). We are aware of three cases.

Several young people, who were studying at the American University, and did not come home for summer, had to interrupt their studies and return to Turkmenistan. The special services exerted such strong pressure on their parents, so the latter preferred to bring their children back in order to get rid of this «attention» from the Ministry of National Security.

At the same time, the children of high-ranking officials continue to study at universities outside of Turkmenistan. For instance, Aina Akhmedova, the daughter of Shirin Akhmedova, director of the Institute of Democracy and Human Rights, is studying at the University of Dusseldorf.

The «victims» of this situation have various views on what is happening; however, their hopes that the issue will be resolved are disappearing every day.

«This recommendation of the authorities (i.e. the ban to study at foreign universities) struck fertile soil», comments a parent, whose son was not allowed to leave the country this summer to continue his studies. «The children of the power structures staff were banned from exiting the country and, consequently, from studying abroad, long ago. Thus, they felt disadvantaged. Now the others are also banned. So the special services staff are taking advantage of their authorities with joy and not allowing young people in general to leave, even if they are going not to study but for other things. Now they got the long awaited excuse»

«I was trying to get on to the lists of the students enrolled at a university in Kyrgyzstan but instead was placed on the «black lists» in my home country. As it appears, I will not receive higher education. However, I have already learnt some lessons – unless the country undergoes real political changes, the number of those like me - guilty without guilt, - will be on the rise».