Turkmenistan's Authorities Target Russian Residents

By The Moscow Times

July 6, 2010

Turkmen authorities have forbidden residents with dual Turkmen-Russian citizenship from leaving Turkmenistan until they give up one of the passports, Vremya Novostei reported Monday.

Up to 40 people with dual citizenship have been blocked from leaving Turkmenistan by plane since Thursday, and those who give up their Turkmen passports upon departure will likely be denied a re-entry visa, the report said.

Turkmenistan banned dual citizenship, legalized in 1993 by a bilateral treaty with Russia, in 2003, but the move was suspended de facto after protests from Moscow.

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