Turkmenistan closes borders

Turkmenistan has closed the entry for foreign citizens arriving in the country under simplified procedures by May 29. Mass Media disseminated a report on May 26 saying, “President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov is visiting the near border regions and the security on the border has been reinforced. Therefore, the entry for the foreign citizens arriving in the country under simplified procedures will be temporarily closed - until May 29.”

The situation suggests that the ban applies, first, to the citizens of Kazakhstan living in the Mangystau Region on the border with Turkmenistan. The two countries have an agreement permitting the given citizens of Kazakhstan to arrive in the Balkan welayaty (region) of Turkmenistan and stay there within 5 days visa free. It appears that they will have to refrain from traveling to Turkmenistan within the coming days, if they had such plans.