Authorities in Turkmenistan, an authoritarian state known for its tight control over citizens, have begun confiscating the passports of individuals trying to leave the country if they have outstanding bank loans.
The move is seen as a major blow to many who are migrant workers heading abroad to earn badly needed cash to send home.
RFE/RL’s Turkmen Service reports that authorities are stopping travelers en route to Russia and Turkey for work when they arrive at the airport, even if they hold valid visas.
The travelers said they were told by migration officials that their documents would only be returned once their loans, usually ranging from around $5,700 to $8,500, are repaid.
Officials were not available for immediate comment.
The move is part of an expanding system of travel restrictions in Turkmenistan and hits migrant workers hard, because many take out loans to pay for their travel to a destination where they can earn far more than at home.
Since August 2023, citizens wanting to travel abroad have been forced to provide a letter of guarantee from a government-employed relative confirming they will return and are not in debt.
The regime’s growing repression under President Serdar Berdymukhammedov has further isolated workers and highlights the state’s authoritarian control over personal freedoms.
To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Turkmen Service, click here.