ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Asia and Head of UNRCCA, Kaha Imnadze, participated in a ceremony for the issuance of passports to individuals who were granted Turkmenistan citizenship. The event, organized by the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, brought together representatives of international organizations accredited in Turkmenistan, foreign media, as well as national ministries and agencies.

In accordance with the decision of the Government of Turkmenistan, 1,146 people were granted citizenship in 2024.

In his speech, Kaha Imnadze noted that reducing the number of stateless persons contributes to economic and social development, emphasizing that each new citizen represents potential for strengthening the stability and prosperity of the state. He also praised the progress Turkmenistan has made in implementing the UN Conventions relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (1954), the Reduction of Statelessness (1961), and the global initiative #IBelong, which aims to completely eradicate statelessness by 2024.

According to the Government of Turkmenistan, over the past five years, 29,697 stateless individuals residing in the country have been granted citizenship.