UNHCR Commends Turkmenistan’s Progress in Eliminating Statelessness

Geneva, The Gulf Observer: At the 75th session of the Executive Committee of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, commended Turkmenistan’s leadership for its significant efforts in eradicating statelessness.

The Turkmen delegation at the event was led by Amandurdy Sazakov, Head of the State Migration Service, and Vepa Hajiev, Turkmenistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, according to a statement from Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the session’s first panel, Vepa Hajiev highlighted Turkmenistan’s successful completion of a campaign to eliminate statelessness, which concluded on September 24, 2024. This initiative was spearheaded by Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

Amandurdy Sazakov added that Turkmenistan had granted citizenship to over 32,000 individuals and issued residence permits to more than 5,000 people. These measures reflect the country’s strong commitment to upholding human rights and fulfilling its international obligations in addressing statelessness.

The recognition by the UNHCR underscores Turkmenistan’s leadership in advancing humanitarian causes on the global stage.