Country Report on Terrorism 2018 - Chapter 1 - Turkmenistan

Overview: There were no reported terrorist incidents in Turkmenistan in 2018. The Government of Turkmenistan continued its efforts to improve the capacity of law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism, ensure border security, and detect terrorist financing. The government continued to cooperate with international organizations and participated in the C5+1 regional framework to counter international terrorism. Turkmen authorities continued to maintain close surveillance on its population and borders.

2018 Terrorist Incidents: There were no reported terrorist incidents in Turkmenistan in 2018.

Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security: There were no reported changes in 2018.

Countering the Financing of Terrorism: Turkmenistan belongs to the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG), a FATF-style regional body, and the government continued to express interest in gaining admission to the Egmont Group.

The Government of Turkmenistan cooperated with and attended trainings offered by international organizations such as the UN and the OSCE on responding to counterterrorism threats, combating money laundering, and other counter terrorism financing issues. OSCE training sessions covered methods to detect money laundering, corruption, and the financing of terrorism. In July, Turkmen Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs took part in a meeting of Central Asian states in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. Participants discussed the need to deepen cooperation in the fight against international terrorism and “extremism,” drug trafficking, and transnational organized crime.

During 2018, the Turkmen government continued to monitor and regulate alternative remittance services, collected data on wire transfers, and monitored non-profit organizations, purportedly to prevent misuse of financing to sponsor terrorist activities.

For additional information on money laundering and financial crimes, see the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), Volume II, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes.

Countering Violent Extremism: In 2018, the Government of Turkmenistan cooperated with international organizations and participated in the C5+1 regional CVE framework. In May, government officials participated in an international conference on Countering Terrorism and Preventing Violent Extremism organized by the UN, OSCE, and the EU in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Turkmen government officials also participated in the C5+1 regional framework to counter international terrorism.

International and Regional Cooperation: Senior U.S. government officials visited Turkmenistan in October and December to discuss issues related to regional security, combating terrorism, and border security. Turkmenistan supports some regional and international efforts to fight terrorism. In August, Turkmenistan participated in an OSCE-conducted interactive course for border and migration officials on identifying FTFs. In October, the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventative Diplomacy for Central Asia organized a regional seminar on countering terrorism focused on best practices in border protection and management. As a member of the C5+1 diplomatic platform, Turkmenistan participates in the associated C5+1 Security Working Group, which focuses on regional cooperation on counterterrorism and CVE.