On 1 June, after the two-year suspense of international air service because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Turkmenistan resumed regular flights to Kazan and Dubai.
However, flights bound for Istanbul, the most sought-after destination, have still not been resumed despite the fact that thousands of migrants are waiting for an opportunity to return to their home country.
Moreover, according to sources of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan”, Ashgabat and Ankara are discussing the abolishment of a visa-free regime for Turkmen nationals entering Turkey.
In this connection Turkmen nationals are looking for other alternative routes to return home. For instance, according to correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan”, 11 citizens of Turkmenistan obtained Uzbek transit visas in Turkey. Eight people flew to Bukhara and three headed to Tashkent.
Those who arrived in Bukhara had planned to enter Turkmenistan by crossing the Alat-Farap border checkpoint. However, it is insufficient to hold a Turkmen passport in order to be able to return to Turkmenistan. A permit issued by Turkmenistan’s Consulate in Uzbekistan is required. Turkmen border patrols barred their fellow citizens from entering the country.
As a result, the Turkmen nationals managed to obtain a permit for a bribe after they had contacted Turkmen diplomats through intermediaries. On 1 June they were able to return home.
According to them, a permit to cross the Uzbek-Turkmen border without the requirement to undergo mandatory quarantine in a specially designated facility in Turkmenabat costs $750.
In the meantime, Turkmen aircraft Il-76TD operated cargo flight to Istanbul on a daily basis.
