[Today’s Prayer] Foreign-based Turkmen Opposition Activist Sent Back to Homeland and Sentenced to Prison

A Turkmen opposition activist in his 30s, from the Central Asian dictatorship of Turkmenistan, was deported back to his home country from Russia and sentenced to a long prison term after criticizing his government while living abroad.

According to the Kyrgyz news outlet Times of Central Asia (TCA) on the 21st, Sadam Gulamov, born in 1991 in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, was arrested in Russia between late 2023 and early 2024 and sent back to his home country. He was found guilty in a trial last spring and sentenced to a lengthy prison term. However, the charges and exact sentence were not disclosed.

While living in Russia, Gulamov worked in a theater doing odd jobs to make a living and publicly criticized the Turkmen government’s handling of food shortages and the COVID-19 pandemic on social media. He notably called former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow a “dictator and thief,” urging Turkmen citizens to reject blind obedience to the country’s leadership.

Gurbanguly served as president from 2006 to 2022 and was criticized for human rights abuses. His son succeeded him as president, while he himself retained the title of “National Leader” and is still believed to wield strong influence.

TCA noted that Gulamov’s case is part of the Turkmen government’s broader crackdown on overseas dissidents that began in earnest in 2020. The repression escalated when, during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the Turkmen government denied the existence of the virus in the country. However, independent media and whistleblowers within health authorities revealed evidence of infections. As a result, Turkmen opposition groups abroad began organizing movements calling for reform through social media, which the Turkmen intelligence service closely monitored.

By 2023, as COVID-19 subsided and restrictions were lifted, many activists abroad were forcibly repatriated.

(Omitted)

Russian authorities are reportedly cooperating actively in the forced repatriation of Turkmen activists residing in Russia. During this process, in 2021, Turkmen activist Azat Isakov, who had said he was hiding due to secret agents, disappeared in Moscow. Another Turkmen activist in Russia was deported to his homeland in December 2023 and subsequently imprisoned.

Human rights organizations have expressed concern over the Turkmen government’s suppression of overseas activists through intimidation and forced repatriation, viewing it as an attempt to silence dissent.

Source: Yonhap News

“The sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.” (Daniel 7:27)

We hear the news that a Turkmen opposition activist in his 30s, who had been living in Russia and criticizing the Turkmen government, was deported back to his homeland and sentenced to a long prison term, and that the Turkmen government continues to suppress overseas activists through threats and forced repatriation.

Since its independence from the Soviet Union, Turkmenistan has suffered under dictatorship and the idolization of its presidents. Lord, have mercy on the people of Turkmenistan, who are controlled by their government, censored by state media, and cut off from all international news and communication, making it nearly impossible for them to hear the truth.

Lord, may Your eternal kingdom and power come upon Turkmenistan. Let the souls of the Turkmen people, living without hope under severe control, turn their eyes to You, the truth, and may You rule over this nation.

There are activists who have dedicated their lives, even from abroad, for the sake of Turkmenistan. Lord, may they hear the gospel and run forward for the restoration of God’s kingdom in Turkmenistan. Through these activists who sacrifice for their nation, let the people of Turkmenistan see Jesus, who is the truth.

May the churches of Central Asia unite through the Holy Spirit to pray for the closed nation of Turkmenistan. Let them pray for every closed door to open so that the gospel may enter that land, and let them be the churches that go forth into Turkmenistan with prayer and mission.

May the people of Turkmenistan become a nation that dedicates itself to preparing the way for the Lord’s return, even unto death. Let them rise as a holy army of the Lord, refusing to bow to the world and serving only You, Lord.