August marked one year since the abolition of visa-free movement across the Turkmen-Uzbek border for the border zone inhabitants of both countries. This has resulted in, inter alia, the disappearance in Dashoguz and Lebap velayats of newspapers and magazines which were published in the neighboring country.
Up until 31 July 2013, inhabitants of the Dashoguz velayat of Turkmenistan and Khorezm velayat and Karakalpak autonomous region of Uzbekistan were allowed to visit each other once a month for a period of three days without visas. The same procedure with reciprocal trips was used in the Lebap velayat of Turkmenistan and Bukhara velayat of Uzbekistan.
Following an initiative of the Turkmen side, during the Turkmen-Uzbek negotiations on consular issues held in Ashgabat on 22 June 2013, the question of terminating visa-free travel for citizens of both countries was raised. Starting from 1 August 2013 the residents of border areas, many of whom are related to each other, were required to obtain visas.
As a result, the flow of visitors from Turkmenistan to Uzbekistan and from Uzbekistan to our country has almost disappeared. A monthly visa to Uzbekistan from Turkmen travel agencies costs $140. If a duly executed letter of invitation from a family member is available, one can go from Dashoguz or Lebap to Ashgabat (located at the other end of the country) and apply to the consular office of Uzbekistan. But a return trip to the capital, the stay in Ashgabat while waiting for the visa and the official visa fee, will not provide any considerable saving.
Before August 2013, a relatively open border allowed the residents of both countries not only to visit relatives, but also to have a small business. In particular, the press including Russian newspapers and magazines were imported from Uzbekistan. For instance, the newspaper “Argumenti i fakty”, published in Tashkent along with some other Russian editions, came to Dashoguz through border check points “Shavat” and “Tahiatash”.
Not only Russian, but also Uzbek newspapers were in demand in Turkmenistan which had an appetite for information because the country’s residents do not have the opportunity to subscribe to foreign periodicals.
It has turned out that the Turkmen authorities – with a scratch of the pen – have limited not only the rights to freedom of movement, but also to freedom of information.