Turkmenistan: information for victims of rape and sexual assault
Information for British nationals who are victims of rape and sexual assault in Turkmenistan.
Quick reference
| Emergency number | 03 (landline) or 003 (mobile). If you do not speak Turkmen or Russian, you may need somebody’s assistance to call. |
| Police | 02 or 002 to report to the nearest police station. |
| Confidential helpline | +993 12 229389 for general support, advice on next steps, legal and psychological assistance. |
| British Embassy Ashgabat | +993 12 363462. Consular assistance is available 24/7 by phone or online. |
First steps
If you’ve been sexually assaulted it’s important to remember that it was not your fault. Rape and sexual assault are always wrong – no matter who commits it or where it happens. It is traumatic and it can affect you both physically and emotionally. Do not be afraid to get help.
It is your choice what you do next. The most important thing is to make sure that you are as safe as you can be. You can:
- contact the emergency number on 03/003. If you do not speak Turkmen or Russian, you will need somebody’s assistance to make a call
- contact the confidential helpline +993 12 229389 to speak to a trained adviser, who can offer general support, advice on next steps, legal and psychological assistance. If you do not speak Turkmen or Russian, you will need somebody’s assistance to make a call
- contact your tour operator if you are travelling with one
- contact Consular staff at the British Embassy in Turkmenistan on +993 12 363462.
Consular staff will be empathetic and non-judgmental. They can provide information on local police and medical procedures. Anything you tell them will be treated in strict confidence. They can contact your family or friends for you if you wish.
For information on support available in the UK, see Rape and sexual assault: returning to the UK.
If you want to report the incident to the police in Turkmenistan
If you would like the incident to be investigated, you will need to report it to the nearest police station by calling 02 or 002. If you are still at the place of the assault, you can ask the police to come to your location. The duty police officer should accept reports of any crime 24/7.
Anonymous reports over the phone will be registered but cannot be used to start a criminal investigation.
An ambulance or hospital must notify the police in all rape or sexual assault cases, but you will be able to decide whether you want to officially report the crime or not.
The prosecutor’s office can only begin investigating the case when they receive a formal report. The only exception is if a victim has physical or mental disabilities or cannot act in their own interest, when the prosecutor has the right to start a case without a report.
Before you go to the police station
If you have a tour operator, they should be able to arrange for someone to support you. If you are in an area where British Embassy can provide consular support, they will try to send a consular officer to support you, where timing and location allow. You will be able to speak to trained consular staff on the telephone 24/7.
If you approach the police directly, you can also ask them to inform British Embassy on +993 12 363462 so you can get consular support.
If you choose to report the crime, try to do so as soon as possible, so forensic evidence can be retained.
Washing yourself or your clothes may make it difficult for the police to obtain forensic evidence. If you change clothes, take those you were wearing to the police. You may wish to preserve evidence by retaining items such as condoms, toothbrushes or texts.
Potential risks
Reporting a rape or sexual assault in Turkmenistan can be a lengthy and difficult process. You may spend several hours at the Prosecutor’s Office and may be required to make multiple statements during the investigation. Local officers may have limited specialist training in supporting victims of sexual violence. Judicial proceedings can also take a long time.
Homosexuality is illegal in Turkmenistan and may be viewed negatively by authorities. Victims may also face criticism if alcohol or drugs were involved in the circumstances of the assault.
Police officers
You may request to speak with a police officer of a particular gender, although this cannot be guaranteed. English-speaking police officers are very uncommon.
The police can arrange an interpreter, but this may take time and translation quality cannot be guaranteed. Many victims choose to hire a private interpreter. The British Embassy can provide a list of local interpreters and translators.
Find a list of private local translators and interpreters in Turkmenistan.
Making a statement and submitting evidence
You should:
- tell the police if you think you have been drugged
- ask for a police report and request a translation in English if applicable
After an initial verbal report, you will be asked to provide a detailed written statement. Not all police stations have private interview rooms, and interviews often take place in shared offices.
You will be asked to sign your statement. Ensure you fully understand the content before signing. You should request a copy of your statement and the police report and ask for an English translation where possible.
By law, victims have the right to:
- give evidence in their own language using an interpreter
- be informed of accusations made against the suspect
- receive information about investigative actions and submit comments on them
- obtain copies of relevant documentation where available
Available support
If you have a tour operator, they may be able to arrange support and accompany you to the police station. Consular staff from the British Embassy will try to provide support where timing and location permit. You can contact the Embassy on +993 12 363462.
Consular staff can accompany you to the police station where possible. However, they cannot act as interpreters and may not be allowed to remain present during police interviews.
You can be accompanied by a lawyer who you have engaged privately. The police do not provide legal representation.
After making a statement
The police will register your report and the investigation will be assigned to the relevant department. You may be required to attend additional interviews and, in some cases, revisit the location of the incident with investigators.
Clothing and other items that may contain forensic evidence can be retained by the authorities for examination. You may also be referred for a forensic medical examination if one has not already taken place.
You will not normally be required to surrender your passport during the investigation. The authorities will take a copy of your passport and contact details instead.
If a suspect is brought to the police station, you may be asked to identify them as part of the investigation process.
Depending on the circumstances and complexity of the case, this stage may take approximately up to 72 hours. The prosecutor will then review the case materials, meet with the suspect and decide whether to authorise further detention and continue criminal proceedings. If the case proceeds, further investigation will be carried out and, where appropriate, the case may subsequently be referred to a court for trial.
You are expected to appear before the prosecutor or investigative authorities to make a statement. A lawyer cannot give your factual statement on your behalf; only the victim can give their own account of what happened. A lawyer can support you procedurally, advise you during the process, and represent your interests where permitted under local procedure.
Lawyers can request access to case materials, including case notes, where permitted under local procedure. Lawyers do not normally offer a pro bono service, so you should ask about fees and any costs before appointing one.
You will normally be allowed to leave the country once the case is filed. However, you should check with the investigative authorities, prosecutor or your lawyer before making travel arrangements, as requirements may depend on the circumstances of the case.
The Turkmen authorities will not normally notify UK police or request UK police checks as part of their investigation.
If you do not want to report the incident to the police in Turkmenistan
The British Embassy will be able to help you, including by:
- helping you to contact your insurance company or your family
- accompanying to the local hospital or medical facility, where possible
- providing you with lists of English-speaking medical facilities, lawyers and translators
- helping you with arrangements to travel back to the UK
- providing you with information on local support in the UK
You can still get medical attention even if you do not make a formal police report. Medical practices are obliged to pass details to the police if they believe you are a victim of rape or sexual assault. However, you can inform the police that you do not want to make a formal report.
It’s your choice whether to report the incident to your tour operator if you are travelling with one. They may be able to help you, including accompanying you to the local hospital.
The medical examination: what to expect
If you are given medication to take while abroad, keep the label or make a note of the name of the medication. You can then give it to your local health provider when you return home.
Where to go
Not all hospitals and medical centres in Turkmenistan can treat victims of rape and sexual assault. Hospitals normally specialise in specific areas of health. There are a few medical clinics used by foreigners that can offer medical support to victims of rape and sexual assault.
The British Embassy has compiled a list of medical facilities in Turkmenistan.
Examination
A hospital examination may include examination of external injuries, a gynaecological examination including swabs and STI testing, and photographs. You can ask for a female member of medical staff to be present.
Consular staff can accompany you to the hospital. If you have been referred to a hospital by the police or prosecutor’s office for forensic examination, the hospital will automatically report the results to the police or prosecutor’s office.
HIV prevention
HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medication, a treatment that can prevent HIV infection, needs to be taken within 72 hours of the incident for it to be effective.
The NHS may be able to start or continue the 28-day treatment when you return to the UK.
Hospital medical staff can give advice on PEP medication if necessary. PEP is available at the Centres for Prevention and Control of AIDS in Ashgabat and the provincial capitals. The centres provide PEP therapy free of charge, but you will have to pay for the cost of testing.
More information on risks is available on the NHS HIV and AIDS website.
Emergency contraception
Emergency contraception needs to be taken within 72 hours of the incident for it to be effective. It can be obtained without a prescription from a pharmacy. You will have to pay for it.
Abortion is available in Turkmenistan for victims of rape and sexual assault for a period of up to 22 weeks.
Paying for treatment
Emergency medical assistance is free of charge in Turkmenistan. Any subsequent treatment will be charged in accordance with the hospital’s price list. You will normally need to pay with cash.
If you want to report the incident to the police in the UK
The support available to you and your access to justice may depend on where you report the crime.
You may need to report the crime before you leave Turkmenistan if you want it to be investigated and for police to obtain important evidence.
If you live in or are remaining in Turkmenistan and the crime took place there, you should report the crime there. If you need help to report the crime, you can contact British Embassy, or the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London.
If you do not report the crime in Turkmenistan and return to the UK, you can still report the matter to your local UK police.
The UK police should send the information you provide to Turkmenistan. However, foreign police forces decide whether to investigate a crime in their jurisdiction and may not take action.
You can report the crime to the UK police even if you are not seeking an investigation abroad. The UK police can offer access to victim support in the UK. They may still send some details of the crime to police in Turkmenistan if necessary to protect vulnerable people or stop more crimes being committed.
Investigations in Turkmenistan: what to expect
After you report the crime and there is enough evidence to begin an investigation, the case will be registered and assigned to an investigator. When the investigating authorities are satisfied with the evidence, they issue a statement to officially recognise you as a victim.
As a victim, you have rights including the right to know if charges have been pressed, testify in your own language and be provided with a translator, provide evidence and make requests, have a representative or lawyer, access investigation reports and all case materials after the end of the pre-trial investigation, participate in court proceedings, demand compensation for harm caused, and appeal against actions and decisions of the authorities or against a sentence or ruling.
The investigator may take you to the crime scene to get more details. They may interview the suspect at the same time, and you might meet in corridors or waiting areas of the prosecutor’s office. Some offices may not have protective screens to hide your identity, so identification may be face-to-face. You may also be required to attend face-to-face questioning with the suspect.
Criminal investigations in Turkmenistan tend to progress very slowly. If someone is arrested under suspicion of a criminal offence, they can be detained without charge for a maximum of 48 hours, or 72 hours in some cases. In some cases, a suspect may not be detained at all. After that, the suspect will be released unless the prosecutor orders detention for the length of the investigation.
In some cases, for example if the suspect is your partner or spouse, police can issue a restraining order for up to 30 days. You are entitled to stay informed of developments in the case. Legal representation from the early stages can help make sure your rights are respected during initial interviews and throughout the investigation.
Investigations of rape and sexual assault cases must not take longer than 2 months from the beginning of the criminal case. The investigator may request permission from the public prosecutor to extend the investigation. The public prosecutor may decide to refer the case to court or close the case if there are insufficient grounds or evidence to prosecute.
Court procedures in Turkmenistan: what to expect
If the case goes to trial, you will be expected to testify in court. Depending on the circumstances, you may be allowed to testify from the UK. Testimony will be in front of the suspect, and you may be asked for details of sexual acts. By law, absence of consent is considered rape. In practice, the absence of torn clothes or physical injury may be seen as consent.
The suspect’s family members are allowed to attend the court hearing. There is often only one entrance to a court building, so victims and suspects might meet. Trials are normally public, but for rape and sexual assault trials the judge can order a closed trial to protect your privacy.
If the case is referred for further investigation, you might have to give an additional statement. You cannot drop charges once criminal proceedings have started. It is illegal in Turkmenistan to make false statements or accusations. The suspect may press counter-charges claiming that you made false accusations, including during the investigation stage. The court will investigate these claims and decide on proceedings.
If you do not speak Turkmen or Russian, a translator will be provided by the court. Inform the court in advance to allow arrangements. You can also have your own interpreter. The Embassy can provide a list of translators and interpreters. Consular staff will not normally be able to attend the trial with you. You may wish to be accompanied by a friend or family member.
Trial
When the investigation is completed, the prosecutor will file the case with the court. It may take several months before the case comes to court. Both parties will have time to familiarise themselves with the case materials before the trial starts. There may first be an initial hearing lasting several days depending on the complexity of the case. The judge may then initiate the main trial or return the case for further investigation.
Trial procedures
The prosecutor must notify both parties when the case is submitted to court, and there should be formal notification of the start of trial procedures. Trials in Turkmenistan can be conducted only in a local language. You can give a statement in English, but it must be translated into Turkmen or Russian. You can choose a translator or request the court to provide one.
You or the defendant have the right to appeal the court decision within 10 days of the verdict. If there is no appeal, the sentence comes into force. You have one year to submit the second and last appeal to the Cassation Court if you disagree with the decision. There is no time limit for the defendant to submit a cassation appeal.
Sentencing
By law, if the perpetrator is found guilty of rape, the following sentences may apply:
- 3 to 10 years if you were raped with physical violence, with threat of violence, or if you could defend yourself
- 5 to 15 years if you were raped by two or more people, if you were raped in connection with other acts of torture, if you were raped and infected with a venereal disease, or if you are a minor
- 10 to 25 years if they cause death or serious harm to your health, including infecting you with AIDS, or if you are under 14 years old
Hiring a lawyer
You should consider appointing a lawyer from the early stages. There are different types of lawyers in Turkmenistan, including some that specialise in rape and sexual assault cases. Your lawyer can speak before the prosecutor on your behalf and represent or support you procedurally, but you may still need to attend in person and give your own factual statement.
A lawyer or representative can request access to case materials such as case notes and forensic results. The British Embassy can provide a list of local English-speaking lawyers. Some lawyers may offer services at a lower cost. If you are not resident in-country, you should appoint a local lawyer to represent you.
Find guidance on professional services if you are abroad.
Legal aid
The state does not provide public lawyers for victims. Some lawyers may offer services at a lower cost. You should ask any lawyer about fees, what services are included, and what further costs may be payable before you appoint them.
Compensation
The judge can order the perpetrator to pay you compensation, including for emotional trauma.
Points of contact
The investigator normally communicates directly with the victim or their legal representative. You can ask the police officer to write down the phone number of the department dealing with your case so you can request updates.
If you appoint a private lawyer, decide whether you want to receive updates and other communications directly from the police or through the lawyer. If you are not resident in Turkmenistan, appointing a local lawyer can help with representation and communication.
Support organisations in Turkmenistan
It is your choice to let people know. If you are ready to talk about it, the following organisation may be able to help:
Keyik Okara
Turkmenbashy Avenue 83/2
Mir 4/1, Building 5
Ashgabat 7440011
Turkmenistan
Telephone: +993 12 22 9389/ +993 12 22 8185
Email: keik_okara@mail.ru
Keyik Okara is the organisation that runs the confidential helpline.
Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Centre
Glasgow & Clyde Rape Crisis Centre is a support service for British women and girls aged 13 and over who have been raped, sexually assaulted or sexually abused. They can also assist friends and family members of survivors.
Their service gives access to UK-based real-time support from anywhere in the world via telephone, instant messaging or email.
Helpline and live chat are available Monday to Friday 11am to 2pm and Monday to Thursday 5.30pm to 7.30pm UK time.
When you return to the UK
If you think there is a risk that you have contracted a sexually transmitted infection (STI), ask your local health provider to test you. Do this even if you have been tested in the country where the assault took place.
You may want to let your GP or a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) know what has happened. You can talk to them about your experience, and they can help you get further support and advice where you live.
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
Disclaimer
This information has been prepared by UK government officials who are not legally or medically trained. It should therefore never be used as a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. It is intended to help British nationals overseas make their own informed decisions. Neither the UK government nor any official of British embassies, high commissions or consulates accepts liability for any loss or damage which you might suffer as a result of relying on the information supplied.
Medical information has been provided by The Havens Sexual Assault Referral Centres of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and was accurate at the time of production (2 February 2022).