This nation claims it hasn't had a single Covid-19 case. Activists say that is a lie

Or as a minimum, it's what the valuable Asian nation's secretive, authoritarian govt claims.

however impartial companies and journalists and activists outside Turkmenistan say there's facts the nation is combating a 3rd wave which is overwhelming hospitals and killing dozens of individuals -- and warn the President is taking part in down the possibility of the lethal virus in a bid to maintain his public photo.

Ruslan Myatiev, an exile from Turkmenistan and editor of the Netherlands-based mostly unbiased information corporation Turkmen news, pointed out he has in my view assembled the names of greater than 60 americans who he claimed have died of Covid-19 internal the country, together with teachers, artists and docs.

Myatiev noted he has demonstrated all the recorded deaths with fitness records and X-rays, revealing severe lung damage and scientific medication according to coronavirus victims.

"instead of accepting it and cooperating with the overseas neighborhood, Turkmenistan decided to stick its head in the sand," referred to Myatiev.

The Turkmenistan govt did not reply to CNN's requests for comment.

how it unfolded

As Covid-19 spread everywhere at first of 2020, Turkmenistan insisted it had no cases, while bordering nations mentioned skyrocketing outbreaks.

Iran, with which Turkmenistan shares a protracted land border, has stated probably the most world's largest Covid-19 outbreaks with well-nigh 5.5 million total situations, in keeping with the realm health firm (WHO).

"You examine what's going on at different countries in the region and the way distinctive may Turkmenistan maybe be?" spoke of Rachel Denber, deputy Europe and significant Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

according to the websites of the British and Australian foreign ministries, all flights into Turkmenistan are presently suspended and handiest Turkmen citizens are allowed to enter the nation. Myatiev noted his sources in Turkmenistan begun contacting him about circumstances in round may also 2020 -- in regards to the identical time Covid-19 turned into spreading worldwide. He referred to the first messages he got talked a couple of "weird lung disorder, flu-like" which was affecting many people.

"It changed into as a minimum forty levels Celsius backyard (104 degrees Fahrenheit) -- not a usual flu season," he said.

In June 2020, the us embassy in the capital, Ashgabat, issued a heath alert warning of "stories of native residents with signs in line with Covid-19 undergoing Covid-19 trying out," and being placed in quarantine for up to 14 days. The Turkmenistan govt automatically called the commentary "fake information."

A WHO mission to Turkmenistan in July 2020 didn't confirm any coronavirus infections internal the country however did say it was worried about "improved numbers of circumstances of acute respiratory infection and pneumonia." One WHO respectable observed Turkmenistan may still act "as if Covid-19 became circulating."

by then, the condition was out of handle, in line with Myatiev. The government suggested citizens to take weird public fitness measures, similar to eating a specific category of spicy soup.

In January this year, Turkmenistan announced it had accepted Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine for use in the country. Then in June, the world bank agreed to lend $20 million to the Turkmenistan executive, mainly for health facilities and building, as a part of a application to "prevent, become aware of and reply to the probability posed by means of Covid-19."

As these days as Tuesday, President Berdymukhamedov noted the efforts of the world community in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic have been "inadequate," however he did not mention the circumstance inner his own nation.

"The pandemic has uncovered serious systemic failings within the international response to this problem," he talked about.

'Turkmenistan is burning'

despite Berdymukhamedov's claims that his country his Covid-free, the reality interior Turkmenistan is starkly diverse, in response to independent journalists and activists.

Diana Serebryannik, director of Europe-primarily based exiles group Rights and Freedoms of Turkmenistan citizens, mentioned her organization had heard from contacts within the nation that hospitals there are at the moment struggling to deal with the inflow of instances.

Serebryannik stated Turkmen doctors from her corporation who had been now residing overseas were involved with their former colleagues in the nation, permitting them to discover the precise circumstance and supply tips.

She talked about doctors inside Turkmenistan had informed her each oxygen and ventilators have been hard to come back by within the country, medication become high priced and deaths from the virus can be within the heaps.

"Turkmenistan is burning, it be burning with Covid ... from time to time they don't even accept sufferers to the hospital, they simply send them domestic," she spoke of.

in accordance with Serebryannik, the legit explanation for dying in these situations is not listed as Covid-19 or even pneumonia -- in its place medical certificates listing a separate circumstance, similar to a heart assault, she observed.

When medical experts have tried to talk up in regards to the truth on the ground, they have been compelled into silence, according to non-earnings Human Rights Watch. inner the nation, freedom of the press and independent scrutiny is not allowed -- Turkmenistan was ranked 178 out of one hundred eighty international locations and territories on journalists borderless 2021 World Press Freedom Index, simply above North Korea and Eritrea. Turkmen residents who peacefully criticize the government have faced extreme punishments, in accordance with Human Rights Watch, together with stories of torture and disappearances. foreign residents have also been suffering from the Turkmenistan govt's coronavirus denials. In July 2020, Turkish diplomat Kemal Uchkun became admitted to sanatorium in Ashgabat with Covid-like symptoms but turned into refused permission to evacuate to his domestic nation, based on the journal of Asian Affairs. according to the BBC, X-rays sent to Turkish hospitals via Uchkun's spouse were demonstrated to display evidence of Covid-19.

The journal of Asian Affairs observed Uchkun died on July 7. His legit cause of death changed into coronary heart failure.

Most these days, Myatiev mentioned he had proven the demise of a sixty one-year-historic Russian language and literature teacher, who had been in hospital considering that August, according to Turkmen news.

Undermining the rosy picture

distinct authoritarian governments all over the world have announced their Covid-19 outbreaks and obtained overseas assistance, together with China, the earliest nation affected.

So why is Turkmenistan so insistent that it has nonetheless no longer viewed a single case?

each Myatiev and Serebryannik stated it turned into all the way down to President Berdymukhamedov who, as a dentist via profession and former health minister, had placed first rate emphasis on comfortably governing the smartly-being of his individuals -- at the least in precept.

Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov remotely addresses the 76th session of the UN established meeting in a pre-recorded message on September 21, 2021.

Serebryannik referred to Berdymukhamedov, sixty four, desired to appear like a savior to the country, and an excellent world chief, by way of preserving Covid-19 out.

"Turkmenistan is a country the place every little thing in the garden looks rosy ... you have got those marble, state of the artwork (health amenities) fitted with German, French, jap, some thing, machine," journalist Myatiev observed.

Admitting the presence of a lethal virus would undermine the idealized image the President has created and depart Berdymukhamedov open to criticism -- and doubtlessly to being held to account.

"it will be a person's failure, a person would need to undergo accountability for that and who has the choicest be aware for that? The President," Myatiev pointed out.

there was no indication yet that Turkmenistan is preparing to reverse its place and admit to having Covid-19 circumstances internal the country, however Serebryannik talked about she believed the govt would need to finally.

She talked about there had simply been "too tons death."

Human Rights Watch's Denber referred to overseas groups interacting with Turkmenistan, including WHO, had an obligation to be honest with the world in regards to the situation inside the nation.

"At a undeniable factor you should say at what cost are you keeping that presence (within the country)? Are the measures you take to protect your relationship ... undermining your core mission?" she noted.

Denber referred to in a world pandemic, with many outbreaks linked throughout foreign borders, nations had an obligation to supply accurate checking out and correct public assistance.

"We're all interconnected," she spoke of. "When considered one of us fails, we all fail."