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U.S. Committee for Refugees World Refugee Survey 1999 - Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan hosted 450 refugees and asylum seekers at the end of 1998. Some 11,000 Tajiks were living in Turkmenistan in refugee-like circumstances. During the year, more than 2,500 Tajiks repatriated from Turkmenistan with UNHCR assistance.

Of the 140 UNHCR-recognized refugees in Turkmenistan, 130 were Afghans, mostly ethnic Tajiks and ethnic Hazaras. A majority of the 310 asylum seekers were also Afghans, primarily ethnic Uzbeks and Tajiks.

The Turkmen government passed a Law on Refugees in June, but had not developed a process for implementing the law by year's end. UNHCR therefore carried out all refugee status determinations during the year. According to UNHCR, "The Government recognizes UNHCR's Mandate Refugee Certificates and protects refugees from refoulement. However, the Government does not officially recognize refugees or issue travel documents."