Law enforcement in the Turkmen Emirate

Law Enforcement in the Turkmen Emirate is the responsibility of three main agencies: the Ministry of Interior (the administration of the Turkmen Emirate National Police), the Army (responsible for the Border Guards Division and Military Police Corps) and the Ministry of National Security (which has it’s own intelligence officers responsible for the prevention and detection of both enemy activity in the Turkmen Emirate and serious crime).

History

The police force was dominated by soviet police practice until 1991 when another corruption-influenced system, but one different to the Soviet system, was created. After the 2018 victory for the Islamic revolutionaries the previous police officers were replaced by a combination of police officers from the Balkans and cadets who (at the end of a nine month training course or a degree depending on intended rank at graduation) would serve as police personnel in the future. These cadets were largely recruited from men who had served in the revolution. A chief was chosen on secondment from the Balkan Police until 2021. Requirements

Police work in the Emirate is split into a commissioned career path and an enlisted career path.

Commissioned officers must:

-Have a Bachelors degree (either a Police University Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice or any other bachelors degree)

- Have no felony convictions

- Be of high moral character And If their Bachelors’ degree is in another subject: A two year Masters degree in policing.

Enlisted men must:

-Be over 21 - Have three years of military or paramilitary experience. - Have no felony convictions - Be of high moral character -Have a high school diploma or equivalent

Enlisted women must:

-Be over 18 - Have no felony convictions

- Be of high moral character -Have a high school diploma or equivalent

In the Border Guards Division: officers without a degree must pass a year and a half (18 month) training course whilst officers with a degree train for 11 months. Enlisted personnel must be over 16.25 years old on recruitment and train for nine months.

The standard divisions of the Military Police Corps require commissioned officers with Masters Degrees in policing (classified as professionally qualified officers) whilst enlisted men train for 15 months.

Enlisted personnel can then specialise in detective work (six month course) or after three years: covert operations (18 month training, which officers can also specialise in) or close protection (12 months, which officers can also specialise in).

Grades E-5 and above of the Ministry of National Security require being recommended in (personnel usually from the military or the Border Guards before it became part of the military) but a limited number of E-2 to E-4 posts are available to applicants from the general public who pass a security clearance and aptitude test.

Controversy

The Turkmen Emirates Police are controversial for acts of brutality against protestors and for the use of military-based tactics against criminals resisting arrest. They have also been controversial for enforcing certain laws directed against people who don’t conform to gender norms or are homosexual. These complaints were often raised by other countries.

Conversely, when it was illegal, Islamists criticised them for perceived tolerance of female homosexuality.

The defence given in April 2021, was that “the police do not prioritise lesbianism due to the more pressing need to solve other crimes.”