On October 12, the 77th session of the Executive Committee of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees opened in Geneva (Switzerland). The Turkmen delegation is headed by A. Sazakov, the Chairman of the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, the agency's press service reported.

The session is being held in the year marking the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, which laid the foundation for the international system of protection for forcibly displaced persons.

At the plenary session, A. Sazakov emphasized that the humanitarian sphere occupies an important place in Turkmenistan's state policy. The country's Constitution enshrines the recognition of the human being as the highest value of society and the state.

The Chairman of the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan also highlighted the initiative of President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov to declare 2028 the International Year of Legal Rights. The initiative was put forward in 2025 at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly and is aimed at strengthening the rule of law and ensuring that states fulfill their international obligations.

The presentation outlined the results of Turkmenistan's National Action Plan for the Elimination of Statelessness for 2019–2024. During this period, more than 32 thousand people acquired Turkmen citizenship, while over 5 thousand others received residence permits.

In addition, on the eve of the country's 35th anniversary of independence, 146 foreign citizens were granted permission to reside in Turkmenistan in accordance with a decree issued by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

The Turkmen side reaffirmed its readiness to expand international cooperation in the field of migration, develop the legal and regulatory framework, promote digital information exchange and participate in humanitarian programmes. A. Sazakov emphasized the importance of coordinating the efforts of states and maintaining international dialogue to ensure effective migration management.

The meeting will continue until October 16.