In Turkmenistan, the President has banned the word “coronavirus” in the country

According to the international organization “Reporters without borders”, the authorities of Turkmenistan have banned citizens to use the word “coronavirus”.

Journalists say that this word can no longer be used by state media. At the same time, law enforcement authorities detain citizens who walk on the street with a protective mask, and the word “coronavirus” was even removed from medical booklets.

Jeanne Cavelier, the head of the branch “Reporters without borders” for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said that the Turkmen authorities “justified their reputation” with this ban. According to her, the denial of information about coronavirus not only threatens the security of the country’s citizens, but also “strengthens the authoritarianism established by the President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov”.

“We urge the international community to respond and hold him responsible for systematic violations of human rights,” Cavelier emphasized.

According to official data, no cases of coronavirus have been reported in Turkmenistan today.