Turkmenistan Strengthens Liability for Passport Violations and Use of Passports as Collateral

Effective May 1, 2026, new fines related to the use and storage of the passport of a citizen of Turkmenistan will come into force. Under the new law signed by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the illegal use, damage, and acceptance of a passport as collateral are strictly prohibited. Key Amendments (Articles 370, 371, 372):1. Damage or Loss of Passport (Article 370): - For damage or loss due to negligence: A fine ranging from 1 to 3 base units. - For intentional damage to a passport: A fine ranging from 3 to 5 base units. - (Previously, both actions were penalized with either a warning or a fine of up to 1 base unit). 2. Violation of Registration Rules (Article 371): - Fines have been increased: ranging from 3 to 6 and 6 to 10 base units, respectively, according to the sections of the article. 3. Accepting a Passport as Collateral and Illegal Seizure (Article 372): In addition to the unlawful seizure of a passport, accepting it as collateral (pledge) is now explicitly classified as a serious legal violation: - For Individuals: A fine of 1 to 2 base units. - For Officials: A fine of 5 base units. - For Legal Entities: A fine of 6 base units.