The International Report
July 2nd, 2022
BREAKING: Turkmenistan In Crisis, Capital Under Siege
*This story is developing in real-time and may change as facts become available.
Several source reports coming out of Turkmenistan tonight are reporting that violence has once again broken out in the capital of Ashgabat, but with seemingly much greater intensity than those previously late last month.
Sources inside the country have claimed to have witnessed multiple skirmishes and firefights not between protesters and government troops, but between the troops themselves.
One source even reported witnessing a combination of uniformed Turkmen soldiers and men not wearing uniforms but carrying weapons attack a police precinct on the west end of Ashgabat, before setting the building ablaze and promptly leaving.
"It is pure madness... a military convoy drove up to the checkpoint on the next block over. Several of the men in the vehicles got out and began shouting at the policemen operating the checkpoint. The military then opened fire on the policemen standing at the checkpoint. They are all dead I think we were not sticking around"
Another source detailed the intense fighting in and around the Presidential Palace as they attempted to flee the area.
"...There were troops everywhere. Even though it seemed no one was going after those people without weapons, there was so much shooting coming from the centre that we did not dare stay in the city... We could see troops escorting other troops along the streets before we were directed towards the east end of the city. Some of them looked the same... same uniforms I mean... You could see black armbands on all of the ones escorting the captured men... I have to get rid of this phone they are searching cars at the checkpoint."
It is unknown if the individual made it to safety.
Information coming out of Turkmenistan has been almost nonexistent over the last few weeks, allegedly over increased crackdowns that came as part of the Turkmen government's enactment of martial law, which has seen a total ban on foreign journalists reporting inside the country. As of this report, more than a dozen reporters or journalists working on behalf of The International Report remain unaccounted for, and at least two journalists, Montgomery Dawson and Skylar Pienaar, were detained nearly two weeks ago without reported cause or even diplomatic notification to their respective British & American embassies.
While it is still too early to discern exact details, it is clear that a conflict is in its infancy tonight in the capital of Turkmenistan, and the fate of the country once again is under threat from itself. As news and information become available, TIR will provide you with updates and expert analysis.
AUTHORIZED FOR DISTRIBUTION BY 1-506th S-2Reviewed By: 1LT Jason Mallory
The entirety of this document represents fictional works of the 506th Infantry Regiment Realism Unit, S-2 Intelligence Shop, developed for use within the Arma 3 military simulation video game, and exists purely for entertainment and educational purposes only. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
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