Turkmenistan nn The political and operational initiative of the Turkmenistan Government to resolve the protracted situation of thousands of former USSR citizens with undetermined nationality was demonstrated through its strong involvement in an identification and registration campaign. nn The authorities gained technical expertise through collaboration with UNHCR on the identification and registration of 11,000 long-term refugees for naturalization (2004-2005). nn An initial registration drive in 2007-2010 by the Turkmenistan authorities found some 4,000 individuals of undetermined nationality. The registered individuals completed and filed applications for naturalization or residence status (depending on their personal circumstances) for the Government’s review. nn A dialogue on statelessness between the Turkmenistan Government and UNHCR, which began in 2008, led to the adoption in 2010 of an Action Plan for Joint Activities on Prevention and Reduction of Statelessness between the Government of Turkmenistan and UNHCR. nn The Government re-launched the registration campaign in 2011 as a collaborative multi-stakeholder process. Stationary and mobile registration teams consisting of representatives of the Government and civil society, and including legal experts, were deployed to assist individuals with the registration and application process. nn UNHCR established contacts and relationships with embassies and representatives of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries to help in verifying whether certain individuals were considered nationals of their States. Profile of those with undetermined nationality, including stateless persons, in Turkmenistan More than two decades after the break-up of the Soviet Union, a large number of people continue to live in Turkmenistan with irregular residence status and without valid identification documents. The majority moved to Turkmenistan during Soviet times or in the years immediately following the dissolution of the USSR and have links to other former Soviet republics. Most of these people are of undetermined nationality, with the great majority believed to be stateless. While some live in cities, most reside in agricultural areas in the northern and north-eastern regions bordering Uzbekistan. These people have links with multiple countries on the basis of birth, descent, past residence or marriage, making verification of their nationality status a complex task. Turkmenistan does not allow dual nationality and, according to nationality regulations adopted in 1993 and in force since that time, anyone 26 applying for Turkmen citizenship must submit a certificate confirming that they do not possess the nationality of other countries with which they have a link. Individuals with ties to Uzbekistan face particular challenges. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan finalized the demarcation of their border in early 2000 and many residents in Turkmenistan’s north-east border region were left without an established nationality of either State. Uzbekistan’s nationality law requires the country’s nationals who establish permanent residence abroad to register with an Uzbek consulate within five years of their departure. Failure to do so results in withdrawal of Uzbek citizenship. Many individuals of Uzbek origin in Turkmenistan were not aware of this provision and did not take the necessary steps to preserve their Uzbek nationality. CAMPAIGN TO END STATELESSNESS WITHIN 10 YE ARS