An expert mission of the World Health Organization (WHO) will visit Tajikistan and Turkmenistan next week.  TASS reported this, citing a statement by Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, according to Kommersant.  

As Kommersant already reported, cases of COVID-19 infection were detected in three countries of Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

The authorities of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan claim that they have no cases.  Thus, these two countries are included in the list of only 11 states marked with white spots on the map of Johns Hopkins University. In the West, they openly say that we can talk about hiding information.  In Russia, the official data of the Tajik and Turkmen authorities are viewed with some suspicion, but so far have refrained from making public assessments.

WHO representatives in the Central Asian region admit that there are difficulties in rechecking the dubious results of coronavirus infection tests, but they also refrain from publicly criticizing local authorities.

As expected, the WHO expert mission will hold an open briefing to share its assessments of the situation in the region following a visit to both countries.

On Thursday, Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov reiterated that there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in the country.  Earlier, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon said that “this disease is not registered” in Tajikistan.