Message for the media

Turkmenistan, as a responsible member of the international community, conducts its activities in the global political and economic arena in accordance with multilateral and bilateral documents that regulate the behavior of participants in international relations.

In this context, it is important to emphasize Turkmenistan’s well-reasoned and legally sound approach to fulfilling its obligations under treaties, agreements, and contracts concluded with foreign states and legal entities.

In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan announces the following:

In recent years, there have been repeated biased and inaccurate reports in the media concerning the so-called “claims” of the Public Joint Stock Company Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) against the Turkmen side.

In order to resolve the disputed situation, which was artificially created by MTS, the relevant economic and governmental bodies of Turkmenistan undertook all necessary efforts to reach a peaceful, pre-trial, and constructive settlement.

Nevertheless, in 2018, MTS initiated an international arbitration proceeding.

As a result, the tribunal established under the rules of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) rejected all of MTS’s substantive claims against Turkmenistan and awarded Turkmenistan more than USD 11 million in reimbursement of legal and arbitration costs. The tribunal ruled that the operating contract was a lawful commercial contract under Turkmen law, which had expired in accordance with its terms, and therefore MTS had neither a right nor a legitimate expectation for its renewal. The tribunal further determined that Turkmenistan had not committed any wrongful acts regarding MTS’s operations and dismissed all other claims by MTS regarding allegedly unlawful measures.

Three months after the tribunal’s decision, MTS attempted to challenge it in Swedish courts, as Stockholm was designated as the seat of arbitration. Following the proceedings, the Svea Court of Appeal (Sweden), in its decision dated June 27, 2025, dismissed all of MTS’s claims and ruled in favor of Turkmenistan. Furthermore, the court ordered MTS to compensate Turkmenistan for litigation-related expenses in the amount of EUR 589,000, to be paid in addition to the USD 11 million awarded by the tribunal earlier.

It should be emphasized that the decision of the Court of Appeal is final and not subject to further appeal, with the court explicitly stating that “there are no grounds for appeal of this decision.”

Thus, the above-mentioned decisions, rendered by respected arbitration and judicial bodies, fully confirm the legitimacy of Turkmenistan’s actions, which strictly adhere to universally recognized norms and rules governing international economic relations.

Press Service
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan
July 1, 2025