Echoing Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov\'s assertion earlier this week that Turkmenistan does not require exit visas, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry issued a statement on 7 January that the exit-visa regime reinstituted in March 2003 was only intended to prevent people allegedly involved in the November 2002 purported coup attempt against Niyazov from leaving the country. The exit-visa requirement has been replaced by a special stamp obtainable from the ministry\'s consular section upon presentation of an entry visa to the country of destination, the same requirement that applied after the suspension of the exit-visa regime in 2001. The ministry insisted that citizens of Turkmenistan are guaranteed freedom of movement in accordance with international standards. Restrictions on freedom to leave the country apply only to people involved in criminal or civil cases. (RIA-Novosti)