Last week, the Western, Russian and, obviously, also Turkmen media informed about the positive changes taking place in Turkmenistan. What are the changes? The president has abolished the ban on opera and circus performances introduced by his late predecessor, and endorsed the list of official state holidays which does not include… Turkmenbashi’s birthday. He has also restored the Women’s Day (on 8 March) and the Day of Victory over Fascism (May 9) - apart from the New Year’s Eve the two most important holidays observed by all Soviet and post-Soviet people. According to the turkmenistan.ru website, Berdymukhammedow has also reintroduced postgraduate, doctoral degrees and postgraduate clinical training.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed a special decree aimed at improving and developing the national science […]. The document approves the regulations on training of research fellows, on postgraduate clinical training and on the contest of scientific projects. The head of state also approved the 2008 admission lists to postgraduate and doctoral studies and postgraduate clinical training as well as a unified register of academic degrees and statuses.

That’s not all. During the president’s meeting with the cultural workers of Turkmenistan held on January 19, Berdymkhammedov said…

…that the principle “the state for the people” should be a fundamental principle of the national ideology noting that this principle underlay the activity of the Turkmen leader and the Government. The short-terms goals and aims of building the secular jural state with highly developed market economy were set in compliance with this principle. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov emphasized that only the strong democratic state striving for achieving civil concord was enable to serve the people, to defend their interests and rights.

The president also…

… proposed to set up training and efficient work of skilled journalists, political analysts and economists. According to vice primer Maysa Yazmuhamedova, “leading foreign experts will be invited in Turkmenistan, and Turkmen journalists will be sent abroad for training” to enhance training of professional staff.

What does it tell us about? It certainly does not mean that Turkmenistan has embarked on the path of democratization and liberalization, as Berdymukhammedov’s reforms do not by any means undermine the existing political system foundations nor do they limit state control over all areas of social life. It is just a kind of return to normality dictated by common sense of the president, who - as it seems - wants to create a system that could be called “enlightened absolutism”.

Turkmenistan can hardly be compared to democratic countries, but Berdymukhammedov’s activities are certainly a step forward as compared to Turkmenbashi’s dire times.