It seems that the opposition groups, Watan and the Republican Party of Turkmenistan, are willing to put their heads above the parapet of domestic politics in Turkmenistan. Both parties have signed a declaration stating that they will stand in the forthcoming July local elections, the Genes elections. Arguing that any previous elections in […]
On a lighter note, last year president Niyazov enacted a law banning lip-synching during public performances. The West was quick to envisage this as another of Niyazov’s eccentric policies. However, a report, in the British Newspaper The Independent, last week discussed how the Musicians’ Union in the UK are seeking a similar law in […]
The pension crisis in Turkmenistan has begun to elicit a response since it was publicised in the British press. Writing to the letters page in the Guardian Professor Martin McKee, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, argued that the newspapers description of events is but only the tip of the iceberg […]
If anyone missed Andy Kershaw’s BBC Radio three Christmas day programme the link can be found to play on the BBC radio player here. Andy Kershaw is a world-renowned specialist on world music. His Christmas day programme featured an on location documentary from Turkmenistan. The programme features an extra large seasonal helping of […]
Yesterday saw the 20th anniversary of Saparmurat Niyazov coming to power in Turkmenistan. On the 21st of December 1985 Saparmurat Niyazov was appointed First Secretary of the Turkmenistan Republican Communist Party. Mikhail Gorbachev, who was in the process of turning over the elites and leaders of Central Asia who had been in power for […]
A crime wave has reportedly hit Turkmenistan. According to IWPR, there has been a significant rise in muggings and burglaries over the last 35 days. Some are arguing that this is due to the thousands of prisoners amnestied by the president which was timed to coincide with the end of the Muslim holy month […]
A mystery illness seems to be affecting the residents of the Turkmen capital, Ashgabat. The mystery illness is causing severe respiratory problems with those who become infected. The official line is that it is just a normal run of the mill illness, however, doctors are claiming that it is due to chemicals used […]
The Turkmen President, Saparmurat Niyazov, has appointed a new oil and gas minister and ordered him to learn English within six months. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty are reporting that Niyazov has appointed Gurbanmyrat Atayev as oil and gas minister. He will succeed Atamurad Berdyev who has become the new minister for the economy. […]
In a fairly quiet news week one thing to note is that last week Turkmen president, Saparmurat Turkmenbashi, sacked a border officer for drug realated offences. According to BBC monitoring, and reported on state TV, the president issued a resolution sacking the official due to the:
fact that a number of border guards […]
In another denial the foreign ministry has also rubbished reports by Russia’s Interfax and the British Newspaper The Independent of the existence of a group active in Turkmenistan called The Islamic Movement of Turkmenistan. The article in the Independent made reference to the group in relation to the trial of 15 people in Uzbekistan […]
