The Turkmen Government has refuted reports from media outlets that Russian Gazprom had bought the rights to all Turkmen gas. A press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated:
Lately, media outlets of some countries have been disseminating reports to the effect that Russian Gazprom company is purchasing all natural gas Turkmenistan extracts. […]

It seems somebody has been telling porkpies to President Turkmenbashi. Despite an official announcement during the 16th Session of the Khalk Maslahaty from Muratberdy Sopiev, the chairman of the Farmers’ Union, that bread shortage would never be a problem again in Turkmenistan, due to the record grain harvest, reports on the ground by a […]

Both Watan and News Central Asia carry the story of Wednesday’s visit to Turkmenistan of Iranian Foreign minister, Manucher Mottaki. The main areas of discussion were cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector and settlement of Caspian question. According to News Central Asia:
The sides discussed prospects for participation of Iranian companies in the reconstruction of […]

Prior to the celebrations of Turkmenistan’s 14th year of independence the 16th session of the Khalk Maslahaty was convened (please see ‘Nothing is forever, nobody is forever post 25/10/05). During the session a new law was passed which signalled some changes to the political organisation of the country. Most significantly, the president […]

Yesterday saw the opening of the 16th session of the Khalk Maslahaty (People’s Council), the highest representative and legislative body of Turkmenistan. However, it was not all plain sailing. During one debate all members of the Council, bar one, rejected a proposal that had been put forward by the President. Alas, if […]

In conjunction with the celebration of the 14th anniversary since independence the Government has held inauguration ceremonies for two new facilities in Ashgabat. Two new white marble houses have been built at either end of the city. One is a four-storey building and the other has 12 stories. The buildings are exclusively landscaped, have […]

Mahribanlarym, the new book written by president Niyazov, was released to the public last week. Its title translates as ‘dear people’. According to a press release posted at turkmenistan.ru, the main idea of the book is about “the succession of generations and never-ending connection of times “. It features a collection of poetry […]

According to RIA Novosti Turkmenistan are demanding that Ukraine pay its natural gas debt by the end of the year. The demand came during a meeting between the Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister, the Board Chairman of the Ukrainian national oil and gas company and President Niyazov. The Ukraine government had agreed to pay […]

Martha Brill Olcott, who over the last decade has become on of the leading scholars on Central Asia, has just published her new book, ‘Central Asia’s Second Chance’ via the Carnegie Endowment. It offers a much needed review of the development of the region since 1991. Up until now a lot of general texts […]

Just a quick catch up on events. President Niyazov welcomed in the beginning of Ramadan with a decree pardoning thousands of prisoners on the night from 26 to 27 October - on the Night of Omnipotence. News Central Asia is reporting that as many as 8145 prisoners will released, that is 65% […]