Second-class citizens
For women, there are two main reasons why life is difficult in Turkmenistan. One is because the republic is a dictatorship and doesn’t care so much about its people. The second is because they are women……
Passports to dual nationals will be issued from Monday onwards
After a range of meetings, negotiations and consultations, which were initiated on May 7 and lasted until recently, the Russian and Turkmen sides have reached agreement in regulating the situation with regard to dual nationals residing…
Some facts about the Presidential security team
Graduates of the Turkmen military higher educational institutions might be selected to serve in the Presidential security service. For the first time the novice officers of the President’s security team receive a salary of 2000 manats…
Greeting cards Turkmen-style
Will you be excited if you receive a greeting card featuring Arkadag for your birthday or other festive occasion? Turkmen officials of various levels are delighted to receive such greetings and congratulate each other using such…
The visit of the Turkish President and abolishment of Friday namaz
On May 31, Friday, worshippers were denied entry to Jumah-namaz (Friday prayer) in a mosque located on Shevchenko street, in the centre of Ashgabat by the Turkmen special services. Usually thousands of people come here on…
Passport issuing procedure for dual nationals is on hold
The closer the expiration date of old style Turkmen passports scheduled for 10 July, after which only new biometrical passports for international travel will be required to be able to exit the country, the bigger boom…
Amnesty International Annual Report 2013
A law on political parties was passed allowing for formal political opposition. However, opposition figures, journalists and human rights defenders continued to suffer harassment by the state. Torture and other ill-treatment remained widespread. Background In February,…
Second-class citizens
For women, there are two main reasons why life is difficult in Turkmenistan. One is because the republic is a dictatorship and doesn’t care so much about its people. The second is because they are women……
Faryab is near
The authorities of Turkmenistan are very intimidated by outbreaks of discontent from the country’s residents and are undertaking rigid measures towards those who may have any connections with political opposition groups abroad and western media outlets.…
Afghanistan withdrawal 3/3
“Turkmen government has not been very supportive towards Turkmens in Afghanistan” Interview with Nazif M. Shahrani, professor of Anthropology at the Indiana University By Régis Genté The Afghan Turkmens, around 3% of the 23 million…
Afghanistan withdrawal 2/3: A risky geopolitical vacuum
With the progressive withdrawal of the 102,000 Nato troops, West is not only leaving Afghanistan military. It is also a geopolitical withdrawal… that will impact deeply Turkmenistan’s place in the region. And neither Russia nor China…
Afghanistan withdrawal 1/3: Ashgabat quiet but active
This year, to celebrate the Nowruz new year festival, Turkmenistan offered humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in the form of cargo delivered to child care centers in nearby northern afghan provinces. This is merely the last gesture…
The Goktepe battle commemoration goes beyond nationalism
On last Saturday, it was the “National Day of Remembrance” (Hatyra güni) of Turkmenistan. That holy day is celebrated on the day of the fall of the Goktepe fortress in 1881, on January 12th, when Turkmen…
Turkmenistan Faces Second UN Human Rights Review
By Aaron Rhodes The United Nations Human Rights Council will examine Turkmenistan’s human rights record in late April or early May 2013. Hopefully the results will be more edifying than when the country was first reviewed…
Turkmenistan to Recognize Russia’s Dual Citizens
Turkmenistan says it has dropped one of the most contentious issues in its relationship with Russia, promising, after leaving them in limbo for 10 years, to grant passports to Turkmen citizens who also hold Russian citizenship.…
Central Asia energy projects to be discussed in Turkmenistan’s capital
The XV meeting of the Energy Sector Coordination Committee (ESCC) of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) is being held in the capital of Turkmenistan, state information agency Turkmen dovlet khabarlary said on Friday. According…
Media freedom online topic of OSCE event in Turkmenistan
Freedom of the media and the legal regulation of the Internet was the focus of an OSCE-organized roundtable discussion that concluded in Ashgabat today. The two-day meeting brought together twenty-five representatives of the Mejlis (Parliament), ministries…
Turkmenistan Keeps Lid On All Things Islam
Few people in Turkmenistan dare to speak about the pressure the government puts upon those suspected of Islamist leanings. But Merdan, who gives only his first name, wants to be heard. He claims his family was…
Young, Loud, and Turkmen
Senior United Nations human rights official concludes visit to Turkmenistan
27 May 2013 ISTANBUL — Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic issued the following statement at the end of his visit to Turkmenistan, which took place from 24 to 25 May: “On 24 –…
Memorandum of understanding adopted by participants in Forum of central asian human rights organizations
The human rights situation in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) is of serious concern. These countries are characterized by entrenched authoritarian rule or, as in the case of Kyrgyzstan, a strong heritage of…