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Nobody is interested in the causes of such procedure applies to emigrants who moved tounexpected deaths; nobody investigates such other countries. What happens if an individualcrimes properly. Our law enforcers are more is still residing in Turkmenistan? He/she mayconcerned with how to get more money. not be eligible for a retirement pension.We, citizens of Turkmenistan, are the most For objective reasons, they may not berightless. While a number of offices of illegible for a pension at all, regardless of theirinternational organizations are based in length of employment and occupation...Turkmenistan, we cannot ask anyone forprotection», a journalist of a Turkmen mass The country’s President reiterates that themedia comments on the situation. «All these social-economic sector is seeing anOSCE and UN officers receive good salaries improvement trend and that we are living inwhile prices in Turkmen markets and stores the Golden age, in the epoch of Greatare very low. In addition, they rent houses and Renaissance. However, for some reason thisapartments in elite residential complexes built does not apply to people belonging toby European standards. Many of the officers vulnerable groups –disabled, unemployed andof these international organizations admit that retirees. Retirees still get very low pensions.they have never lived in such luxury For instance, the news about the upcomingapartments. Why do they need to think about pension increase of 10%, which is scheduledTurkmen citizens? All of them prefer to make to be introduced as of January 2011, did notfriends with our authorities in order to cause any excitement among the residents.prolong their stay in the country. The same istrue about Embassies. I do not mean the US “Why did the authorities communicate this inEmbassy which protects their, and sometimes advance? – indignantly says a retiredeven Turkmenistani, citizens. But Russians, for kindergarten teacher. – This triggered a priceinstance, never cared about their nationals (I increase in the local bazaars. We are barelydo not count those who cooperated with making a living, the stipend of my neighbor, aspecial services). Nobody counted how many university student, is five times my pension.of them are currently in our prisons …». There will be a very insignificant pension increase whereas prices for groceries haveRecords, employee tenure and the elderly considerably increased”.(30 January 2011)If employee tenure was easily calculated “You at least have a pension, – objects abefore the collapse of the Soviet Union, in the worker with a forty years employmentmeantime, on the contrary, it has become a experience at the repair and construction sitevery complicated issue. Multilateral – we are even not eligible for a retirementinternational agreements are concluded, pension. The records were removed outsideinvolving lengthy correspondence. This is the city and destroyed. This is a vicious circle.coupled with foreign currency problems…This It is next to impossible to prove your length of200 employment. My former fellow workers are having the same problems”. Destroyed records are a burning issue in Turkmenistan. This is also confirmed by staff members of the Ministry of Social Security, social security offices and retirees themselves. “The former Minister of Social Security Vekilova demanded that all records are digitalized and hard copies destroyed,– says an official from the Ministry of Social Security.– Our equipment is not reliable now

and you can imagine what it was like back security department. Now they are no longerthen … The data can be irrevocably lost due to valid and need to be updated. Under Niyazov’scomputer disruptions, electricity shut-downs, presidency my pensions had beencomputer viruses or other reasons… considerably cut twice. I contacted the HRMoreover, this is exacerbated by a human department of my employer but they said thatfactor - the documents are processed by all the records had been burnt down and overyoung inexperienced people who do not fully 40 employees lost their length of servicerealize the vital importance of the documents forever…”they are working with. Fortunately, not allVekilova’s instructions were executed”. The citizens, who left abroad at different times, have also found themselves in a toughIndeed, if record keepers realized that this situation: “We contacted numerous agencieswas a criminal initiative, at their own risk they but did not receive any single response, says atried to save the documents. The remaining citizen of Israel, the former Turkmen resident.documents irretrievably disappeared in piles My husband and I had worked for many yearsof garbage, as a result of floods or fires… but in the meantime we are unable to obtain the documents certifying our income, whichAn employee from a social security are required to be submitted to prove that wedepartment in Ashgabat said that during the are eligible for retirement pensions”.years of independence hundreds of privatecompanies had been shut down. “Many According to our respondents, there is nocompanies did not pay a social tax (pursuant point in restoring the rights to a retirementto the Labor code only those jobs where pension in courts”. –“I did try but even myemployers paid the social insurance taxes, application was not accepted. The officials inwhich were mandatory for organizations until the Azatlyk court were very rude with me, –1998, are taken into account in the says one of the retirees. – My female relativeemployment record). This resulted in a resides in the Niyazov district. In her socialdecrease in the length of employment for security office the employees are very politemany people”. and courteous and the officials from the khyakimlik’s office rendered help. In a nutshellMany executives of businesses, cooperative retirees are underprivileged…”societies and privately-owned enterprisesdeliberately ruined their records for various “All utilities and accommodation-relatedreasons. Some feared that financial fraud records have been burnt down by fire”– says awould be detected and some did not hire a resident of the Chandybil etrap in Ashgabat –qualified records clerk or HR specialist… As if no documents had existed for severalNobody is being held accountable for the decades!”destroyed records, but people are suffering. “So many tragedies happened due to theseThe situation is aggravated by the new certifying documents– says a female retiree inrequirements which are constantly imposed. the social security office in the Niyazov etrap. – All his life my husband worked as a gas“Last year a 10% pension increase effective welding operator under extreme weatherJanuary 2010 was announced. I was conditions. You cannot even imagine whatsummoned to the local social security dangerous and hard job it is. The temperaturedepartment and was requested to provide in summer can get as high as 50 degrees,relevant certificates for the past 5 years – a Turkmen winters can be severe withretiree shares his story in the social security temperatures going down below 20 degreesdepartment of the Azatlyk etrap in Ashgabat. due to extremely continental climate. People– I have been receiving a pension for over 20 work in open air and may get sick… All thisyears. Back then I had collected all supporting period of employment is not taken intodocuments and submitted them to the social201

account as the records are not available. He respectful attitude towards the Maslakhatdied of a heart attack.” members – they fly in Boeings, get accommodation in the best hotels and eat“In order to obtain the required supporting meals in luxurious restaurants… May be allpapers, – says a retiree from the Kopetdag offended retirees should get together near theetrap in Ashgabat. – I paid visits to eight golden-domed palaces and applaudorganizations. In the Ministry of Agriculture I enthusiastically? Perhaps, in this case they willwas told that the records had been not be neglected.transferred to other agencies though I wasemployed in this system throughout all these ***years. I visited the Central State Archives, thewinery (all records before 1990 were burnt The authorities decided to present the Newdown), the association of food-processing Year gifts to retirees and allocatedindustry, the Ministry of Weaving Industry, the considerable funds from the state budget. Ancollective farm. I had to travel to Enev twice… elderly man from the Ashgabat suburbanIn Enev all personnel files were piled up in a district of Keshi came to collect his gift. Hedirty storage facility. The pages with salary- was given a nicely-decorated cardboard boxrelated records were eaten by rodents. I with cheap candies. The old man was veryfailed to obtain a single document”. disappointed. He treated it as derision towards the elderly in the run up to the“Pensioners in Turkmenistan are deprived of holiday season. He started an argument andall rights. For instance, why not show the said he would complain to higher authorities.existing pension eligibility instructions to aretiree? Yet, the staff members from the A young man, a low-ranking officialsecurity department say that these are approached to him and said: “The President“internal documents”. What makes them allocates huge amounts of money for theseconfidential documents? Such rules are gifts and he would be outraged if he finds outrampant all spheres”. what gifts are distributed to people. But if you file a complaint, just think how many innocentNeedless to say, there are positive examples. people would be reprimanded. Those at entryThe records of the Interior Ministry and a level positions will be punished, not thoserange of other reputable ministries are in a who embezzles the money. I have a family andgood condition. But what about people who kids ... “for many years were employed in theconstruction organizations and their records The old man left and promised not to makehad been irretrievably lost or for instance, in fuss. But he also said that if he is still alive,the Ministry of Communications where next time he would not come to pick therecords are not stored properly? What should President’s gift. “Give this candies box back tothose, who reached a retirement age, do? The your President!” - the retiree said, returningauthorities are setting an example of the box to the official.202

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RAKHMAN OTUZOV Niyazov this is unacceptable. A prompt and severe punishment followed. Otherwise,Under the Turkmen carpet (1 October according to the leader’s logic, the next time2013) high-ranking law enforcement officials wouldMass cleansing in the Public Prosecutor’s agree on more serious things which may poseoffice, dismissal of the chief of the Presidential a threat to the head of the state. Thestaff, dismissal of the Deputy Prime Minister, punishment was a large-scale warning torelieving the chief of the Union of others. Many people, who are totallyIndustrialists and Entrepreneurs from his unconnected with this case, are still underpost… All of these have taken place recently. investigation.What is behind these events? Distribution of Niyazov left to the incumbent President notpower or distribution of money? It is obvious only the managerial system, but also some ofthat under Turkmen conditions one does not his aides. It is they who, according to informedexclude the other. sources, “ousted” the chief of the Presidential staff Khodjamukhammet Mukhammedov.Corruption, of which many high-rankingofficials in the Public Prosecutor’s office are After two and a half years in office, the chiefaccused, comes as no surprise. It cannot be a of the Presidential staff Mukhammedovgenuine reason behind dismissals and arrests. became quite influential not only in government agencies but also in businessIn August 2013 the son of Prosecutor General circles. According to some sources, he owns aYaranmurat Yazmuradov knocked down and chain of shopping malls “Byash yildiz” (Fivekilled a woman and her child with his car. At stars”), which are currently closed.the request of the Prosecutor General, theAshgabat Prosecutor Movlamberdy Garaev A son’s misbehaviour was the reason behindcalled off the investigation of the accident. another dismissal story. Indeed, Shamurat, the son of Mukhammedov, has a wild temper and,Neither the deaths of the woman and her taking advantage of his impunity, he haschild nor the outrageous conduct of the high- committed actions which can be considered asranking official’s son, or corruption in the criminal offences. However, this is not the firstPublic Prosecutor’s office worried the riot initiated by Shamurat. But some people,Turkmen President. It is not a big deal. He was interested in Kh. Mukhammedov’s dismissal,more concerned with the fact that people in could relay the facts to the President in such athe upper echelons of power managed to way that was beneficial to them. For instance,come to an agreement (regardless of the they informed the country’s leader aboutsubject) without the President’s involvement. Mukhammedov’s business and friendly tiesUnder the managerial system built by S. between the khyakim of the Akhal velayat Mammetnyyaz Nurmukhammedov and some204 other high-ranking officials. These could reportedly generate some conspiracy. High- ranking officials believe that the fate of the khyakim of the Turkmen central province is in the balance. Mukhammedov and Nurmukhammedov know each other as they are both natives of the Ashgabat district “Khitrovka”. Their long-standing acquaintance, however, does not mean that they were conspiring.

Recently an episode that occurred in April 2009is being recalled when after a series ofintrigues the previous chief of the Presidentialstaff and Berdymukhammedov’s fellowclassmate Yusup Ishangulyev was dismissed. Itwas obvious then that low-profile aides ratherthan executives and ministers could exertinfluence on the President.Aleksandr Dadaev, Board Chairman ofTurkmenistan’s Union of Industrialists andEntrepreneurs, has also fallen into disgrace. Formany years Dadaev was close to the Presidentand was reportedly running the President’sbusiness.In the meantime the Union of Industrialists andEntrepreneurs is designing and constructingover 20 various sites, including residentialproperty, a multi-storey car park in the capitaland cottages in the suburbs, cattle farms andsturgeon breeding farms in the Balkan velayat.Dadaev himself, under the patronage of thehead of state, took over several confectionaryfactories in Ashgabat.However, at some point his interestsoverlapped with those of one of thePresident’s sisters, Gulnabat. Now Dadaev hasbeen placed under house arrest. On the otherhand, as one of the high-ranking Turkmenofficials, Dadaev seemed to have had businessrelations not only with the President but withthose who have now fallen into disgrace.In a nutshell, such a tangle of complicated andmysterious events has been evolving under thecarpet that it is going to take the President along time to unravel it. Berdymukhammedovmay apply Niyazov’s experience. The latter,when he sensed conspiracy, initiated cleansingof his own staff and in law enforcementagencies. Thus the National Security Ministry,the Defense Ministry and the Ministry of theInterior will be next to be subjected tocleansings. It remains to be seen in whatsequence it will happen and how long it isgoing to take.205

KUMUSH OVEZOVA schools, “during the years of independence more young people started going to mosquesWhy does Turkmenistan need another rather than libraries”. According to educators,mosque? (25 January 2008) not a single library, club, or cultural institutionAt the first Cabinet meeting held this year the has been constructed for the past 16 years.President of Turkmenistan made an They refer to numerous examples of ruralannouncement on the construction of another cultural institutions, which have been left in amosque in the Göktepe etrap on the eve of state of neglect. 90% of them are closed asRemembrance Day (January 12) to neither local authorities nor Turkmenistan’scommemorate a prominent historical date – Ministry of Culture and TV and Radiothe battle of the Turkmen people against the Broadcasting have available funds to carry outRussian tsarist army. maintenance and repair works.This sparked a controversial response from As stated by local journalists, the social spherethe Turkmen residents, the inhabitants of the of the Göktepe etrap is facing burning issuesAkhal velayat in particular, where the with regard to public utilities. An acute deficithomeland of the incumbent President, the of drinking and irrigation water is the mostGöktepe etrap, is located. pressing problem. The villages are reminiscent of post-war devastation, namely broken roads,“Building a mosque is a positive thing”, say frequent disruptions in the electricity and gasBerdymukhammedov's fellow townsmen, supplies, low voltage power lines, which“yet, there is no urgency for it to be makes it impossible to use air-conditioners orconstructed, as one big mosque operates in washing machines. Thus, the residents of thethe regional centre. We do not have any villages of Sekiz yab, Yangala, Keledjar, Akhal,drinking water, but instead, we are requested Uzumchilik, Akgonur and others areto pray”. experiencing a serious shortage of water. The locals have to bring water from canals, desilt itThe passion of the country’s leaders for the and only then can use it.construction of mosques is obviouslyunderstandable. Yet, from a legal point of The situation with regard to irrigation water isview and pursuant to the Constitution religion even more depressing. Famous viniculturalis separated from the state. Nevertheless, the companies spread around Göktepe, which forconstruction of mosques is still underway. decades have been cultivated by several generations of diligent daihans. The“The outcomes of this policy are already winegrowers complain that today due to thevisible”, say annoyed teachers from the local deficit of irrigation water the vine yield has206 dropped several times and the process is still underway. “We used to harvest 12 tons of wine grapes per hectare. Compare it to a maximum of 2 tons we hardly crop per season now”, says a resident of a village in the Göktepe etrap “many refuse to rent vinicultural farms. It is not profitable, yet, the government demands that the plan targets are met”. To reiterate his words, wineries have been closed in several daihans’ associations to be replaced with the only operating winery constructed in the village of Yzgant which is struggling to get the raw material supplies for

wine production. In the meantime the farmers years and they are more often underfrom all villages bring their grape crop to this maintenance and repair rather than innew processing plant. operation. Their capacity is a maximum of 12 passengers. It should be highlighted that theWouldn’t it be better to transfer the public population of the city amounts to 180funds allocated for the construction of thousand people.another new mosque to restore the nearly-destroyed infrastructure of Göktepe, suggest It is of significance that instead of 14the ordinary inhabitants of this region. Yet, passenger routes only 3 are left. Needless totheir voices do not reach their distinguished say, they do not cover the whole territory offellow townsman. the city. Not a single route passes through the city centre where the Central post office,Turkmenistan: life in the regions (26 banks, airline booking offices, administrativeJanuary 2008) offices and cultural institutions are located. InBefore the Presidential elections, early last other words, one can only get to the cityyear, Berdymukhammedov announced that he centre by either taxi or on foot. The publicconsidered the development of the country’s transport routes do not travel to selected cityregions a priority objective. Later certain districts, e.g. the northern-eastern district –decisions were taken in this direction. Today and one can only get there by taxi. Passengerswe are commencing a series of publications have to take several “marshrutkas”, or changecovering various aspects of Turkmenistan’s life several minibus routes to reach the majorin local communities. residential district “Novruz”.One of the country’s largest cities, Dashoguz, During the years of independence thefaces a serious problem of public municipal authorities have not developed onetransportation. The Soviet-era Passenger Road single new public transport route or reviewedTransportation Company has long ceased to the existing ones to make them moreexist. At present, privately-owned so-called passenger-friendly for the city's residents.“marshrutkas” (popular name for mini-buses)follow the former well-established city bus Needless to say “marshrutkas” have highlyroutes. irregular schedules. Passengers can wait for half an hour or even an hour at a bus stopYet, these “marshrutkas” are unable to deal waiting for transportation. Even thoughwith the passenger turnover. There are many “marshrutkas” may pass by, they do notreasons behind this. The majority of these necessarily stop if they are overcrowded. Invehicles have been in operation for over 20 these cold days and in the summer heat207 people have to wait for a “marshrutka” with vacant seats. Moreover, schoolchildren also use this method of transportation to get to school. During the cotton-harvesting campaign (September-November), virtually all “marshrutkas” in the mornings and evenings commute to the fields transporting the city residents who are sent to pick cotton. Consequently, no public transport is available for the city residents during the rush hours at all. “Marshrutka” owners are annoyed with this practice when they are obliged to travel dozens of kilometres outside the city taking

the cotton pickers to the fields free-of-charge. The residents of Khauzan write a letter toYet, they have to put up with this. the President (6 February 2008) A sad letter was addressed to the President ofNobody is concerned about how the city Turkmenistan by the residents of Khauzaninhabitants get to work or school. settlement, which is located in the Mary velayat.Under these circumstances, the inhabitants ofDashoguz and other Turkmen cities are As 2007 drew to a close, the villagedisappointed when they read the following inhabitants outlined numerous problemspassages in the articles published in the which have not been solved by the localTurkmen press: “About 200 buses with authorities for many years. After sending thisMercedes logos manufactured at the Iran message to the head of the state they lookedHodro plant run in the boulevards and streets forward to receiving an encouraging response.of the country’s capital. About 150 new Yet, the letter was returned from thevehicles are expected to be delivered to Presidential Executive Office with a note «ToAshgabat by the end of the year”. This be forwarded to the archinlik», i.e. to theinformation was published in the newspaper municipal administration. The circle ended.“Neitralny Turkmenistan” of January 9. The settlement of Khauzan located 70“Why are all new things only available in kilometres from the town of Mary appearedAshgabat?” say the annoyed Dashoguz on the map of Turkmenistan in the 60s wheninhabitants. “The public transportation system the USSR set a course for the development offunctions pretty well in Ashgabat with buses textile industry. The key task of the southernand trolley buses traveling across the city. Soviet outskirts was to generate a high cottonWhat about the President’s promise to pay yield. The virgin soil was cultivated in this areaincreased attention to the country’s regions? which required large water deposits. For instance, an artificial lake with sweet water,Yet, promises remain unfulfilled. the largest in the area, was created in Khauzan, which had a natural valley for thisThere is another point to be mentioned. The purpose. In the fields around this waterfare in the aforementioned new Iran-made reservoir cotton started to be grown.buses in Ashgabat is 50 manats. This is anextremely low price as 50-manat bills are used Houses with plots of land were built for theonly in the capital to pay the fare on public farmers who moved here from varioustransport. To compare, the cheapest bread in districts of the Republic to cultivate the land.a grocery store costs 1000 manats. In time the settlement was equipped with infrastructure and amenities. Thus, by theAt the same time, Dashoguz residents arecharged 1000 manats to ride gas-polluted“marshrutkas” with shabby and broken seats,which is 20 times the fare for the Ashgabatresidents.Other regions of the country experience thesame problems with passenger transportationthat have been described above.208

1980s the gardens were blossoming and the decided to address the President in the hopeleaves on the trees were rustling. that their concerns would be resolved. «He ignored our requests, and it looks likeThe shop, first-aid station and the now we will have to contact internationalkindergarten which sometimes did not have organizations», say Khauzan residents. Theyenough space for local kids functioned in the hope to rescue the formerly blossoming andvillage. now perishing village– their small motherland.Yet, after the breakup of the Soviet Union the Turkmenistan has almost solved theTurkmen authorities forgot about the village. problem of the child labour (26 MarchThe infrastructure fell into utter desolation. 2008)Then the area faced problems with regard to The children working at the markets are nodrinking water. The drainage system which longer seen in the country. Now many of themwas supposed to drain excessive underground are forced to beg.water has not been in operation for many TIHR has been monitoring of the child labouryears. This resulted in excess salification of the for several years. Following the adoption offarmlands and the natural underground the law «On guarantees of the right of youthreservoirs to accumulate sweet water. The to labour» in February 2005 which bans childwater from this reservoir was used for labour, schoolchildren have been no longerdrinking. sent to harvest the cotton. Instead, markets have become the main places of children’sNow the village inhabitants are forced to work.make khovuzes - water storage pits - in their A new monitoring conducted at the Dashoguzbackyards. Fruit trees have dried up. Shrubs markets at the late February – early Marchand other vegetation in the streets are dying. 2008 shows that the number of the workingThe salt has come out on to the surface of the children has dropped.soil and is slowly approaching the houses like At the Nygmat market, three children werea horrible monster devouring everything in its noticed working. A girl was selling flat cakespath. while two boys helped traders with goodsThe situation is aggravated with disruptions ingas and electricity power supplies. «The lightis on in one street or another. Not all theresidents can use electricity at the sametime», the locals complain. Moreover, in theletter the elderly asked to be provided with ahearse or a similar vehicle to lay to rest theirfellow townsmen in a respectful and dignifiedway. The cemetery is located several dozensof kilometres from the village, which makes itdifficult to arrange a funeral for the family.The village residents do not contact the localadministration as the officials have nothing tooffer except good wishes. It is an open secretthat Turkmenbashi did not allocate publicfunds for the growth and development ofrural districts. The existing authorities onlypromise big changes. Yet, nobody knows ifthey will ever come true. The Khauzaninhabitants, reluctant to indulge in vain hopes,209

storing. For comparison: in March 2005, up to It is surprising how these two-three children25 children worked in this market and 20 – in manage to enter the market avoiding suchSeptember 2006. diligent policemen, and to earn money to support their families.At the Bai Bazaar (largest market of Dashoguz)only two children were working. One was Those children who are not able to work in theselling flat cakes while the other one helped markets have become beggars. Their numbertransporting the goods. In March 2005 the is on a rise across the entire country includingnumber of working children at this market the capital.amounted to 93 in this market and inSeptember 2006 – 39. Children gather at the entries to restaurants, large shopping malls and Houses of HappinessThe decrease in the amount of working (this is how the Wedding Palaces are calledchildren in 2006 as against 2005 occurred due now) and beg for cash. Turkmen children holdto replacing the children by adult workers. Orthodox icons begging for money in brokenWidespread unemployment forced a lot of Russian. When they see a Turk, they startadults to get engaged into the «traditionally begging in Turkish.child occupation» - transporting of goods bycarts, selling of cold water when the weather There are many children who go from houseis hot and warm tea in winter. to house selling brooms or scavenging for empty bottles.What is the reason of absence of workingchildren in the markets this year? Perhaps, What is better for a child: to beg or to work? Itsome work places have been created and their goes without saying that the best option isparents managed to find employment, so studying. However, this problem should bethere is no need for the children to work? solved by the country’s authorities by appropriate means and not by means ofUnfortunately, the things are much more policemen at the entries to the markets.prosaic and are very much in the Turkmenauthorities` style. The children were expelled Yet, it should be repeated that only fewfrom the markets by the police. working children have been seen during the monitoring; thus, the Turkmen authorities canIt seems that neither our local nor state make glowing reports on having solved theauthorities know the ways to solve problems problem of child labour is Turkmenistan.which are different from administrativemethods. It is always easier to give an order to Child labour has been nearly eliminated, atthe police to prevent children from coming to least at the large market of the major cities.the markets than to create work places for And begging is not considered a form oftheir parents. labour.I have become a witness of a similar case.After the classes, a 10 year old daughter of myfriend decided to stop by the Bai Bazaar whereher mother sold dairy products. At the entryto the market a policeman grasped her armand started explaining her something. A poorgirl was so frightened that she was unable tosay a word; she burst into tears and ran away.Later I learnt from my friend that this was theway the policeman checked why the girl wasgoing to the market.210

The houses in Kunyaurgench will not be Certainly, the houses are needed as thedemolished for the moment (5 April 2008) housing problem is a burning issue for theIn early February we reported that town. At the same time, the residents areKunyaurgench authorities have decided to embarrassed: why another stadium? There isevict the residents of 89 private houses. These one stadium in the town which is nearly neverhouses were going to be demolished and attended, so in fact it is abandoned.replaced by a mosque – a gift of the Turkish Furthermore, there are only 2-3 sportgovernment to this city. specialists who remain in the entire town.Apparently, the government of the most Many say that a huge two storey shoppingnorthern velayat hoped to evict people from mall, two storey universal store and a fourtheir own houses without any serious storey children’s clinic are vacant in the town.difficulties. They have enough experience in «The premises of the clinic could be rented forillegal eviction. housing as nothing has been built during the period of independence and young families doTwo years ago, 16 families residing in 2 five- need places to live in», says an old townapartment blocks were evicted while the resident who lives near by the premises of thehouses were demolished and replaced by a clinic. «Anyway, it does not function as acar parking lot for pilgrims who come to the health care establishment as there are noholy place which is located near the town. At specialists. Nor are there so many childrenthat time, the families who used to live in the now».centre of the town were offered houses in thevillages. One family, for instance, received a Another local resident agrees with him:place to live which was 20 km away from the «Instead of wasting the money for a newtown in the territory on the former Gagarin stadium, they`d better install new waterkolkhoz. Another family received a room in supply networks. The problem with waterthe premises of the former tuberculosis supply is one of the most acute in the town.hospital. Water can be obtained only from street standpipes which are located at a distance ofHowever, this time the information about the over 100 meters from each other. However,illegal eviction has become an open secret for there is no water even in these standpipes.the country and even outside its borders. The Many residents install concrete waterproblem was widely discussed by the public as reservoirs nearby their houses, which arethe issue dealt with the construction of the filled with water by the water trucks».mosque at the expenses of the Turkishgovernment. However, the water trucks come only to those houses which pay. Until the increase in theThe deputy of the Mejlis Akdja Amandurdyeva fuel prices, the service of filling the reservoirtried to resolve the situation. Either her with drinking water had cost 60,000 manats;interference or the signal sent from higher now it costs 100,000 ($5).authorities has had an effect and the residentswere not evicted. Now the town authorities Not all town residents can afford to pay suchsay that the general plan of the town money for the «Turkmen water free ofdevelopment should be developed and charge». This results in insufficient sanitaryapproved first. arrangements and gives rise to frequent outbursts of infection diseases, especially inAt the recent meeting in the Kunyaurgench summer time.khyakimlik the construction of residentialcomplexes and a large modern stadium in the So the Kunyaurgench authorities have quite anearest future was discussed. number of problems. Demolishing of some dozens of houses in the town’s centre which211

are to be replaced by a mosque is apparently have work stayed, i.e. school teachers andnot the most crucial issue. representatives of the local administration. Young people of military service age also staySex out of hopelessness (16 May 2008) temporarily as they have no right to leave theThe story about a school director in the S. country unless they complete their militaryTurkmenbashi etrap in the northern Turkmen service. Also, male drug addicts stay.province who cohabited with a schoolgirl fromthe 7th grade continues. Naturally, a huge imbalance in the male and female population has emerged.The director of school №12 was sentenced toa long term in prison and all administrators of Young girls have nothing to keep themselvesthe education system from the etrap`s to the busy with as they have no proper studies,velayat`s department (former OblONO) were work or market opportunities to sell thedismissed from their posts. products which some make at home: knitted socks, national embroidery, etc. And there areHowever, this story revealed a number of no men in the villages with whom they couldother similar cases. As was discovered, in the settle down.S. Turkmenbashi etrap alone, 16 school girlscohabited with adult men and most of them The absence of a father in the family and theare pregnant. Some of them have already heavy workload for the mother about thedelivered; others had abortions. house lead to a situation where girls are left to themselves.Many similar cases were discovered in theGubadag and other etraps of the Dashoguz No perspectives and a lack of traditional up-velayat as well as in the administrative centre bringing have negative effects on theof the region – Dashoguz. perception of life of the Turkmen youth and the morals of the Turkmen society in general.«Conspiracy abortions of 13-15 y. o. girls is nota rare phenomenon», says a woman’s doctor The prison gate cannot have awho wished to remained unnamed. «Nor is «Welcome» sign (22 July 2008)the illegal sale of new-born babies by young Last September many foreign TV channelsmothers to families of childless parents. This aired a commercial video clip promoting the«business» flourishes in our velayat». idea «Welcome to Turkmenistan».S.Turkmenbashi etrap (former Oktyabrsky) is «Euronews», Russian NTV, Kazakhamong the most troubled regions from the «Caspionet» and other channels aired theemployment point of view. It is almost commercial which was ordered and paid forimpossible to find a job here and all of the by the Turkmen authorities. Naturally, manyable male population left the country long ago got the impression that the country which hadto earn a living elsewhere. Only those, who been isolated had started to open itself up to the outer world. However, those who212 «swallowed» the ad and tried to get into Turkmenistan had to remember that what appears good on an advert is not necessarily good in reality. Turkmen Consulates abroad rushed to defend their homeland from foreign visitors. And not only foreign: even former residents of the country who left Turkmenistan for various reasons cannot receive visas to visit their home country.

«My daughter was denied an entry visa to citizenship cannot allowed». The final point isTurkmenistan where she had been born. The as follows: the entry can be denied «on otherMigration Service offers no explanations», reasons set down by Turkmenistansays Ovadan N., an elderly woman from legislation» which, in fact, offers unrestrictedAshgabat says with indignation. «My daughter opportunities for officials to deny visas.lives abroad, she made a sound career, gotmarried and has children. She has committed Since the number of tourists can be countedno offence against Turkmenistan, she is on one hand, it is clear that officials use allneither a criminal nor a dissident; she is an means to keep the stream of foreign citizensordinary citizen, so why can’t she visit her under control.mother on holiday? Why am I not allowed tosee my grandchildren?» Perhaps officials from the Foreign Ministry or the Migration Service have forgotten to send«Many of my friends and acquaintances who the commercial «Welcome to Turkmenistan»have left over the past years would like to visit to the Turkmen Consulates based abroad? Or,Turkmenistan but they cannot receive an perhaps, they have been sent quite otherentry visa. Turkmen embassies require them instructions which mean «No entry»?to bring invitations from their relatives. Butthey have no relatives left over in The Turkmen authorities should know that ifTurkmenistan. Tourist visas are almost you invite people for a visit and close the doorimpossible to get. Turkmenistan has no in front of them, they will never come again.contacts in the tourism field even with its Even the rerun of the advertising campaignclosest neighbors – the Central Asian will be of no help.countries», complains a resident ofTurkmenabat «While we can go to Russia on a Like other people of our region, the Turkmenstourist visa, Russians cannot visit us. My are very hospitable. However, they have nofriends who live there have asked me for a chance to demonstrate it. A closed society hasprivate invitation, so they can apply for visas. I no open doors.tried to do this but the officials don't allow it:allegedly only relatives can issue invitations». «Snowball» of problems (7 August 2008) A veteran of the Afghan war, Meret R.,Those who tried to get a tourist visa for residing in the town of Seidi, has been tryingTurkmenistan know that there are very few to get housing he is legally entitled to fortourist agencies which deal with our country. twenty years. In the second half of the 1980sA tourist agency from any country first has to he fought in Afghanistan during two years andget a license in Turkmenistan in order to be according to the laws (both Soviet andable to apply for a visa for their clients. Turkmen ones) he is entitled to be provided with housing on favorable terms.These agencies or companies have to apply tothe Migration Service of Turkmenistan via However, during all these years the municipalTurkmenistan’s Consulates; yet, there is no and velayat`s authorities failed to solve theguarantee that the visa will be issued even problem with housing for the former soldierthough visa fees ($100-250 for one entry visa) and his family despite the effective Code ofcannot be returned. Turkmenistan «On social guarantees» of 19 March 2007 which equated the rights andThe Turkmen side processes the visa social benefits of former Soviet soldiers whoapplication within three (!) weeks. It might took part in Afghan events from 1979 to 1988well be that referring to the Law «On to the rights of veterans of the Great Patrioticmigration» the visa application will be denied. war.The above-mentioned Law contains sevenpoints explaining why «the entry of a foreign It is certainly easy to understand the officialscitizen to Turkmenistan without Turkmen of the city khyakimlik. Seidi is a small town lost213

in the sands. No new houses have been built The theatre of the absurd lives andhere for the past several years as well as in prospers (8 October 2008)other towns and villages of the country. New Dummy students and teachers willresidential complexes are being constructed demonstrate their knowledge to the Presidentonly in the capital and partially in velayat`s in a new school in the new Rukhubelent etrap.centres. Yet, even these apartments are notsocial housing: they can be only purchased at In the northern province, the preparation fora rather high price. the opening of a new etrap – Rukhubelent – is underway. The opening ceremony is plannedThere is one more thing to be noted. to take place on the anniversary ofSeldomly, the apartments of those who left Turkmenistan’s independence – 27 October.the country or the people who passed awayand had no relatives are vacated. However, The country`s president G. Berdymukhamedovthey are normally granted not to those is expected to attend the ceremony and thisentitled to benefits but to those who give a event is also being carefully prepared.bribe to officials. According to our data, thebribe for getting a vacated apartment avoiding Each of the Dashoguz`s schools has to preparethe waiting list amounts to 2-5 thousand 20 students from each class starting from thedollars. The price is even higher in large cities. 7th grade who will line up to meet the president. Despite the fact that early in hisTherefore, a lot of people like Meret who are office G. Berdymukhamedov argued forentitled to benefits cannot get housing as stopping the participation of schoolchildren instipulated by law for many years. ceremonies devoted to meeting the President, currently this practice not only revives but isThe situation of the veterans of the Afghan also on the rise.war is further aggravated by the fact that theSociety of the Afghan Veterans which was A new school with all modern necessities isofficially registered in the Soviet times and scheduled to be opened in the new etrap. Itprotected the former Afghan soldiers from the goes without saying that it will be opened byarbitrariness of the authorities no longer the President. In order to put on a good show,exists. All attempts of the members of this the local authorities decided to bring straightpublic organization aimed to obtain a legal “A” students from Dashoguz to this remotestatus in independent Turkmenistan failed. etrap. They will be presented to the President as well as to the TV audience of the countryWe referred to this case to show that it (Turkmen television will broadcast the event)indicates most of the problems which were as local students who reside in the new etrap.not simply neglected over the last years butfurther worsened in Turkmenistan. This Urban students who are good at chemistry willincludes neglect of the social issues, be sitting in chemistry lessons; in math classescorruption and arbitrariness of officials at all – those children who are good at math, etc.levels and the ban set by authorities to theactivities of independent public associations.All these problems, regenerating each other,grow like a rolling snowball. And this snowball– even with a new slogan «In the name of ahuman being» breaks people’s lives.214

However, as there is not so much trust in the In Gubadag where, according to the meetingknowledge of the students, the officials from organizers there was not very much cotton,the education management department have white bolls were collected from another fieldbeen practicing the demonstration lesson, i.e. and were fixed with Scotch tape onto thethe teachers questions and students answers, crops in the field the President visited.for several weeks already. Attractive teachers from the nearby schools who had been specially selected and taken toTeachers from Turkmen-Turkish schools will the field acted as cotton pickers …be also recruited as «local» teachers. In Under Niyazov, people used to call festivitiescontrast to rural teachers, they are aware of «the theatre of the absurd». However, at thatthe interactive style of teaching and can deal time, officials were far from exchangingwith computers. students and fixing cotton bolls onto bushes. As we can see, absurdity in Turkmenistan is on«It cannot be that the President does not the rise.know that our teachers cannot work in such amodern school while the rural children who It is better not to be born beautiful (28will sit at the desks are hardly literate! Would November 2008)it not be better to send the teachers of this According to the practice introduced under S.rural school to Ashgabat for training, so that Niyazov’s presidency, in Turkmenistan youngby the time of the opening of the new school and beautiful Turkmen girls are sent from theand the visit of the President they could work provinces to entertain high-ranking officials.on their own and teach the students using Approximately in the mid 90-s, followinginteractive methods?!» says a teacher of the unofficial guidelines set forth by the personsschool indignantly. from Turkmenbashi’s immediate environment, attractive high school and university femaleThe new etrap is located almost 200 km away students were selected to be trained to renderfrom the velayat`s centre. However, the services to VIPs.children will be brought here by buses from Back then, deputy khyakims for education andfar away. When a mother of the student from culture (usually females occupied these posts)the graduate class expressed her reluctance tosend her daughter on the long trip, the schoolprincipal exclaimed with indignation: «Itmeans you do not love and have no respectfor our President!».«I would like to know what Mr.Berdymukhamedov has done for me and myfamily in order for us feel so strongly towardshim», says the mother of a schoolgirl.It appears that it is the love of the officialstoward the new country`s leader thatmotivates them to play all sorts of tricks inorder to demonstrate to him theachievements in the economic, social andagricultural spheres.No less ingenuity was exercised by the leadersof the agrarian sector when the Presidentvisited the Dashoguz velayat to open thecotton harvesting campaign.215

were responsible for the selection process. In and training them. First of all, the femaletheir turn, they assigned staff members from candidates are thoroughly checked to meetthe local departments of Women’s Union, the beauty standards.principals of vocational schools and others, i.e. their immediate subordinates, to select Previously, pretty girls were selectedpretty girls. regardless of their ethnicity, but now only “pure-blood” Turkmen girls are consideredAs it turned out, this practice is still underway. qualified. The girls’ height and weight areFemale employees from the velayats’ measured, teeth, skin and hair density arekhyakimlik offices, local committees of the checked. Secondly, based on theseDemocratic Party and other officials are parameters, the candidates are selected forinvolved. Potential female candidates and specific purposes.their parents are informed that they are sentto Ashgabat to continue education or find a «If the focus is on the «body», - Maral says, -prestigious job. Needless to say, that the real then it should be ideally beautiful. Forperspectives are not disclosed to them. As a instance, one girl was rejected simply becauserule, the candidates are tall, slim, beautifully- when naked she had goose skin».shaped girls, aged 17-20 - students orgraduates who have just completed a course If the girl does not qualify as a «body», thenof studies in educational establishments. she is trained for other purposes, for instance servicing country’s senior officials atBelow is the story of a woman whose close receptions and other events. The girls arerelative was among the candidates: «My niece taught etiquette and polite manners and areMaral was instructed to go to the capital, trained to properly set tableware and takewhere she was supposed to be met by away dishes.someone. Maral was aware that her friendGuncha was also asked to depart for «Many girls try to refuse, - Maral confesses -Ashgabat. However, Guncha refused to go for Then we are reminded that accommodation insome reason. As has become known later, her Ashgabat will be provided to us and we can beparents did their best to keep their daughter enrolled into any higher educationalat home. They feared that their daughter was establishment. In addition, our parents will getchosen to render sexual services to the high- jobs and residence registration in the capital».ranking officials». It is quite easy to entrap a young andUnder Turkmenbashi’s rule the rumours were inexperienced girl as well as her parents.widely circulating about young girls being Suffice is to promise whole mountains of goldselected to provide sexual pleasures to - admission into a prestigious universitypowers-that-be. The authorities had to invest department, accommodation and residencea lot of efforts to dispel these rumours. registration in Ashgabat and jobs for her parents. Nevertheless, some parentsUnlike the late 90-s, in the meantime cautious instinctively feel something is wrong and try toand selective approach is utilized. protect their daughter from questionableNevertheless, the residents, especially those rather than «tempting» prospects.who have daughters, are still watchful andsuspicious. Maral confessed that she witnessed that one girl begged to let her go home on the groundsLet us come back to Maral’s story. According that she would not be able to get married. Theto her family member, for a long time the girl answer was that they will find her a husbandand her mother kept silence and so far they themselves.provided only fragmented information.According to Maral, some people areresponsible for meeting the girls in Ashgabat216

Thus, it is next to impossible for those who Scourge of Turkmen communications menknow the secret to voluntarily get out of this (6 February 2009)trap. Yet, some people managed to escape. When one stops at a waiting room of a city phone terminal anywhere in Turkmenabad orOne girl asked for permission to go home for a Dashoguz, the same scene can be observedcouple of days and shortly she got married. everywhere: numerous complainants waitingSoon the «employers» lost interest towards to speak to the director.her. However, the managers of the telephoneThe woman, who told us this story, is not stations prefer to visit their offices as seldomaware what exactly her niece had been doing as possible in order to avoid meeting peopleand if she retained virginity. as they know beforehand that most of them will be there to complain about homeIn the meantime she is at home but can be telephones which are out-of-order.summoned any moment and she is obliged toobey unquestionably. The woman said that Having waited for the director for severalthe girl is being unsociable, often cries at night days, some visitors are impatient to file aand discusses some things with her mother. If complaint with the khyakimlik, go to theshe dares to tell something, she discloses only Prosecutor General or call the Minister ofbits of information. She warns all the time that Communications. And it is hard to explain tothis is a big secret and she fears to disappear the tired people that the absence or lack ofone day. cable is accountable for the month-long disrupted phone connections and that this isAs it appears, the short-listed girls are currently the main scourge of phonesubjected to intimidation. «These people are operators in Turkmenistan.capable of everything, - Maral said once. - Ifyou let out a secret, you are likely to be The reason behind the lack of cable is that it isknocked down by the car, and nobody will be being constantly stolen. Phone cable hasable to prove that this had been specially become the target of local drug takers.arranged». Thefts of the phone cable happen in the city *** located on the Amudarja River almost everyThe girl’s real name and address are not day. It is being removed from the basementsindicated in the article. The girls with similar of apartment blocks and telephone poles,stories can be found in all provinces of the normally late at night. According to a linesmancountry and regrettable, there are many of of the maintenance department of the citythem. phone station, thief-drug addicts have cut and taken away over 10 kilometers of telephone217 lines, thus leaving thousands of apartments and private houses without a phone connection. A similar situation can be seen in the Dashoguz velayat. Over 100 thefts of phone cable are registered here each year, and the damage caused to the city phone station of the velayat`s telecommunications enterprise amounts to a multimillion sum. Communication personnel are unable to ensure the protection of their property (the total length of the phone lines is hundreds of

kilometres) while law enforcement agencies cost of which is equal to the price of one dosewho are informed about the thefts consider of drugs.these cases minor, thus they are not workinghard to identify and hold the criminals The police are aware of who is engaged inaccountable. buying up the stolen cable, who supplies the plunder and how the nonferrous metalAccording to a source in the city police extracted from the cable is illegallydepartment of Dashoguz, in 2007 two transported to another state. The linesmanindividuals were detained red-handed when from the city phone station says thattrying to steal phone cable and then policemen are not even trying to bring to lightconvicted. As was found later, both were the gang of the embezzlers of the publicregistered in the local out-patient department property as they are involved in thisfor drug addicts. All cases of cable thefts were «business» themselves.ascribed to all losers. The intruders weresentenced to several years imprisonment but In the meantime, the situation is notwere soon after amnestied and released. improving. In Balkanabad, Turkmenabad, Dashoguz and Mary hundreds of apartmentsNo serious preventive measures against thefts and houses remain disconnected. While theare conducted at the phone lines. Activities of linesmen are fixing the broken cable in onedifferent departmental structures are poorly place, the thieves are skilfully operating incoordinated. For instance, the basements of another. And this chain has no end.the apartment blocks where communicationslines are laid are full of holes; as the saying Author of Rukhnama not to be mentionedgoes – you are welcome to take some. Drug (24 March 2009)addicts take advantage of this situation. Yet, While the Rukhnama remains as a subject inthe basements are managed by the housing school curricula, teachers are not advised tounits of the city community services. refer to the chapters which mention S. Niyazov and his relatives.So citizens are going round and round incircles with their complaints about the As in other Turkmen provinces, copies of whatdisconnected telephones: the city phone was not long ago considered the holy book ofstation sends them to the housing services the Rukhnama have been confiscated fromwho are supposed to close the holes in the organizations and departments in thebasements and only after that can new cables Dashoguz velayat.can be laid; housing services claim they haveneither welding nor carbide nor materials to The rooms, centres and corners, dedicated tocaulk up the windows of the basements in the the Rukhnama, which used to exist in everyapartment blocks… A stream of complaints is office, school, hospital and kindergarten, i.e.channelled to the khyakimlik and the Ministry everywhere where people worked, studied,of Communications …As communications men believe, the problemof thefts can be easily solved if instead ofthieves, the law enforcers would target thosewho buy up the stolen cable for little money,extract nonferrous metals from the cable andillegally transport it to neighbouringUzbekistan.Insiders say that one meter of 100 pair cablecontains a portion of nonferrous metal the218

went on holidays or had medical treatment, Turkmen youth are concerned, the Rukhnamahave been closed. will live on much longer.The «Rukhnama» is being removed from the Old manats, new mantas ... (15 Aprillife of the Turkmen citizens. However, the 2009)question is: how to withdraw it from the souls For the fourth month already, both old andof the people, particularly the youth? How to new manats are in circulation intell the young people, who have been Turkmenistan.educated with this book, that it is no longerholy? How to make a child forget - the long Normally, Turkmen citizens have both old andabstracts, pages and entire chapters from this, new banknotes in their purses. Certainly, mostnow good for nothing, book, which he/she has prefer the new manatas now: only a couple oflearnt by heart? ... new 50 manat banknotes is the same as half aThose, who one to two years ago were million old manats! It was not easy to fit sopassionate supporters of Rukhnama, are now many old banknotes in a purse…struggling to solve this problem. Price tags in sales outlets show both prices: inRecently, a contest for «the best nurse» was old and in denominated manats. For instance,held in a velayat`s centre. In addition to their in Turkmenhovaellary agency passengers canappearance and professional skills, the pay with both banknotes.participants were required to demonstratetheir artistic skills – ability to sing, dance, and The situation is quite amusing: a ticket to Kievrecite poetry and prose. costs over 8 mln manats in old money. A passenger takes out several wads of 5- and 10-One contester – a recent graduate of the thousand banknotes and only a few newsecondary medical school – recited a piece of manat banknotes. The cashier officer groans:the Rukhnama, devoted to the mother of again she will have to calculate what theTurkmenbashi. In this abstract, the son recalls equivalent of the old money is in new, recounthis killed mother: the way she came home it several times in order to avoid any mistakeafter a long workday and having prepared and then add the rest of the sum infood for the children set to work again, this denominated manats and relate it to the finaltime house work. Feeling sorry for her, little cost of the ticket – and this is over 1600Saparmurat asked her to have some rest… manats.As spectators say, the young girl recited this «I wish this year could come to an end as fastabstract in such an emotional manner that it as possible, and we would only have one typedrove many to tears. The jury was also moved of banknotes in circulation; otherwise, we loseand awarded the first prize to this contester. so much time recounting them only...», saysHowever, after the contest, the organizers and the cashier officer.jury members were reprimanded by an officialin charge of ideological issues, who used toindoctrinate the teaching of Rukhnama notlong ago, for accepting excerpts from S.Niyazov`s book to be used in the contest and,moreover, awarding the first prize to aparticipant who had referred to the nowforbidden topic.The memorials to Rukhnama are still in placein towns and villages. However, it is unlikelythat these will last long. As far as the«thoughts and hearts» of the present-day219

Prices at the cattle and automobile markets Unsavoury visit (29 May 2009)are still quoted in millions. For instance, the The day before yesterday, on May 26,price requested for a springing cow starts at 6 President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedovmln manats; an old «Zhiguli» car - 30 mln. It paid a short and unexpected visit to themakes the salesman feel better when the cow Dashoguz velayat.is sold for 6 mln and not «only» for 1200manats. For local officials there is some reasoning behind the visits of the country’s leader if theThe same is true of dowries. The sum in old purpose of the trip is to identify the problemsmoney sounds more substantial and simply concealed by officials. But when the Presidentmore traditional... pays a surprise visit to the northern province to see the only model agricultural association,There are other difficulties with manats at the then what is the point of this initiative?flea markets and agricultural bazaars wherethe prices of goods and products are not so It goes without saying that the authorities ofhigh. New tenge (cents) have become very the Dashoguz velayat made preparations topopular, particularly at the vegetable host the President, but were unaware of thecounters. Habitually, sellers quote the prices dates of the forthcoming trip. The towns andin old money. Many customers, especially villages look neat and cleaned-up. In all etrapthose employed and paid in new banknotes, centres the shops, public catering venues andpay with new money. It is normal to pay 30 schools have been renovated at short noticethousand manats and get 20 tenge change. and the holes in the main roads in the central streets of the villages have been filled withThose who are bad at mental arithmetic face asphalt… Needless to say schoolchildren havedifficulties here. They prefer to deal with been learning poems and rehearsing songs.familiar banknotes. Yet, some salesmen are asgood at mental arithmetic as computers; they Yet, despite the carefully-plannedcan quickly transfer the sum in old manats preparations, the civil servants anticipated theinto new ones. Presidential visit with fear. What if he decides to visit a remote village where there are noThe dollar exchange rate is also normally roads? Or he asks for a glass of water that thequoted in old figures, i.e. 14300 manats local residents are forced to drink? However,instead of 2 manats 85 tenghes for one dollar. their fears were unnecessary. The President arrived at the right address at the place whichA period of over half a year is envisaged for has served as a show-piece since the Sovietthe gradual replacement of all monetary stock times, namely the former kolkhoz (presentlyto new manats. Although not even 80% of old the agricultural joint stock company) «40money, as is claimed by the head of theCentral Bank, has yet been replaced with newones; observers say that about 60% of thetotal money supply is new banknotes in thecapital and 50% in the regions.220

years of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist One more thing to be highlighted. Amid theRepublic», at present the agricultural joint haste of the Presidential visit, the Turkmenstock company named after the Hero of journalists and TV crews who are far fromTurkmenistan Sadulla Rozmetov. being all-pervasive, turned out to be at the right place at the right time. As a result,It was this association which used to be Turkmen citizens across the country could seefrequented by high-ranking officials from first-hand G. Berdymukhammedov and S.Moscow to demonstrate to them «the robust Rozmetov exuberantly praising each othergrowth that the Turkmen rural villages had over a cup of green tea.achieved under the wise leadership of theСommunist party». The former President S. The water for the tea was desalinated andNiyazov also liked going to this association unsavoury as well as their conversation.which was perceived as a role model in allrespects. The executive of the association won Perhaps, the conversation about who theTurkmenbashi’s affection and was considered Turkmen President can rely upon in the futureto be the real master of the velayat. in the region with the largest UzbekNumerous velayat’s khyakims were relieved community must have taken place behind thefrom their posts and appointed by S. Niyazov scenes. Rozmetov is in his 90-s now…after consultations with S. Rozmetov. Showing off can cost a life (12 June 2009)Sensing the support from the head of the The price paid for the short visit of thestate, the former head of the farm took the Turkmen President to the Dashoguz velayatliberty to do everything he wanted. In years has turned to be too high: the director of thewhere there was a drought he ordered that school, which the President might have visitedthe bed of the irrigation canal be shut down (or might have not) on his way, passed away.and that the entire drainage system be usedfor the needs of his farm only. Similarly, he A one day visit to this northern region ofcould appropriate the lion’s share in the new Turkmenistan was paid by G.supplies of agricultural machinery or mineral Berdymukhamedov on 26 May. Yet, the visitfertilizers, which arrived at the etrap. has been awaited since last February. DuringEventually even during the years where the all these months, local administration, specialharvest yield was scarce and other agricultural services, managers of the enterprises,associations managed to produce only one organizations, educational establishments andthird of wheat or cotton yield plan set forth by municipal services of the velayat were on aNiyazov, the association headed by Sadulla war footing.Rozmetov successfully executed thegovernment order. The tax authorities or law- Nobody was aware about the exact date,enforcement officials could make a surprise agenda or the route of the President.audit of any daikhan association (farmers’ Therefore, all were supposed to mostassociation), but nobody dared to do this with solemnly welcome a special guest at any time.the agricultural joint stock company led by S.Rozmetov. During the past decades not asingle audit inspection was performed in anagricultural association and the Publicprosecutor’s office has never carried out anyinspections there.Coming back to the meaning behind theunexpected visit of the President, one mayassume that he once again intended to solicitsupport by a most influential and powerfulperson in the province.221

Secondary school №19 in the Dashoguz arrive by a helicopter. The school principalsuffered the most, as it is located near by the was called to the khyakimlik and required toso-called governmental hotel – a comfortable build a heliport deck in the school yard.complex built in the Soviet times in a shadyplace far away from onlookers in the southern Regrettably, all this exhausting work had beenpart of the city. done in vain. The President arrived for several hours only and even did not come to the city,Apparently, the khyakimlik officials assumed heading to visit a prominent head of thethat the President might overnight in this agricultural association instead.hotel and visit a nearby school in order todemonstrate once again his attention to the After the departure of the President, theeducation system. Thus, the school principal tension of the local administrators relaxed.was required to bring the school building, And the school director`s heart failed after thewhich had not been rebuilt for a number of four months of everyday stress.years, in a due «sparkling» shape. Turkmen officials go beyond all limits in theirNo money from the state or municipal budget efforts to please Berdymukhamedov. Ithas been allotted for these purposes. Each appears that the President does the same inteacher in the city was required to contribute his effort to demonstrate his concern about100.000 manat (about $7) for the renovation the happiness and well-being of the Turkmenworks and purchase of new furniture, plastic people. However, all this does not improvewindows, new displays stands for the the situation of the Turkmen citizens, whoclassrooms, replacement of G. assess the activities of the state leader not byBerdymukhamedov`s portraits with more TV pictures but by such tragic and absurdrecent ones, etc. All what a secular school cases, which occur in many country’sshould have was purchased and renovated. provinces as well.Certainly, they ran out of money, so new $7contributions were collected. All was being Not every book leads to progress (9done in a rush as the President could appear October 2009)at any moment. During the last days of September, the 4th International Book Fair entitled “A Book-The school principal went to the khyakimlik to the way to cooperation and progress” tookreport on the work done on a daily basis, place in Turkmenistan. One can hardly argueincluding week-ends and holidays, and after with the title, as books are truly the way tothese visits he rushed to look for additional progress. However, it does not seem to be themoney, construction materials, furniture… case of Turkmenistan itself.According to his relatives, the entire salary for Even at a superficial view, it is not hard tothese months was spent by the director for notice that the number of participants hadthe school needs. Furthermore, he brought all decreased considerably as compared withcarpets, he had at home, to school.Naturally, the school principal was also incharge of preparation of the students for thewelcome ceremony. He had specialresponsibility for learning the verses andsongs by heart, showing «straight A students»,and even the clothes of the teachers andstudents.On the top of it all, some officials decided thatthe President, as it often happens, might222

previous years. Many Russian editions, who work but their works remain unpublished. Allhad visited the fair in the past, refused to their efforts to get through to the readers areparticipate this year. According to the hopeless.publishers from Kazan, there are noperspectives for joint contracts in Last year, many prominent poets and writersTurkmenistan. “The country is closed”, they from Russia attended the exhibition and at thesay. “Those willing to order books from press conference they expressed hope forRussian publishing houses, are not able to cooperation, particularly in the field oftake them to Turkmenistan, as they require a translation of Turkmen poetry and prose. Atspecial licence, which is impossible to obtain”. that time, inspired Turkmen writers spokeMoreover, it is very hard to sell books here about the start of a new era. However, as timesince most of the citizens cannot afford to pay has shown, these conclusions wereeven $10 for a book, while Russian publishers premature. Cooperation did not work. It is notwill not sell books at a cheaper price. surprising that none of the Russian authorsHowever, the organizers find some editors, came to attend this year`s exhibition.who donate the books, brought for the Fair, tothe National Library of Turkmenistan. They Literary fans are deeply disappointed. .Inappear to have agreed on a settlement addition to the problems listed below, theypayment for participation in the forum. also note that introduction of Latin script in Turkmenistan has also negatively affected theTurkmen citizens have to settle for the «books issue». Classics and best sellers wereprinting products manufactured by the local republished in Latin script. As a result,publishing services, controlled by Viktor valuable – Belles Lettres, scientific, politicalMikhailovich Khramov, Assistant of the essays and special - literature, published inPresident on Ideology. On the end sheet of Soviet times, became inaccessible for the newalmost all books, published in Turkmenistan, generation of Turkmen citizens.one can read: «Published under the generaleditorship of V. Khramov». It goes without A sad fact to be noted: books are not insaying that all of them, except for school demand by the present-day youth.textbooks, are either devoted to the currentPresident, or published under his authorship. Flu prevention Turkmen-style (4 November 2009)The students of the Academy of Arts of Today representatives from the HealthTurkmenistan are tasked with designing all Ministry, who had banned school childrenbooks, published in the country. This is muchcheaper than hiring professional artists.It should be noted that the decoration of theFair was also done by the students. The levelof their works, according to the guests, israther poor. Despite this, Turkmenistan doeshave gifted artists and prominent bookgraphic designers. Officials from the Ministryof Culture are either unaware of the existenceof these high class professionals, orconsciously ignore them.The authorities ignore not artists alone butalso writers. Over 18 years of independence inthe country, no single work of belles-lettres ofcontemporary Turkmen authors has beenpublished. Many national authors continue to223

from wearing respiratory masks, visited some Speculators, who took advantage of the deficit(and probably all) schools of Ashgabat. of masks and antibiotics, are selling them at aAccording to the information from Ashgabat, price, which is many times higher than in thethe Ministry of Health and Health Care drug stores. For instance, medical masks areIndustry of Turkmenistan is fighting not the sold at 35 000 - 50 000 (while in drug stores, ifspread of swine flu, but the spread of rumours there are any, they cost 5000 - 10000 manats),about the AH1N1 virus epidemic. and oxolin nasal ointment, which costs 20 000 manats in drug stores, costs between 50 000It seems that health care workers do not only and 80 000. All prices are given in non-visit educational establishments. Upon seeing denominated manats (14250 manats = $1).the cashier officers at the MTS office (mobilephone operator «Mobile TeleSystems») As we learn from the staff of a medicalwearing medical masks, the sanitary service, vaccinations have been recently beenepidemiological inspection service strongly bought to combat the flu; however, theencouraged the company’s administration to virologic labs still do not have chemical agentsconvince their employees to remove the identifying the А/H1N1 strain.masks and not to spread the feeling of panic.However, the staff’s fear of contracting the The same person also confirmed the numberdisease as they meet hundreds of customers of fatalities: it is known that a student ofevery day is stronger and they refused to school №37, a 25 y. o. man and a 6-monthremove the masks. pregnant woman died following flu complications. However, according to theOn 2 November the Ministry of Health rumours, the number of deaths is muchinstructed the sanitary epidemiological higher.inspection service to withdraw the leafletscontaining the information about the flu, At the moment hospitals holding infectedwhich had been previously disseminated in patients are jam packed. The doctors refuse tothe state-sponsored organizations. The accept new patients and advise them to seekposters, prepared in cooperation with UNICEF treatment at home.and posted in public places are also subject toremoval. The staff of the sanitary Despite the fact that half of the students areepidemiological inspection service is absent from classes, the schools are notprohibited to wear masks; this is primarily true closed.for the people working at Ashgabat`s airport. The absurdity of the actions of the HealthThe Ministry of Health explains the ban by Ministry officials, when instead of raisingtheir intention to stop the panic among the awareness among the population andcitizens. adopting prevention measures they are busy concealing the terrible epidemiologicFor the last two weeks, Ashgabat`s drugs situation, can be explained by the internalstores have been facing a real boom. When policies, conducted by the authorities: there isthey still had antibiotics, respirators and no room for negative things in the époque ofoxolin nasal ointment in stock, more than 50 the great renaissance. At least, these shouldpersons queued up. As of today, most of the not be mentioned.drugs stores have run out of this medication. Moreover, during the entire year, TurkmenOne can often see people wearing respiratory mass media have repeatedly andmasks in town, which has never been the case enthusiastically informed about the completein Turkmenistan, and this is a good illustration readiness of all national services to combatof how scared the people are. For those, who the A/H1N1 virus.work in crowded places, the medical maskshave become an integral part of everyday life.224

On the «black lists» for five years. What commented on their ban; however, the USfor? (13 November 2009) diplomat refused to announce on air theIn early October three young men, former explanation given by the Turkmen side.students of the American University of CentralAsia (AUCA), who were supposed to continue Meanwhile, the Turkmen authorities continuetheir studies at the American University in to make the life of those, who failed to leaveBulgaria, were not allowed to board a Turkish the country for studies (but still hope to doAirlines plane. At the same, another two this in the near future), more complicated. Itformer students of the American University, has become known that several young womenwho were going to Uzbekistan to continue and men were refused new passports (withtheir studies in another country, were also biometrical data). We are aware of threestopped at the Farab check point. According to cases.the border guards, their names were on thelist of those banned from exiting Several young people, who were studying atTurkmenistan. the American University, and did not come home for summer, had to interrupt theirAccording to, as of now, former students, the studies and return to Turkmenistan. Theborder guards were surprised themselves: special services exerted such strong pressure«How did you manage to get onto the black on their parents, so the latter preferred tolists?» And when they heard that these are bring their children back in order to get rid ofthe AUCA students, the officers nodded their this «attention» from the Ministry of Nationalheads and «cheered the students up»: «If you Security.were included on the list, you are banned at At the same time, the children of high-rankingleast for the next 5–7 years from exiting the officials continue to study at universitiescountry. These are the rules». outside of Turkmenistan. For instance, Aina Akhmedova, the daughter of ShirinThese cases show that despite being highly Akhmedova, director of the Institute ofpublicized abroad, the actual ban, introduced Democracy and Human Rights, is studying atby the authorities on young Turkmenistani the University of Dusseldorf.people studying outside Turkmenistan,continues to be in effect. Moreover, the The «victims» of this situation have varioussituation is getting worse due to the absence views on what is happening; however, theirof a proper reaction by the international hopes that the issue will be resolved arecommunity on this new case of mass human disappearing every day.rights violations in Turkmenistan. «This recommendation of the authorities (i.e.In his interview with «Radio Liberty» Turkmen the ban to study at foreign universities) struckService, a representative of the US Embassy in fertile soil», comments a parent, whose sonTurkmenistan Mr William Stevens stated that was not allowed to leave the country thisthe Turkmen authorities unofficially summer to continue his studies. «The children of the power structures staff were banned225 from exiting the country and, consequently, from studying abroad, long ago. Thus, they felt disadvantaged. Now the others are also banned. So the special services staff are taking advantage of their authorities with joy and not allowing young people in general to leave, even if they are going not to study but for other things. Now they got the long awaited excuse»

«I was trying to get on to the lists of the “Tokmak”, an equivalent of the Sovietstudents enrolled at a university in Kyrgyzstan magazine “Crocodile”.but instead was placed on the «black lists» inmy home country. As it appears, I will not Back then the readers of “Tokmak” (translatedreceive higher education. However, I have as “Mallet”) are likely to remember that thatalready learnt some lessons – unless the the distinguishing features of the magazinecountry undergoes real political changes, the were sharp satire, and humour in the majoritynumber of those like me - guilty without guilt, of articles, cartoons, photos and the- will be on the rise». magazine’ content could compete with “the elder brother”, printed in Moscow. NeedlessIt may have been satire (8 June 2010) to say, this would not have been possibleTachmamed Djurdekov, the author of the without the editor-in-chief - T. Djurdekov.book which for the time being is considered tobe the main publication about the Turkmen Thus, maybe we should start looking forpresident – “A grandson who makes his satirical implications in the book “A grandsongrandfather’s dream comes true”, used to be who makes his grandfather’s dream comesthe editor of the Turkmen satire magazine true”, which were skillfully concealed by the“Tokmak”. former \"Mallet\" editor? Perhaps, it is worth while re-reading the Turkmen bestseller fromThe articles devoted to the aforementioned a new point of view keeping in mind the pastbook and its author were recently posted on of its author.our website and on the website Fergana.ru. Foreign diplomas (12 June 2010)One minor detail slipped the attention of both Hundreds of young Turkmen residents areA.Amanov, the author of the article “Wisdom studying outside the country and many ofof the well-read slaves” and M. Yanovkaya, them will be awarded diplomas of medicalwho wrote the article “Great plain man”, doctors, lawyers, psychologists, economists,which describe in detail T. Djurdekov’s former journalists and political analysts this year.accomplishments and quote his biography However, even under the current acutedata. shortage of qualified human resources, the majority of graduates may be unwanted inI am convinced that the authors – Maria their home country.Yanovskaya and Alexander Amanov as well asmany readers, are not aware that Mr Only some of the brand-new specialists areDjurdekov withheld an interesting fact from hurrying to return home to find a job andhis biography: in the 80-s of the last century provide tangible support to their homehe was running the Turkmen satire magazine country. There are several reasons behind.226 The first reason is that not all fields of specialization are in demand in Turkmenistan. For instance, psychologists, sociologists, political analysts and journalists have no chances to find employment. A year ago the students, who came home for summer holidays, as well as aspiring students seeking admission were barred from returning to foreign universities by the authorities of Turkmenistan. The officials from the Ministry of Education openly told young people and their parents that it was not worth while studying at the departments of Sociology, Political Science and others. They are no job

vacancies for them in Turkmenistan since low and look down at the floor. Out of seven\"such specialists are not needed here; examinees only several persons passed thetherefore there is no point in wasting time and exams while others failed\".money on meaningless studies\". Language is another problem. It is veryIt is a bit easier for lawyers to find difficult to take an exam in the Turkmenemployment as they can be re-trained to language as all subjects were taught inspecialize in the domestic legislation and use Russian. However, the members of thethe skills in the law-enforcement agencies. commission are not concerned about this,Graduates of state-run medical universities in they demand that the exam be taken in thethe Russian Federation, Kazakhstan and other state language.countries also have chances to be employed intheir home country. Graduates of private Akgul’s parents decided not to tempt fate anyuniversities are not permitted to work in longer and started looking for ways to give aTurkmenistan. bribe.The second reason is that each graduate As it turned out, the amount of 700 to 800holding a diploma is supposed to verify his/her dollars can be negotiated if there is andiploma in a compulsory manner, i.e. legalize opportunity to come to an agreement with aa diploma by taking exams graded by the member of the admissions commission.special commission from the Ministry of Intermediaries charge higher fees. It goesEducation. They are supposed to take two without saying that the more intermediaries,exams - in the Rukhnama and the area of the more expensive. Akgul’s parents paid 2,5specialization the graduate qualified in. thousand dollars in bribes which is an average fee. According to other sources, diplomaBelow is what a graduate of a Russian medical legalization costs more – up to 3-4 thousandhigher educational establishment, let’s call her dollars.Akgul, told us about her exam experience. The money was handed over two months“A graduate of a foreign higher educational prior to the exam, her second attempt wasestablishment has only two attempts to take successful and she passed the exam withoutexams, let’s say this year and next year. Since I any problem.had confidence in my knowledge, I decided totake an exam myself, without paying any \"One of the girls who failed the exam last yearbribes. I was an A student in Russia, I was together with me could not find the person toengaged in research activities, professors hand over the bribe to and brought the moneypraised my performance. I had high grades for with her at the exam, - says Akgul. Needless tomy internship in hospitals. In a nutshell, I had say, she did not find anybody and failed theconfidence in myself and my knowledge. Far exam for the second time. Again we werefrom it! The examiners bombarded me with made to stand in line when the list ofquestions to make me fail the exam, tried to successful examinees and those who failed thefind faults and were picky about details. test were announced. The unlucky girl wasEventually, I failed the exam… There were told: “You failed the exam twice, so now youseven examinees holding diplomas from the can tear your diploma to pieces and throw itschools of medicine in Russia, Uzbekistan and away, you will not need it in this country. OrKazakhstan. The commission members asked go find the job in the place which issued youus to stand in line and shamed us. They said this worthless certificate\".that our knowledge is very poor and what welearned in Russia and other countries will not Akgul says that the girl was a pitiful sight - , \"aallow us to become qualified specialists in black shadow crossed her face, she wasTurkmenistan… To cut the long story short, unable to utter a word and just left the roomthey humiliated us, made us bend our heads in silence\".227

After legalizing diplomas the graduates are knowledge level of those who graduated fromconfronted with the problem of being foreign universities is much higher comparedadmitted to medical residency program. to graduates of local higher educational establishments. Yet, it is the specialistsThe mother of a graduate of St Petersburg holding diplomas of foreign universities whoMedical Academy says: are least sought-after in Turkmenistan despite\"It is not possible to be enrolled in the the fact that the country’s authoritiesmedical residency program without money. acknowledge an acute deficit of highly-We have run out of money as we spent qualified specialists.everything on legalizing the diploma.Experienced people recommended us to take Night in the city (6 August 2010)a loan in the bank. It is not so easy – you When the shades of night fall upon Turkmencannot apply for a loan through official towns and villages, the streets and boulevardschannels. You need to find a person among look ghost-like. It is better not to show upthe staff members in the bank who for a outside your own apartment at this hour.certain fee will give some counseling on how After 11 pm, it is quite likely to be stopped byto apply for a loan and help to prepare the a walking or car police patrol and then itrequired documents. We took a loan of 4 would be hard to avoid having to provide anthousand manats (an equivalent to $1408.00), explanation for why you came out on theexcluding the amount of a “kickback” which street so late.was agreed upon, added 500 dollars more andobtained a permission for residency” . Police officers at the check points are on duty all the night long, and there are plenty of suchOur interlocutor’s son is currently doing his check points in the city. After midnight, nopost-graduate medical residency and earning one can avoid being stopped at the checkmoney. Yet, the parents joke grimly that their point. And if one happens to be under theson will be working hard to pay back the influence of any degree of alcohol, it is easy tobribes and then will have to save money for a end up at a police station and either yournew bribe to be able to get a permanent job... relatives will have to collect you from there or you will be released in a «crushed» state…There is also the third reason. Even afterlegalizing your diploma, it is next to impossible Street patrols will not pass by a crowd ofto find a job in Turkmenistan. young people without dispersing the group; will not overlook cars, parked nearby a houseWhat job this guy or Akgul will find depends where the people are celebrating a toi withouton how wealthy their parents are. Despite the writing down their plate numbers; and willfact that hospitals, diagnostics and prenatal never ignore a girl returning home alone …centers are set up on a regular basis, there areno job vacancies there. Allegedly the best Therefore, events such as walks in the parks,work today’s residents can count on is to be feasts and wedding celebrations are over byemployed as a family practitioner in thepoliclinic centre. To get this job, a bribe is alsorequired. It turns out that the doctors will beurged to take bribes from patients - otherwisethey will not be able to cover bribeexpenditures. People in white medical scrubsmake excuses: we take bribes from patientsnot because we want to, we are forced to doso by our system …Many, including the officials from the Ministryof Education are well aware that the228

10 pm, or even earlier in winter time. By 11 In hot and cold weather, both day and night,pm, cafés and restaurants see those women clean the streets of Turkmen townscustomers who are still around off the and the capital. At 4 am, before the sun risespremises and close for the night. and the first cars appear on the streets, the hard-working women are already busilyHowever, this does not mean that towns die sweeping. It might look like there is nothing toout at night. Velayat centers and particularly be swept up on the central boulevards, alongthe capital of Turkmenistan – Ashgabat have which the President travels; however, thetheir own night life. If you need to go to the women spend most of their energy onairport at night in order to catch a morning sweeping here.flight, you can do so without a problem – oneonly needs to go to the main street and a It should be noted that it is not very easy toprivate taxi driver, working at nights, is ready get a job of street cleaner, especially in theto pick you up. velayats, where the level of female unemployment is much higher that in theDriving across the capital is amazing at night! capital. However, if you are ready to pay USDThere is little transport in the streets, no 500 and have some contacts in the municipalpedestrians at all and the city is so services, you can easily get a street cleanerilluminated, that it is possible to drive without job.any lights on. And people are willing to get this job, firstlyHowever, the city at night is also a happy because of the absence of any other offershunting ground for car racers, for those who and secondly because of the small, but at leastadore racing at high speed on empty streets, some salary. Street cleaners are paid aboutby-passing the crossings and ignoring the 500 denominated manats ($140), i.e. almosttraffic lights. Car racers are often represented the same as a staff member of the velayatby «golden» youth who drive expensive cars. newspaper gets. Those, who do not have USDA taxi driver, who takes clients to the 500 to pay to get the job, agree to pay out thisinternational airport, said that he had recently sum from their first 3 salaries. In fact, a streetbecome a witness of a sad outcome of such a cleaner works 2,5-3 months for free, givingrace: «Several cars clashed in an accident, the her salary to her boss.roof of one car was even pooled down! Peoplehave died…»… And finally the dawn rises, and the night life of Ashgabat and other Turkmen cities slowlyAt midnight, street workers come out to the transforms into a new day.city boulevards. Young women and girls makeup most of the workforce cleaning the roads And what is the truth? ... (9 August 2010)with their own hands. With scarves over their When the editor of the «Chronicles offaces leaving only their eyes bare, these Turkmenistan» website forwarded me thewomen sweep the already clean roads, using feedback on the article about night cities, Ithe most primitive means – a broom.While Turkmenistan is considered one of therichest countries by volumes of produced gasand is spending immense amounts of moneyon construction of all sorts of palaces andluxurious hotels, it cannot or does not find itnecessary to provide the capital or otherTurkmen cities with machines to clean thestreets, which would be operated by men…229

have to admit I was very surprised… I did not Some may say that unemployment forces theexpect such a strong reaction and discussion! women to agree to undertake such work. ItBe it the variety of topics raised in the article, means that the government thus decided notor the burning issues that led up to this, the to waste money on the procurement ofissue of the night life of Turkmen cities has special machines in order to solve the problembecome a great concern and this cannot be of unemployment among the females inignored. Turkmenistan? And this is happening in our state, which is far from poor and, in fact, isMost of the readers were most concerned one of the leading countries in terms ofwith night patrolling and sent the largest energy resources!number of comments on this topic eitherexpressing their agreement with the author, Here is another woman. It is impossible to seeor, on the contrary, strongly criticizing him for her face; it is hidden behind a scarf. Thean «artificial exaggeration of the facts» or woman on the picture is working on the field.even «blatant lie». She is weeding the cotton under the full blaze of the June sun. It is the hardest physicalThe topic of getting the job of a street cleaner labor. Frequently, children under the age ofand having to give bribes for this has also sixteen are also engaged in this labor havingresonated with the website’s readers. to spend a part of their vacations under theHowever, it is sad to note that no single burning sun.comment was made with regard to the hardphysical work performed by the women. It Would you please tell me whether this shouldseems that many take it for granted that our be like this?! Is this normal? Why are we,mothers, wives, sisters and sisters-in-law are passing by the fields and watching crookedengaged in this work and starting from deep in female or child figures, turning awaythe night until the late evening they sweep the indifferently? Apparently, because we believe:streets. it is the female duty to work on the fields; this was what our great grandmothers andI am almost confident that all commentators grandmothers did, and they even gave birthare located outside Turkmenistan, near or far on the cotton field! Mothers weeded theabroad. Then I have a question to them: have cotton, and now their daughters and sistersyou ever seen women of New York, Berlin or are doing the same…What would you say, theLondon sweeping the streets in the cities of opponents, who claim that too many lies arethe US or Germany, Arab Emirates or Great being written about Turkmenistan?...Britain? Have you ever seen American,German, English or Arab women, as street Another picture – children swimming in a lake.sweepers, with scarves over their faces leaving These boys are happy that they have a chanceonly their eyes bare, and dressed in bright to swim in water only a few kilometres awaywork clothes in order not to be run over by from their village in 50C heat. Many of theirpassing vehicles? mates can only dream of this and have to bathe in dirty irrigation ditches, which areIn these cities there are special cleaning simply dried out in July.equipment, operated by specially trained maleworkers in uniform. Why then in Do you think these guys can dream of having aTurkmenistan do weak women have to do rest on the shores of the Caspian Sea,this? Why do we allow them to breathe in the somewhere in the Avaza national touristdust and car exhausts, be engaged in non- zone? Can they dream of being looked after inmechanized work, having equipped them with children`s camps in Gekdepe near Ashgabat? Ithe most primitive tools of labour such as do not mention Archabil, formerly Firjuza –brooms and shovels? this place has been privatized and turned into the property of the President and his230 numerous family members.

Ordinary kids, who live in such poor houses as Turkmen phantom villages (31 Augustyou see in the picture, have to be thankful 2010)even for small favors … Some villages, which exist in reality, are not indicated at the ground plans and not includedI can foresee the comments with regards to into the registers, i.e. their existence isthe 2 satellite aerials in front of the house: nowhere officially registered. However,allegedly, it is not so poor if the owners have people live and try to settle their lives at thegone to the expense of installing satellite very least.equipment, so they could find the money for atrip the Caspian Sea as well. However, every At this photo you can see electricityresident of Turkmenistan will tell you that the connected to the houses. Electrical cable, setpeople are ready to save on basic things in from house to house at the expedient means,order to get an alternative to the Turkmen such as rails, forks and self-made poles arenational TV in terms of Russian, Turkish, Uzbek popularly called «Vozdushka» (connectedand other TV programs. through air).Here we go – again we raised a variety of Setting of self-made network cut off manytopics in the article. However, all these topics lives when people tried to restore the electricare united by one thing: a real, not high- cable, cut off by a blow of the wind, by theircolored life in Turkmenistan, what the hands. The list of causalities also includesTurkmen authorities do not like to accept and infants who, innocently or negligently,what causes their indignation and negative stepped over the fallen cable. All these factsreaction… are carefully concealed; only the residents of the village and relatives of the victims areP.S. Required explanation with regard to aware of them.«Night cities». The sum of the bribe for gettingemployment depends on the role of the The matter is that such villages, existing ininvolved intermediary. Giving a bribe directly reality, are marked as waste ground at theto the employer saves some money; however, ground plan. These plots cannot be allottedif there are no direct contacts, one will have to for private construction; however, by passinglook for an intermediary, or even some, and in the law, bashkyks (governors of daikhanthis case the sum of the bribe will increase associations) put them on sale.manifold. While people are building the houses, theyEditorial comments. We seldom engage in receive no legal documents for their property.controversy with the readers, offering them a Nor can they be registered as living officially inchance to react and express their own opinion these houses. In other words, there areon our publications in the Forum or in the neither houses here nor residents.Column «Readers feedback». We requestparticipants of the discussions to treat theviews of the opponents with respect.231

Because of this, infrastructure development is basic conveniences. But nothing of the sort!not foreseen here – how can one plan Local authorities, covering each other’s backsgasification, electrification and road building starting of the chairman of the daikhanto the empty space? association, who sold the land plot, and finishing by the khyakim (head of the regionalTherefore, people have to develop their living administration), who allowed for illegal deal,and build the life support system they way will always prevent the scandal to be burstthey can: buying the pipes and poles, laying out. Even the appeal to the capital authorities,the roads, etc. even to the President himself, will bring no results – all complaints are returned withLow-income families, which are the majority in endorsement «to be sorted out locally», andthe rural areas, have to use various expedient «locally» they will do their best to make themeans. For instance, instead of electricity complainant to renounce all claims.pylons, elm poles are used and trunks of cuttrees. Collecting the money, the residents of It is very seldom and can be considered as big«non-existent» auls are buying and setting the luck if with the time the village is included intogas distributing point out of their pocket. The general plan. In this case, the residents haveroads to their houses are laid on an individual hope that their household life will be changed.basis. Due to the fact that these areas have However, this is rather an exception from theground soils here, one can reach the houses rules.only by tractor during a rainy season while insummer time each passing car causes a swirl The number of such villages in Turkmenistan isof dust long standing in the air … on the rise.There are no kindergartens, shops, baths andother objects of civilization in these phantom Interestingly, the density of population invillages, and there will not be. Turkmenistan is not high and there was a wish, the government could solve thisDeciding to buy such plots of land, people problem without big difficulties. However, thefrequently are unaware what they doom problem is that the system of power is basedthemselves for. However, they are forced to on the excessively bloated staff of state anddo so. local officials, numerous and out-of-dated bylaws, service instructions, regulations, etc.Sometimes it is hard for the parents to And all benevolent intentions, even if theseseparate the grown up kids who have families appear, are drown in this bureaucratic bog.of their own already. There is a huge time gapbetween filing an official application for legal And while the country`s government has littleallotment of a land plot for individual concern about this issue, some make goodconstruction until actual receiving of this land. money by selling waste land and other simplyBureaucratic routine, created by the help people to build a house in an easy way –authorities an overcoming of administrative by passing bureaucratic hurdles.barriers at all levels may take years inTurkmenistan, while people are living today,right now. Thus, people agree for everythingin order to start the building of their ownhouse and to have a place their own.Realizing the reality happens later and thenpeople start «demand their rights», requiringthe authorities to provide the village with232

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ALAN PESKOV Turkmenneft State Concern, for the drilling and development of oil and gas wells in theA new friend of Turkmens (27 May 2009) east and west of the country. It should beAfter reading the articles «Feast in time of underlined that a famous US drilling company,crisis» and «Financial (and not only financial) with vast experience in this area across theissues», I would like to share my opinion. world, was selected as A. Chalyk`s subcontractor.It might seem though like an inflammable«cocktail», mixed with negative emotions, So why does the government prefer A.which have built up by observing for a number Chalyk`s company, which has no experience inof years the poor governance of the country. drilling instead of a professional companyThus, it may be better to take time and try to well-known globally? This can be explained byget to the core of the existing problem leaving one reason alone: the vested interest of theemotions aside and find its «roots». state leader.Generally speaking, the same things did occur In addition, the US Company is obliged tounder the first President. As you may follow the federal law of its country –the lawremember, there was a Turkish businessman on the fight against corruption, which isAkhmed Chalyk, a «true friend» of the unacceptable for the Turkmen side. Moreover,Turkmen people, who was closely connected it cannot compete with A. Chalyk, who haswith the first President of the country. A. already proved to be a «reliable businessChalyk`s companies were involved in the partner».activities of virtually all strategic spheres ofthe state: oil and gas, energy, construction, Holding state posts in the nationaltextile, etc. He received almost all projects not government (under S. Niyazov, he was deputyby tender but on the basis of personal Minister of the textile industry ofagreements with the state leader. And if he Turkmenistan), A. Chalyk was entitled to runparticipated in the bidding process, he was his own private business, even though stateabsolutely sure of his success, while other officials of any rank have up until now beenbidders simply gave up preferring not to banned from having anything to do with thecontinue the competition when they learnt of entrepreneurship. This is also true for theirhis participation. I say this with conviction as I family members. However, those «selected»have personally witnessed this several times. under the auspices of the government officials «elected by the people» were allowed to doSometimes the situation was totally absurd - a this.company headed by A. Chalyk won aninternational bid, announced by the Similar things are happening now. It is an open secret that in 2006, under pressure from the234 first Turkmen President, the Turkish company Polimex started winding down its activities in the country, so its representatives were sent to the Russian Federation and in particular Moscow in order to look for the contracts there. However, the sudden death of the first President and the election of the new state leader brought about certain changes to the strategy of the company in Turkmenistan, thus opening, new opportunities which are now being realised.

A. Chalyk has fallen into oblivion; however, «a The majority of adults in the country alreadyholy place is never empty». Now E. Tabandja, realise that all of the reforms, initiated by thehead of the Polimex company, has become an state leader, have either failed or have been«old friend of the Turkmen people» and a stalled.«loyal business partner» of the currentPresident. Therefore, almost all financially The people are nostalgic about the past USSRsignificant projects are channelled exclusively and even about the «époque» ofto Polimex without bidding. And if there is a Turkmenbashi, when they still had the hopebidding, the competitors immediately give up. that the regime would collapse. When talking about today, they are very disappointed to sayCurrently, Polimex is only active in the that «real changes will never occur».construction branch; however, it appears thatit will expand its sphere of interest in the short It appears that the authorities are not going torun. The abovementioned cases show how waste time peddling. The Turkmenistaniabsolute power, concentrated in one pair of citizens used to live under Turkmenbashi inhands, is busy with expanding the already rich the «golden age»; they will survive now asfinancial assets using national resources and well. The most important is to keep themlink with foreign businessmen. quiet, and all necessary methods and instruments are here for that – thanks to theAnyone, who is somehow connected to the profound experience gained in the past.construction business in Turkmenistan, knowsthat in order to get a contract by tender, you However, sooner or later everything comes tohave to pay 8% or more of the cost of the an end.construction project (depending on thearrangements made). In addition to this, the Whose idea is “Avaza”? (5 June 2009)company has to gain profits from the contract. Turkmen mass media actively advertises the National tourist base “Avaza” projectYou do not need to be very good with development, which was supposedly initiatednumbers to calculate the «profits» both by Berdymuhamedov. This activity is timed toparties receive from the contracts, concluded the planned celebrations of brining severalwithin two weeks (not through a competitive hotels into service in June this year; thesebidding process), for a total of 1,2 billion hotels were built by Turkish companies on thedollars. By the most conservative estimate, Turkmen Caspian Sea coast.Polimex is currently running projects for atotal of about 4,5 billion dollars. However, I would like to mention that all hotel building contracts were negotiated inCertainly it seems absurd to talk about mass accordance with the decree of country’sunemployment, national entrepreneurship previous president. During the gathering ofdevelopment, or mention the fact that half of the Cabinet of Ministers, held on March 14,the Turkmen families live below the poverty 2006 S. Niyazov demanded from the heads ofline when such large amounts of money areinvolved. And why speak about the globalcrisis and moreover about anti-crisismeasures, when we were not affected at all,as the President argues.It should be noted that the statements madeby the authorities about Turkmenistan nothaving been affected by the world economiccrisis either show absolute incompetence ofthe government, or indicate the attempt toconceal the real situation from the public.235

leading sectors of national economy – oil and conduct a technical and economic assessment,gas, energy, textile, transport and bank which would have shown unprofitability of thesphere, as well as military and law machinery current project.– to hold tenders on design and building ofmodern and comfortable recreation centers I do not want to go too much into details, buton the Caspian sea coast, and to implement the fact, that 12 kilometers away from thethese projects within two years. national tourist base there is a national oil, gas and chemicals giant (Turkmenbashy oil-The assigned territories for this large project refining factory), which increases its capacityfell right on “Avaza”, the inhabited settlement on the yearly basis, and there is a nationalwhere many citizens of Turkmenbashy city energy giant (Turkmenbashy heat station),(former Krasnovodsk) had their summer lots, both of which should alert investors andnice and big houses, and substantial cottages foreign tourists. Being on the sea coast, onewhere thousands of Turkmens enjoyed their may often sense the “aroma” that comes fromvacation during summer time. This settlement shop where polypropylene is manufactured.was demolished, as if on the entire and rather This “aroma” spoils the sea smell and the airlong Caspian coast there was no other place turns to be not too fresh.for constructions. The smell of Saymonov’s settlings that areIn general, the upcoming “première of right on the way from city and airport to thearchitectural parade” is not a “brave idea” of national tourist base is also worth mentioning.the current president; the idea belongs to S. Here you can also smell a strong toxic odor.Niyazov. Besides, 40 kilometers away from tourist base,However that may be, but after reading the in Kiyanly settlement several facilities such asTurkmen press and watching video reporting gas processing and dewatering complex,on four national channels about this project, a offshore drilling platform and fish processingperson who is not familiar with the situation factory are being built.might be under impression that it is indeed agrandiose and needed project. In reality it is Another fact that was not taken intojust another “launder hole”, similar to the consideration is that the swimming season“Turkmen sea in Karakum desert”, which is (meaning the water temperature) is only 4still being built and is unknown when it will be months per year maximum. Starting from Mayready (authorities keep silence about it), as and until October sun activity is above allwell as many other irrelevant and baseless acceptable norms, and besides 18 hours a daybuilding projects at this step of the blows a cold northern wind.development of Turkmenistan. This is why investor companies (all of themThe National tourist base was originally have well-run businesses in Turkmenistan),planned to be an investment project, in other which initially had to announce theirwords main idea was to attracting foreign participation in the project, do not performinvestments into the development of tourist any activities on their lots at the moment.industry on the coast of the Caspian Sea. It There were eight of such companies inwas meant that foreign investors would be October 2007, which received lands underinterested in the provided by the Turkmen their investment projects.government tax, customs and visa privileges,and “pour into” Avaza, investing millions into Turkmen press constantly proclaims that thedevelopment of tourist base and cultivation of amount of investors participating in thethe sea coast. national zone constantly increases. However, I was on the sea coast recently and did not seeThe idea is actually not that bad. But the a single new company.government officials simply “forgot” to236

Yes, the Turkmen party already invested more Who will be staying in those hotels? For thethan billion dollars into construction of hotels majority of Turkmen people prices areand the relevant facilities, but nobody from unmanageable. Wait for foreigners to staythe foreign party shows any interest to this there while the country is still closed is alsoproject. naïve.Based on the fact that there will be another Perhaps country authorities will invitepresentation of a second hotel line relatives of Turkmen world association or theconstruction and that the president instructed families of Turkmen businessmen to staythe government to prepare offers on the third there at the hotel opening ceremony in orderhotel line construction, it is clear that this to film them and then for a long timeproject will be implemented no matter what. “gladden” the eye of Turkmen audience. But then what?Although there is nothing strange in thecurrent position of the Turkmen authorities – Vigilance (13 July 2009)any “utopia” is brought up by them as care for We received new feedback on the article fromcommon good of people, for the sake of which our regular reader.the government and country officials areready to “sacrifice” anything. But are these Below is a comment with additional“sucrifies” justified? information about the article «Turkmen innovations – security is better thanYes, perhaps the Turkmen party will build 20- freedom».50 hotels, camping, health resorts, vacationhouses and etc, spend millions of state According to reliable sources, in June allfinances on these facilities, which will be filled contract employees of health caremaximum 4 months per year (during summer organizations, serving the staff of the militaryseason). For the rest of the time they will be and law enforcement agencies, were forced toempty. Let’s hope to God that I am wrong! sign a documentunder fear of being fired.Why do I make such assumptions? It is This document states that all employees arebecause there are already examples, such as banned from leaving Turkmenistan. If a staff“Turkmenbashy” hotel and “Serdar” hotel. Ask member moves even to a neighboring regionthe locals, they will confirm it. inside the country, the management of the health care establishment should be notifiedI am not speaking of the room price in those about the travel and purpose in advance.hotels during season time (a double room at Furthermore, a staff member is not allowed to“Turkmenbashy” hotel costs 54 dollars per communicate with foreigners, carry outnight, and a similar room at “Serdar” hotel telephone conversations and correspondencecosts 74 dollars per night). It goes without with subscribers from abroad. In order to sendsaying that the service level in those hotels is their children to study abroad, permission ofvery poor, specifically, the cooling and heatingsystems are not functioning for already a longtime, besides, water in “Turkmenbashy” hotelis on a regime (from 1 AM till 6 AM the wateris turned off) and this is a “5-star” hotel weare talking about!By all means, new hotels that are planned tooperate will not have such a disgrace, at leastduring first year or two; with respect to prices- that is another question.237

the head of the establishment or a ministry time during the period of «contemporaryshould be obtained. history of the state».This is only a small part of the bans- Certainly, most Turkmen citizens have alreadycommitments, which are specified in the realized that the consequences of the worldinstruction. It remains unclear why one needs crisis worsened the situation, in which most ofsuch paranoid vigilance? the country’s population lives. This was inherited from Turkmenbashi`s reign and alsoOne should note that these employees are not represents the outcome of the so-calledstaff members of the law enforcement «reforms» of the current country’s leader G.agencies and do not belong to sergeant or Berdymukhamedov.officer corps; they do not carry any statesecrets, etc. At the extended meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan on 10 July 2009,Are those Turkmen innovations which when making a speech the head of state tookproclaim that so-called«security» is better pride in the success achieved. I will avoidthan «freedom»? Then what was the main quoting the figures he referred to, which werecountry’s law - the Constitution of unrealistically high as usual; however, I cannotTurkmenistan for, which stipulates, even on a but mention the following: allegedly, thedeclarative basis, major legal norms? salaries and the income of citizens have increased in Turkmenistan.It appears that those, who devise theseinstructions, as well as the heads of the Where have these figures been taken from?organizations, who force their staff to sign this And this statement is compared to whatsort of document, are governed not by the period of Turkmen history?supreme law but by certain confidentialservice instructions, which directly violate the Since the time of Berdymukhamedov`s rise toConstitution. power, i.e. nearly 2,5 years ago, the salaries of state-sponsored employees and socialThese moves can be hardly called «a new step benefits were increased only once in 2008 andof the Turkmen authorities toward by 10 % only.democratization and protection of humanrights». The only exception are the monthly benefits paid at the birth of a child, benefits forWould be prosperity (6 September 2009) children and the disabled which wereAlthough Turkmenistan`s authorities continue increased 1,8 times as of 1 July 2009. It shouldto claim that the negative impact of the global be mentioned that prior to that increase, theeconomic crisis is insignificant, ordinary amount of these benefits was about USD 10-citizens argue that this summer is the hardest 15. To be honest, I have no idea how one can get together proper nutrition for a child or a238 person with a disability with this amount of money. All this is happening in a state which, according to the experts` assessment, receives about USD 10 billion as an annual income from gas exports, while as of today the population of Turkmenistan consists of about 5 mln people. At the same meeting it was claimed that the level of the population` prosperity is

systematically growing. Along with this, the and more. It is impossible to earn such moneyamount of work places is not on the rise but, in Turkmenistan today in an honest manner.on the contrary, is decreasing due to the massstaff reduction in foreign companies, Though Berdymukhamedov extended theespecially in Turkish ones. The companies terms of clearing mortgage loans up to 30review the salary rates and decrease them; years and if a customer is employed by theforce their employees to take monthly unpaid organization, which sponsored theleave. Many companies have closed down construction of his house, enjoys a 50%their offices in Turkmenistan due to the discount, it is virtually impossible to pay USDcontinuing work crisis. 150 – 160 thousand, since an average monthly salary is USD 150 – 300 only. Moreover,Why does the government, which attributes nobody is insured from unemploymentTurkmenistan to the group of countries with a tomorrow. Until the entire mortgage loan ishighly developed economy, not consider paid back, the bank takes the apartment as apayment of unemployment benefits for its guarantee. However, little attention is paid tocitizens? Or, in this case, the actual amount of this important detail. The increase of the eliteunemployed in the country will become clear? housing prices led to the rise of the costs onThis would be inadmissible for the the secondary market. Real estate brokersgovernment which plays cunning at every predict a further increase of prices on thestep. secondary market;I would like to recall the years of 2007-2008 3. Air services inside the country increasedand refer to some examples from the recent almost fourfold.past, which had a rather significant impact onthe citizens` pockets, so they can in no way Unfortunately, this list can be continued.contribute to the «systematic growth of thecitizens` prosperity». At this meeting, Berdymukhamedov in particular outlined the importance of adopting1. The price of fuel has been increased almost laws, which would stimulate the development8 times (from 400 manats to 3100 manats), of market economy, the entrepreneurialthus leading to an increase of prices for food sector, etc. Certainly, the state needs suchproducts and services; laws for the proper functioning and development of the economy. It is an open2. As of the moment of Berdymukhamodev`s secret that the present legislation ofrise to power, the state exchange rate for the Turkmenistan has no concepts ofdollar, which used to be 5200 manats (while antimonopoly regulation, unfair competitionthe actual, so-called «black» rate amounted to and many others. These concepts are essential24000 manats), was increased to 14200 for the civilized development of marketmanats. The reform has led to at least a 40% relations and economy.increase of all prices in dollar equivalent. Theprice for elite property, when calculated in Yet, I assume that the adoption of such laws indollar equivalent, has become exorbitant. In Turkmenistan will be by all means delayed asNiyazov`s times, the price of a three room primarily they will affect the ruling authoritiesapartment in an elite apartment block and Berdymukhamedov himself as well as hisamounted to 1,5 billion manats – about USD numerous «family members», who are288462. When buying an apartment, the actively involved in entrepreneurship.people have certainly used the «black»exchange rate, i.e. exchanged the money on Apparently, it will take a while before thethe market. In this case, the cost of an legislative base for the development ofapartment dropped to USD 62500. However, entrepreneurship, called to solve all existingnow the price of immobility in the national problems, will be set up, if ever set up at all.currency has increased to 2-3 billion manats And this means that the prosperity of239

population will still depend upon the this year, amounts to about 2600-2700. Theseauthorities. young people paid the tuition fees themselves and did not ask our state for any support.Summing it up, one can recall a famous saying:«The state cannot be strong if the level of the After the reports in the foreign mass media oncitizens` prosperity is low». the obstacles, placed by the Turkmen government in the way of students and schoolOur government should have a thorough graduates going abroad, the Turkmengrasp of this simple axiom, instead of taking authorities «stirred a peg» with a primitivismpride in non-existing achievements at every common only to them.meeting. The students of those universities, which wereLost the way? (25 September 2009) marked as «unwelcome» by the authorities,Looking at the education reforms being were offered (initially) to sit tests and enterimplemented by the Tukmen authorities, it instead educational institutions in Russia.appears that the latter do not have a clearvision of the purpose and the tasks of the However, the tests were conducted byreform. Article №38 of Turkmenistan’s Turkmen teachers only and the previous,Constitution reads as follows: «Each citizen uncompleted (the fault of the Turkmenhas a right to education. However, the officials authorities) years of studies were not takenonly have a very vague idea about what this into account. In other words, young people,education should be like. who majored in humanitarian disciplines, had to sit tests in physics, math, and chemistry. InThe actions of the authorities in this field are addition, those studying humanities wereinconsistent, illogical and often simply curious, offered to continue their studies in a technicaland the results are for from being positive. field, for instance a psychologist was offered to enroll in the faculty of metallurgicalRecently I met some of the parents, whose engineering. It is unclear to me how a student,children were affected by the course of «anti- who completed 3-4 years in one institute, canstudent and anti-youth» - as it cannot be be offered to enter another one as a first yeartermed differently - action, carried out by the student?!government of Berdymukhamedov this year. There was no time allotted for the preparationI was struck by the scale of the implemented of the tests. This then resulted in a 90 % dropaction and the cynicism of the Turkmen out rate based on the results of the first testauthorities, which accompanied the event. As only.we discovered, the number of students andschool graduates from Turkmenistan, who A written exam on Turkmen history and in thefailed to go back to their universities abroad Turkmen language only (despite the fact that the placement was offered at Russian240 universities) was the final stage and «blow», for those who succeeded during the first test. As a result, only 136 persons managed to pass the test of Turkmen history out of those, who had not failed after the first test. However, as usual, it was also possible to get on the list of the «lucky ones» in return for a certain bribe. Educational officials decided that if the state offers such a chance to «earn», it is a sin not to use the chance.

Speaking impartially, the situation with regard satisfactory marks in order not to spoil theto the education in the country is dismal. general statistics on school academic achievement. School and university curriculaMost of the country`s population consider the also leave much to be desired. For most of thelevel of Turkmen education primitive, since parents, the sums of the bribed to be paid formost of the time the students do not spend in admission to the Turkmen university arethe university auditoriums, but are instead simply «unmanageable». University staff isinvolved in different public activities, often comprised of incompetent people withorganized by the authorities. sticky fingers, whose only life slogan is personal gain.A propos, I recall a recent case that occurredto first year students at one of the elite Even experienced Turkmen experts in theinstitutions. A large group of first year education field cannot understand whatstudents took part in a sport event, devoted to reforms can be implemented in the currentthe Day of Knowledge and Youth, which was situation. Apparently, only those thatconducted at «Serdar ely». For those who do happened last summer.not know: «Serdar ely» is a concrete path atthe foothills of Kopet-Dag of a total length of While the Turkmen authorities initiated theseveral dozens of kilometers. Since education reform, they, as in the describedTurkmenbashi`s time, mass sport events for case of students, are wandering in fog withoutstate-sponsored enterprises, students and a clear vision of what direction to choose.schoolchildren are held there. The weather onthat day was nasty: drizzle and heavy fog. A Comments (2 December 2009)group of students decided to take a short cut Being a Minister of Health Care at the heightin order to finish faster and simply got lost in of the bird flu epidemic (2005-2006), Mrthe mountains. Looking for the road, they Berdymukhamedov argued that we do notincidentally came out onto the «presidential» have and cannot have bird flu as all migratingmotorway (the road taken by the President to birds, which were considered to be carriers ofget to the President’s Palace from his country the disease, do not fly across and do not stayresidence), which runs near «Serdar ely». in Turkmenistan during the winter.Immediately, the «no-good sportsmen» were However, due to its geographical location,blocked by the security service of the Turkmenistan is situated exactly on the mainPresident, border guards and the officers of migration lines. Because of the statement ofthe Ministry of National Security (MNS) and the Health Care Minister, the sale of alltaken to the MNS for questioning. Fortunately, poultry on the country’s markets was banned.the parents of the students and young people In addition, the ban was also extended to so-themselves managed to convince the power called «Bush`s legs», although the technologystructures officials that it had only been an of their manufacture and storage leaves noaccident and not a planned action to block the chance for the survival or dissemination ofpresident’s cortege, as the officers of the pathogenic microorganisms and viruses.Security Service and MNS claimed. After thisincident, the parents had to sign so-called Now, following the same pattern, a war onletters of guarantee, which said that any pork was proclaimed, even though themistake, made by the student, will result in Ministry of Health Care totally denies the facthis/her dismissal from university. that the swine flu virus has spread across the country and that there are any cases ofSuch strange happenings also occur in the life infection. Things have arrived at such a pointof Turkmen students! that when a patient goes to the in-patient department, doctors are forbidden toAccording to the university teachers, they are diagnose acute respiratory viral infection ornot allowed to give students bad and241

acute respiratory disease. No room for panic! physicians. But alas – this is the requirementEverything is under control! from above! And what will be next?Panic is really not needed; instead, the basic At the moment, the Ministry of Health Carepreventive measures against flu should be in has procured a set of vaccines against the flu.place. And these should be widely The vaccine itself is nothing but a weakenedpromulgated and not concealed. This should pathogen. When introduced into the body, abe spoken about to make people aware and person gets ill with this disease but of courseeducated since, despite all bans, people are not in such an acute form as without thefalling ill and dying. vaccination. However, the vaccination requires consideration of individualAccording to unpublished but secret official characteristics of the person, for instance, ifstatistics, as of 31 October 2009, 150 persons, the person has any allergies, etc. It stimulatesincluding pregnant women, had died in antibody production against infectious fluTurkmenistan because of the flu. The number agents. Now the vaccination of pregnantof those infected remains unknown. This data women is underway. In the Soviet times,is simply not available. And this fact enables pregnant women were never vaccinated. Whyofficials to report on the decreased morbidity are commonly accepted and basic vaccinationand mortality rate among the population. rules being violated now? Perhaps, this special vaccine is not harmful to the baby? TheseFor instance, according to data from one of questions are to be answered by the officialsthe leading health care institutions of who give instructions for the vaccination. ItTurkmenistan, within the «new renaissance» might be that due to these procedures, thereperiod the mortality rate dropped from 6,7 is currently a peak of fatalities of women inper cent to 0,9 per cent. If this is true, this is a labor and babies? We do not know.wonderful and unique achievement! How aresuch indicators achieved in reality? Medically In this situation, where the spread of both fluill patients, who have no prospects for and swine flu is being denied absolutely, somerecovery (at the point of death) from the sources indicate that the President and thedoctors` view point, are sent home – to die. government of Turkmenistan as well asCurrently nobody is in charge of checking members of their families have beenthese cases, while during Soviet times this was vaccinated and have received medication toa reason for initiating a criminal case. Now prevent the flu. It might be that the vaccinenobody cares about it as human life costs was against swine flu.nothing in Turkmenistan in comparison withhigh (low) statistical indicators. Thus, I absolutely agree with the opinion of the author of the diary who thinks thatCurrently, a military hospital based in in Berymukhamedov should be deprived of allAshgabat and all hospitals, including infectious medical titles and degrees. The major doctors`one, are filled with patients suffering from rule goes: «First, do no harm!». However,pernicious pneumonia, which normally in 90% apparently, this oath no longer meansof cases result from acute respiratory viral anything to Berdymukhamedov.infections and acute respiratory diseases.However, the officials require the doctors todiagnose bronchitis instead of pneumonia. If apatient is at the point of death, they aresupposed to diagnose acute toxic bronchitisand bronchitis complicated by neurotoxicos inthe case of children. Giving such diagnoseslooks absolutely absurd and medicallyilliterate for the educated health care242

Frozen construction projects in For instance, a school in the city ofTurkmenistan (5 February 2010) Turkmenbashi, which is supposed to beFinancing of construction projects has been equipped with modern multimedia equipmentstopped not only in the Lebap velayat as was and a kindergarten (both to be built by thereported earlier but across the entire country. Turkish company Ozaylar) remainThe only exceptions are the companies, which uncompleted.are immediate “partners” of the President inthe construction business. They are fully In order to view the frozen constructionfinanced. objects, one should go along Atatyurk Street. Some activities at the construction site of theToday we are publishing additions to the Turkish company Elmatas became noticeablearticle «Turkmens do not pay – Turks do not just a couple of months ago despite the factwork». that the contract was signed two years ago. The nearby construction object, which initiallyWork is not stopped even for a minute at the belonged to the SEVPEK Company hasconstruction sites and the offices of the changed three contractors within two years. ATurkish company POLIMEKS, French one kilometer away from these objects there is aBouygues, and Belgian ENEX. construction site of the Turkish company BELDA INSAAT, which is supposed to build aThere is no point in discussing the expediency residential complex. Initially this project wasand vital need of the projects that are being implemented by the Turkish company Kykychconstructed by them. The most important is Inshaat. However, due to payment defaultsthat the order to build them has been from the Turkmen side the works at thereceived from the most important person in construction project have ceased and thethe country. Turkmen side has transferred the object to another contractor. As a result, the KykychDue to the fact that the Russian Gasprom had Inshaat Company has stopped its activities innot purchased Turkmen gas from April until Turkmenistan,the end of 2009, the state budget ofTurkmenistan allegedly lost between 7 and 10 All Ashgabat residents know of the residentialbillion US dollars in 2009. The Turkmen complex built for the employees of the oil andauthorities had counted on this money when gas complex of Turkmenistan by the Turkishplanning the construction of new grandiose company Erku International Ltd. In 2008projects of the great renaissance epoch. Turkmenistan contracted this company for theTherefore, many construction projects in the construction of a residential complex, whichdevelopment stage have been suspended and included a school, equipped with modernthe financing of most of the projects have technological equipment, a kindergarten andbeen frozen across the country. several modern apartment buildings. Turkmenneftegasstroi became the building243 contractor. Due to the fact that the Turkmen side failed to make payments as per the conditions of the contract, the contractor has repeatedly urged the company to start the construction at their own expense. However, the Turkish company froze the start of the construction works referring to the debts the company faced for the already completed projects. This was followed by the requirement of the contractor to rescind the agreement and brought the company to a Turkmen court stating that the

Turkish side had not fulfilled its contractual Whatever it is, due to the poor financialagreement. No mutual agreements have been situation in the country, turbulence aroundreached on this arguable issue and no legal the construction of a new airport hasdecision has been made; yet, the Turkmen temporarily calmed down.side is looking for another project contractor.For instance, a well-known Austrian company Coming back to the issue of non-paymentsStrabag was approached to complete the and non-compliance with treaty obligations, itbuilding of this project. However, the should be noted that these facts do not helpAustrians are aware of the manner in which the government’s reputation. Nor do theythe Turkmens «follow» their agreements and contribute to strengthening of Turkmenistan’swere not so excited about the potential position in the international arena as a reliableprospects, so no reply has been given so far. business partner. The number of internationalAlong with this, the Erku International Ltd companies that leave the country due to thecompany intends to receive the rest of the non-compliance of Turkmenistan with itsTurkmen debts and to curtail its operation in contractual obligations is annually on the rise.Turkmenistan immediately after. On prisons again (25 March 2010)Due to the financial insolvency of the Turkmen Following the publication of the report oncontractors, the works at the construction penitentiary facilities, we received a lot ofsites of the Sehil, IMEX and other companies comments and feedback from the readers,have been suspended. who know the situation first-hand. Our colleague in Turkmenistan has also gatheredSince 2007 Turkmenistan’s President some additional information.constantly points out the «necessity» of theconstruction of a new airport complex in In addition to the publication «PenitentiaryAshgabat. According to raw estimations, this facilities of Turkmenistan», people report theconstruction will cost Turkmenistan a fortune following:– about one billion dollars. As of today, theFrench Bouygues, German Hochtief and According to the soldiers, who are the guardsAustrian Strabag are playing in the «race» for of the “special object” in Bairamali, due to thethis project. However, Turkmenistan will not lack of places in barracks, the prisoners haveget those high profits, which were received in to live in military tents in the conditions,2008 from the sale of the natural gas to which are below the basic requirements, inRussia, even if the diversification of export hot summer and cold winter weather.routes to China and Iran in 2009 and therestoration of supplies to Russia in 2010 are «Correctional institutions» have a highconsidered. Would the Turkmen contractors number of inmates, who are diagnosed notbe able to find this billion then? only with TB and hepatitis of all types but also, as some sources report, AIDS and HIV, asFrom the other side, it goes without sayingthat the French, German or Austrianconstructors would be able to build a firstclass airport complex; however, doesTurkmenistan really need it now? ThePresident explained that it needed to be builtby the annual increase of passengers arrivingin the country. One can question thisstatement since a very strict visa regime inTurkmenistan cannot contribute to theincrease of passengers both to Turkmenistanand from the country.244

drugs and syringes for the injections are Unfortunately, this forethought does not savereadily available for drug users in prisons. them from the problems related to paperwork and particularly from the indifference of theBribes are also given to avoid the barracks migration service officials and poorwith criminals, who committed repeated organization of their work.offences, and recidivists. To begin with, the official list of theDuring the detention period in SIZO (pre-trial documents to be presented to the migrationdetention facilities), in order to get a separate service has 15 bullets. Some of them arecell, the administration requires a bribe from related to children.500 to several thousand US dollars, dependingon how much “the client” can afford. In order to get a consultation on some issues, one has to queue in the line where all peopleThese are only the facts that have been – both those who want to submit applicationsconfirmed by several sources. and those who want to get a consultation on the set of the documents required.Regrettably, the top echelons of power incharge of penitentiary facilities do not The office is open at 9 am; however, oneundertake any measures to improve the should line up earliest possible, preferably at 6situation though there is always a chance that am. If you join the line at 8 am, you will be Nothey will also end up behind the bars». 30 in the best case, so the best scenario will allow you to get an appointment with anFollowing the publication of your report, the official at about the end of the working day.President Berdymukhamedov has expressedhis deep concerns and set his requirementsat The unit for document submissions has 9the session of Security Council; however since cabins and each of them is meant to be run bythen there is no information on concrete a migration officer. Yet, due to reasons, whichsteps, aimed to remedy the situation seem logical for the management only, the appointments are run by 3 officers – and thisMigration Service is assisting citizens (28 is the best case scenario. In addition, one ofMay 2010) these officers also performs the functions of aDue to the approaching of the holiday season, cameraman.queues of those wishing to get a newinternational passport are seen already today On average, an officer needs about 50at the State Migration Service of minutes for each client together with taking aTurkmenistan. photograph and fingerprints. It is not hard to imagine the tempo in which, the queue ofAs opposed to the previous passport, this those who wish to become holders of ainternational passport is valid for a certain Turkmen passport, progresses.period of time and has the biometrical data ofthe holder. Starting 2013, this document will The children should be also present in personbecome obligatory when crossing the state since their photo and fingerprints need to beborder. taken. This is also true for newborns. On certain days, the state service rather looks likeHowever, many Turkmenistani citizens, who a kindergarten instead of a state body.have learned by bitter experience about the Naturally, the children should queue togetheroperation of the state permitting bodies, with their parents in order to meet theprefer not to wait for the «international «watchful» official.passport boom» and to obtain this documentin advance. It is virtually impossible to submit the collected documents from the first try as an245 official will always find a reason to refuse: a

document is stamped in the wrong place, or baby of Berdymukhamedov». One could easilyan inquiry from the housing services is not the do without this advertising as in July andcorrect one, or a photograph does not fit the August Turkmenistani citizens traditionallyapplication form, etc. One can consider it head to the Caspian shores. However, thegood luck if the documents are accepted on number of Turkmen residents going forthe second go. vacation to the seaside is decreasing with each year.It should be noted that apart from thedepartment, issuing new international Let`s calculate how much a vacation in thepassports, the premises of the Migration «resort pearl» will cost for a family of three,Service accommodate the departments of visa and also say a bit about the «finer points» ofissue and foreign citizens registration, a unit in such a stay.charge of foreign citizens deported fromTurkmenistan and a bank cashier office for the How to get there?processing of the payment for the visas In the past, most of the country’s residentsissued. went there either by private cars or by public buses. Now such a journey is very dangerous -It is hard to imagine how many people can due to construction works on the road and thecrowd in this building at the same time, building of bridges, the section of thewaiting for hours in queues. Archman-Balkanabat road is in fact non- existent. If you decide to put your health andRegrettably, no one dares to file a complaint car at risk, then you can reach Avaza fromagainst this service as the discontented will be Ashgabat within 10 hours in the best casepunished: they will not receive a visa for scenario.Turkmenistan or they will be deported fromTurkmenistan (foreign citizens), while local Public transport does not operate on thiscitizens will be denied passport issue on the route as the Ministry of Transport hassome pretext. cautiously decided to cancel all journeys because of the deplorable state of the road inThis outrage is taking place right under the order to avoid traffic accidents. Because ofstate leader’s nose – the Migration Service is this, a taxi from Ashgabat to Avaza costs $100located in close vicinity to the temporary or more.residence of Turkmenistan’s President. Another means of transport is by rail.Expenses required for family vacations in However, starting in May it is impossible toAvaza (27 August 2010) buy tickets in the booking office for trainsDuring recent days, the Turkmen mass media going in this direction. One has to pay extraare competing to advertise the Avaza tourist fees, i.e. bribes.zone, a «health resort pearl» and a «favorite Finally, there are airplanes. A ticket Ashgabat-246 Turkmenbashi-Ashgabat costs about $40 per person and then one can take a taxi from the airport to Avaza for $10 - $15. How to find accommodation there? This issue should be resolved in Ashgabat already in order not to have «headaches» in Turkmenbashi. Agiotage in the shore cities normally starts in mid-July, so one should book hotel rooms or buy health resort vouchers in advance.

Despite the fact that eight hotels are already Apart from this, there is food. If you choose tofully operational in Avaza, there is a constant eat in restaurants and cafés, this will cost youlack of rooms. According to our rough at least $45- $50 per person a day. You shouldcalculations, these hotels can accommodate not forget that all public catering in the city is2608 guests only. The villages of Avaza and open until10 pm.Tarta (they existed at the seashore prior to theconstruction of the tourist zone), demolished It will cost you much less to eat at home.by the government`s order, were designed toaccommodate up to 10000 guests. Even two Summaryother hotels – the Charlak and Turkmenbashi Assuming that a family was fortunate and theyHotel – located within the city cannot improve managed to buy air tickets and cheap hotelthe situation in the summer time. rooms or rent an apartment in the city, a 10 day vacation will cost them about $1000 –A hotel room costs $53 and more; however, $1300.according to the tourists who stayed there,services and food quality do not correspond One should note that the average salary ineven to two stars. Turkmenistan today amounts to $210, while the minimum salary is $18.In addition, if there is a national event,especially with the participation of In general, if both parents are employed, aBerdymukhamedov, you will be requested to family can afford to have their vacation inleave your room for the duration of his stay. Avaza.The hotel’s administration and the President’ssecurity service will have little concern about According to our observations, the number ofwhere you will move to instead. This summer, those who wish to spend their vacation on thethis happened on 31 July. Caspian shore this summer has dropped by 35-40 %% as compared to last year.Therefore, most of the tourists prefer not tostay in the hotel but rather rent an apartment «Hostages» of Polimex constructionor a room in the city (12-15 km from the sea). projects (22 September 2010)However, since good apartments have already The Ashgabat International School, which wasbeen leased long-term by the staff of foreign launched in Ashgabat in the late 1990s and iscompanies who are employed in the under the patronage of the US Embassy inconstruction works in Avaza and Turkmenistan, has become a «hostage» ofTurkmenbashi, Turkmenistani citizens have to Polimex. The children of foreign diplomats andbe satisfied with those left over. businessmen, who are accredited and are working in Turkmenistan, are studying there.However, even these cost a fortune duringthis season and you cannot be guaranteedthat you will not have tap water for some daysif a careful landlord has not taken care of thewater reservoir. Nor are you guaranteed thatthe voltage will be stable or that the electricitywon’t simply be cut off for several hours. Thismay lead to fridges leaking, food gettingspoiled and electrical appliances and airconditioners malfunctioning.If you rent an apartment in the city and you donot have a car, you have to think about how toget to the sea and back on a daily basis. A taxiwill cost $10- $20 a day.247

Due to its location, the school ended up being There are no tools to influence the Polimexsqueezed between the construction sites of Company, which has been a long standing andthe Polimex Company. The company is reliable «business partner» and is on goodcarrying out construction and installation terms with the Turkmen President. Companyworks in the proximity of the school, specialists refer to the contractual agreementssomething that is not permitted by any and orders of the company’s manager. Localconstruction standards or norms. In particular, authorities have no right to control therecently, the construction of two highrise Polimex operation, or moreover to criticizeluxury accommodation blocks including all the inconvenience it creates and the violationsaccompanying infrastructure and services was of the construction norms.completed. This is not the first case where, whileIn addition, in the Atatjurk Street, installation implementing its construction projects, thisworks of the sewer and water distribution company turns the areas surrounding thesystem pipes have been ongoing for 4 months. construction sites into «combat zones», thusDue to the works in progress, or to be more causing lots of discomfort to the localprecise, the works started and not completed, residents. The city of Turkmenbashi, wherethe traffic area of Atatjurk Street, heading to Polimex is laying sewerage and water pipelinethe school gates, has been fenced off and systems is currently in a similarly deplorableunder construction for 4 months already. state.Therefore, students and teachers have to getto school using other roads, passing and Construction sites and garbage (18driving directly through the Polimex November 2010)construction sites, as parents explain, «in dirt When conducting building and assemblyand dust up to their ears». One can hardly works, Polimex does not follow the norms andimagine what the roads, leading to the school, standards of construction works, whichwill look like after the first rain and snow. subsequently leads to contamination of the areas around the construction sites andDespite the fact that recently President causes many problems for the employees ofBerdymukhamedov was present at the launch organizations and residents of the apartmentof the abovementioned elite complexes, built blocks, which are located in the proximity ofby Polimex and located near the school, the the sites.state of access routes to the school has notimproved. It should be noted that before The article «Hostages of Polimex constructionvisiting the project, viewing points were projects» spoke about the Ashgabatarranged for the President on the roofs of International School which is located in thethese apartment blocks. Certainly, he could zone of the Polimex construction sites.not but notice the dire state of the school andaccess to it; however, things have not changed For 1,5 months after the publication severalsince then. things have been changed. The section of approximately 350-400 meters between theFurthermore, during the summer months the Atatjurk Street, starting from theschool was totally disconnected from energy Novofirjuzinsk Highway up to the belt-lineand water supplies. The drainage system was highway, has been finally surfaced, but notalso disconnected. Fortunately, there were no opened yet.students at school as they were on theirsummer break. These issues were resolved by However, in general the situation is stillthe start of the new school year due to the unacceptable. Mess and chaos at the buildingHerculean efforts of the school areas cannot be called construction sites.administration. Organization of workers` labour, construction machinery and equipment is not existent.248

Briquettes with granite borders are scattered Apart from this, it would be desirable if theright and left over the entire road coating. The local administration could demand thesame is true of the piles of construction contractors more firmly to maintain the ordergarbage. In one word, Polimex construction at the construction site and borderingsites are the kingdom of dust, mud and territories. This is true not about Polimex onlygarbage. but also a Turkish company Renaissance, which is building the premises of theOne thing is hard to explain: why do the Polytechnic Institute now, as well as manymunicipal authorities, the Ministry of other companies. Looking for fantastic profitsConstruction and the Ministry of Nature and rushed by the short time frames, theProtection not react? As was pointed out in companies normally either forget or simplythe previous article, what will happen when it ignore the basic norms of maintaining thestarts raining and snowing? After the fallout in cleanliness of the environment.early November, as it was expected,everything turned into slush, which spread Certainly, one needs to have exceptionalbeyond the borders of the construction sites courage to make a critical comment on thedue to the machinery working on it. Polimex company, which has been a longTherefore, all roads within a radius of one standing business partner of the head of thekilometer from the construction project are state, and to require it to resolvecovered with mud, which will further turn into shortcomings in its work. However, who, if notdust when dried in warm weather. we ourselves will do this?Interestingly, according to the state road Comments on the previous article containedinspectors, there is «unwritten law», which is the opinion that it is only the parents of theforced to be followed by the city khyakim. This school`s students (foreign businessmen,order of the mayor enables the road diplomats of the foreign missions ininspectors to impose penalties on drivers of Turkmenistan, etc) who should take care ofdirty vehicles. Therefore, the inspectors the current situation at school. This narrow-always set ambushes near the construction minded approach surprises and disappoints.sites. It is impossible to explain to them that Or some people follow the principle: «It is nodirty vehicles are the fault of the construction business of mine» and I don’t want it to be mycompany, so the drivers have either to pay a business?penalty, which is rather significant by Turkmenstandards, or a bribe. It makes an impression that all this is happening is not in Turkmenistan but in aTo cut the story short, talking about absurd foreign country. And if we cannot protectdecrees of the municipal administration, we foreign kids in our home country, it meansdo not mean to blame the city community that we will not be able to protect our ownservices of inefficient work – they are children as well. Isn`t this logical?sweeping the roads from early morning untillate at night, particularly the central streets. In addition, isn’t it important for us, Turkmenistani, what image the foreignersWe wish to criticize the city authorities studying at the Ashgabat International Schoolbecause when enforcing such orders they will have of us, because Polimex isshould set a sufficient number of car washes implementing government business? Theor at least create places where the drivers more often we close our eyes to what iscould wash their vehicles themselves. Such happening around us, the lower our ownofficially created places do not exist in the city. national image will drop.If road inspectors discover the car beingwashed not at the official car wash (and there Any fight for justice starts with small acts andare only a few of them for entire Ashgabat), small victories, as well as chaos andbe prepared to pay a penalty or a bribe. arbitrariness of the authorities start with small249