Stories about Turkmenistan
Central Asia press freedom scores get worse
The bleak situation for freedom of expression in Central Asia underscores the need for renewed international pressure to respect their international obligations.
China increases gas imports from Turkmenistan for green energy transition. It's impact is unclear
To reduce carbon emissions, China is looking to transition from coal to natural gas, with much of that coming from Turkmenistan. But how will this impact its overall annual emissions?
What did Central Asian presidents talk about in their New Year's addresses?
These New Year's addresses provided a glimpse into Central Asian governments' perspectives on their countries' achievements and challenges.
Turkmenistan remains unsafe for women
One in every six women experienced violence from their current or former partner, according to the first-ever national survey of domestic violence in 2020.
Why has Turkmenistan’s succession plan gone sideways?
Turkmenistan’s succession is under close inspection by its neighboring countries, where political regimes have struggled with power transition.
Central Asian presidents cannot stop appointing their relatives to high-level posts
The most glaring example of this practice is the current president of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimukhamedov, who succeeded his father Gurbanguly Berdimukhamedov in 2022.
Turkmenistan unveils its first ‘smart’ city, named after the former president
Arkadag’s future remains unclear given the government’s authoritarian and bizarre rules for its potential residents.
Central Asian leaders sigh with relief as Erdoğan wins presidential elections in Turkey
After a cooling off in the relations in the 1990s and early 2000s, the blossoming of cooperation between Turkey and Central Asia has come under Erdoğan’s rule.
Central Asian leaders display loyalty to Kremlin at the military parade in Moscow
Russia’s allies in Central Asia are in a delicate position. They have to maintain neutrality while being pressured by Russia, who is leveraging the region’s political, security, and economic reliance.
New study finds internet censorship in Turkmenistan reaches over 122,000 domains
"One of the worst blocking rules in Turkmenistan is that the government blocks every website that ends with w.org, which is Wordpress, used by activists and bloggers."
Like father, like son: Turkmenistan’s new president carries on his predecessor’s repressive policies
The latest developments have further undermined the belief that Serdar Berdymukhamedov will seek to break away from the legacy of his father and pursue a more humane state policy.
The climate crisis and the environment in Central Asia — Is there hope?
The states of Central Asia are facing severe environmental challenges, which are being further exacerbated by climate change. Can the regional governments come together to address the problem?
A water diplomacy expert discusses the prospects of water conflict and cooperation in Central Asia
There are sufficient water resources in the region, but the regional cooperation is challenged by poor governance frameworks and weak institutional capacity.
As peace and prosperity unravel, Central Asia braces for a surge of forced labor and sexual slavery
Economic crises, cuts in public spending and subsequent unemployment are commonly regarded as the factors that aggravate the risks for vulnerable groups of population to fall prey to human trafficking
Central Asia rushes into armed drone race as regional arms transfers brew
Central Asia’s search for military drones started long before the Russian-Ukrainian war, and was shaped by the imminent rise of military drones and Russia’s gradual lag in advanced military technologies.
Central Asia celebrates Victory Day amid Russian pressure
In Putin's Russia, the victory over Nazi Germany became instrumental in legitimizing the regime, suppressing political dissent, and pursuing an aggressive foreign policy, including the war in Ukraine.
Central Asia’s fears of rising militancy in Afghanistan as Moscow invades Ukraine
Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, the three Central Asian states that border Afghanistan intended to defend their borders through security reinforcement and diplomacy, primarily relying on Russian initiatives.
Public opinion in Central Asia: A pioneering Kyrgyz NGO ventures into uncharted territory
While the five Central Asian nations share borders and history, they rarely view themselves as part of the same region. A Kyrgyz NGO tries to survey them as one group.
Turkmen students: Escaping from war-torn Ukraine
During the first few days of Russia’s war on Ukraine, the Turkmen embassy was largely unhelpful when it came to evacuating students and citizens.
“Be quiet, woman! Your day is on March 8”: How is International Women’s Day celebrated in Turkmenistan?
The mainstream rhetoric that the Soviets created gender equality and civilized "savage" Central Asia is nothing but a hegemonic imperial view wrapped in racism.
The Soviet Union existed for 70 years, but don’t expect to find it as a location in the world of comic books
Only a handful of mainstream comics published during the existence of the Soviet Union actually take place within its borders, and those that did often promoted stereotypes.
