Stories about Turkmenistan from January, 2008
Turkmenistan: U.S. Active in Ashgabat
Maciula writes about increasing levels of American diplomatic activity in Turkmenistan and the prospects of building the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline.
Turkmenistan: Internet and Blogosphere
Maciula writes about various aspects of Turkmenistan’s isolation on the Internet and presents the the only known English-language blog written by a Turkmen.
Turkmenistan: Common Sense and Enlightened Absolutism
Maciula wonders about the real meanning of the last steps of the President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov’s mean for Turkmenistan: beginning of democratization or return to normality dictated by common sense.
Turkmenistan: How about Buying a Flat in Ashgabat?
Maciula comments on Berdymukhammedov’s new decree on home loans and the true reasons of its introduction, which he believes lies in the sphere of simply filling up the empty multistorey apartment blocks.
Turkmenistan: Now Safe for Clowns
Nathan says that there has been a shift in policy in Turkmenistan. The new plan is to reopen an opera house, resume circus shows and build a cinema in the capital Ashgabat.
Turkmenistan: Russia Wins Gas War
Steve LeVine opines that Russia seems to have put the last piece in place for a triumph in the epic war to control the natural gas supply between Turkmenistan and Europe.
Turkmenistan: President Legitimizes Opera
Steve LeVine reports that President of Turkmenistan Berdymukhamedov is finally starting to disassemble the weirdest decisions of his predecessor. Today he legalized libraries, the circus, cinema and the opera.
Turkmenistan: Conflict between Ashgabat and Tehran Runs Deep
Maciula analyzes the deepening conflict between Turkmenistan and Iran after two weeks have passed since the suspension of Turkmen gas supplies to Iran.
Turkmenistan: Drugs and Power
Maciula writes about the rising problem of drugs in Turkmenistan, noting that according to the World Health Organization, 10 per cent of Turkmenistan’s population is addicted to heroin.
Turkmenistan: The Turkmen names
Maciula takes a challenge to investigate the origin and meaning of some Turkmen names.
Turkmenistan: Trip to the Seaside Travelogue
Maciula offers some notes on the road in Turkmenistan, heading from Turkmenbashi town towards the north-west and Avaza – the most popular Turkmen seaside resort.
Turkmenistan: New Year in the Shadow of the “Blue Fuel”
Maciula reports on the new “gas” news from Turkmenistan — on 27 December, President Berdymukhammedov informed that in 2008 Turkmenistan will conduct an audit of all hydrocarbon deposits.
Turkmenistan: Turkmen Women
Maciula shortly shares his impressions about the Turkmen women, noting their delicate beauty and reminding that in order to receive an official consent to marry a Turkmen girl, a foreigner must pay a fee of 50 thousand dollars.
Turkmenistan: Caspian Gas Pipeline Deliberations
Maciula analyzes the prospects of the Caspian Coastal Gas Pipeline, trying to understand whether it's a Russia’s real geopolitical and economic success or a mere propaganda.
