Global Voices Online

Annasoltan writes about the problem of human trafficking in Turkmenistan against the background of persistent economic hardship, porous borders and the regime's attempts to demur and defer the issue.

Vlad reports that Turkmenistan has taken to barring entry to Peace Corps volunteers, for reasons that remain utterly baffling.

Musa updates on the situation when Turkmen students of foreign universities outside of the country were not allowed to leave their country without special approval certificates from the Ministry of Education.

Annasoltan analyzes the political impact of the visit of Turkmenistan president Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov to the United States, and says that it will be difficult for him to present himself as a reformer who would take Turkmenistan out of present isolationist course.

Musafirbek reports that Turkmenistan hosted international telecommunications and information technology exhibition and the “Turkmenistan and Global Telecommunications System” international scientific conference.

Anasoltan reports that a domestic violence hotline has been launched in Turkmenistan with the support of the OSCE center in Ashgabat.

Elina Galperin reports that Turkmenistan intends to open a naval base in the Caspian port of Turkmenbashi to fight smugglers, terrorists and any other forces.

Orazdurdy reports that Turkmen students studying at the American University in Central Asia (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) were rejected at airport en route to USA through U.S. State Dept. undergraduate program.

Orazdurdy reports that dozens of students at Ashgabat (capital of Turkmenistan) airport were not allowed on board a plane heading to Almaty. This is the latest incident in a broader trend: hundreds of Turkmen students still cannot leave the country in pursuit of education abroad.