Global Voices » Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan: Facebook Group Satirizes Politics

Adil Nurmakov — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:49:22 +0000

The Turkmen-language Facebook page “JaPBaKLaR”, originally intended as a forum to share popular Turkmen cartoons, has emerged as the biggest Turkmen Facebook community. More importantly, it’s exhibiting some behaviors that seem surprisingly civic. NewEurasia’s Annasoltan reports.

Turkmenistan: Peace Coprs forced to leave Turkmenistan

Adil Nurmakov — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:08:28 +0000

Joshua Foust reports that Turkmenistan unceremoniously lets the Peace Corps know that they are no longer welcome in this Central Asian republic.

Turkmenistan: Sham NGOs' role in fake presidential elections

Adil Nurmakov — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:38:32 +0000

Turkmenistan’s upcoming presidential poll is truly a strange creature. neweurasia’s Annasoltan reviews how it has evolved in the last few months, including the role of government-organized NGOs (GONGOs).

Turkmenistan: Hack heaven

Adil Nurmakov — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:30:20 +0000

Neweurasia’s Annasoltan explores the rise of hacking in the Turkmen segment of the world wide web and its particularly Turkmen flavor.

Global Voices Russian Partners With Neweurasia.net

Ekaterina — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:12:03 +0000

We are pleased to announce partnership of Global Voices in Russian with Neweurasia.net, one of the most prominent citizen media platforms in Central Asia and about Central Asia, which has a large Russian and English speaking audience.

Neweurasia focuses on news and analysis generated by young people from the ground. The site casts light upon under-reported issues and provides a space for young, bright minds to make themselves heard. It was created back in 2005, when several online activists joined forces to develop a platform for blogs with low editing needs and quick, direct publishing.

It is worth mentioning of course, that one of the platform founders was also Global Voices author Ben Paarman. Today, the site has an extensive network of bloggers from five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan), who all share amazing stories of lives, achievements and challenges in their countries.

Taking all this into account, the partnership of Global Voices and Neweurasia.net is a logical step, given the activities of the two communities and their similar goals. We are very excited to start our cooperation with one of the most amazing and popular citizen media platforms about Central Asian region.

We started with exchanging our logos. You might have already seen the Neweurasia logo on the Global Voices Russian site and our logo is placed on the Russian version of Neweurasia, which means that Global Voices will be more accessible for a Russian speaking audience. Both sides are open-minded and do not exclude other forms of partnership in the future.

We are grateful to the people who worked hard to make the cooperation possible. So, we owe a big “thank you” to Oliver Dams, project manager and technical manager of Neweurasia.net and one of the founders of the site, and Yelena Jetpyspaeva, social media officer of Neweurasia.net, for being receptive and open to new ideas.

Also, we would like to thank the team of Global Voices in Russian, authors and translators alike, for producing content and making the site interesting for Russian speakers.

Turkmenistan: Journalist sentenced, goes to jail

Adil Nurmakov — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:32:42 +0000

Tomyris reports that Turkmen journalist Dovletmyrat Yazkuliyev, who worked for the RFE/RL’s Turkmen language service, has been sentenced to 5 years in prison after only a 2 day hearing, allegedly for influencing his relative to attempt to commit suicide.

Turkmenistan: Spoken and unspoken lyrics of Turkmen literature

Adil Nurmakov — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:25:58 +0000

Tomyris reports on the fifth annual book fair hosted in Ashgabat this month, and notes that while literature in Turkmenistan is being celebrated, it continues to be suppressed and dominated by propaganda.

Azerbaijan: Peace Corps Reflections

Onnik Krikorian — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:27:09 +0000

Aaron in Azerbaijan comments on a Global Voices post on the U.S. Peace Corps in Turkmenistan and reflects on the situation as a volunteer in Azerbaijan.

Turkmenistan: Global Village or Village Behind the Globe?

Annasoltan — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:24:30 +0000

Turkmenistan is known as one of the most secretive and isolated countries in the world. Foreign presence in this country is limited to a few diplomats and branch executives of a couple of large energy or construction companies. [All links are in Turkmen].

In this sense Turkmenistan can be called a global desert. A recent conversation titled ‘The Americans in the villages‘ on newly opened Turkmen language chat forum ertir.com is illustrative of how Turkmenistan’s isolation has influenced the mentality of the people.

Turkmenistan

Tending the city park in the Turkmenistan capital Ashgabat. Image by Mirka Duijn, copyright Demotix (24/09/2009).

Turkmenistan is a country of 5 million people, rich in hydrocarbon resources. Having witnessed the Tsarist conquest in the nineteenth century and consequently been incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1924, sandwiched between Iran and Afghanistan, the fear of the powerful neighbors and big powers in Turkmenistan is all present.

Nationalism has just begun to grow after 20 years of the country’s independence from the Soviet Union. The unpredictability of a dictatorship adds to the popularity of ‘spy’ scenarios or ‘conspiracy theories’ circulating among the population.

The government maintains secrecy in its policies and public discussions on political issues are considered a taboo. The heavily censored and state controlled media only reports official news; consequently the people know or understand very little about the government’s policies. Statistics and a variety of information that is available freely elsewhere is considered a state secret in Turkmenistan.

Therefore, an American’s presence in a Turkmen village can cause a real surprise and lead to all sorts of curiosity and speculation among the population. But like a Turkmen proverb is saying the “there is a logic in the crowd,” the conversation that took place on 10 September, 2011, has brought some clarity to the issue.

‘The Americans in the villages'

Görogly who opened a conversation titled ‘The Americans in the villages,' wrote:

I don’t know whether you have also a similar situation in the area you live but in the neighboring village an American is working as an English teacher. It is obvious that they [the American teachers] aren’t coming here because of the salary of a village school. At the celebrative ‘toy’ events he is filming everything so that some aunts (elder women) from the village started to swear: ‘The haram who should be swallowed by the earth' [a Turkmen expression meant for someone who is wished to disappear]. He is exhausting our patience by using his camera. What are your views about them? What do you think they are doing in Turkmenistan?

Turkmentalyp was first to share his opinion:

Of course it is not a coincidence. They have institutions for learning about people. They are learning the economic, political and social aspects of the [Turkmen] people. Hence, they are constructing a ‘vicious’ strategy. In short they learn the anatomy of the people, they learn the strengths and the weaknesses. Like in a struggle they use the opponents’ weaknesses.

Görogly joined the discussion saying:

During the era of Güljamal Han they were also living among the population and they came with Skobelev [the Russian army general who defeated the Turkmen at Gökdepe fortress]. Who knows what their aims are. We should fear them.

Abadan added:

They want to learn the Turkmen traditions.

Gudrat agreed:

Yes, sure they want to learn our culture. Do you sincerely believe that a spy would film with a camera? If he were indeed a spy you wouldn’t even know that he’s an American.

Kural had the following to say:

What are you talking about people? The human being is curious, he wants to learn about other cultures, wants to teach his own culture, wants to gather experiences… Wasn’t that an American girl who died under the Isreali bulldozer? [Reference to Rachael Corrie, an American activist killed in the Gaza Strip by an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) bulldozer]. If I had traveled to a foreign country, even if it were in Africa, I would take my camera with me.

We are not going to villages in the holidays to teach what we know. The people need someone to teach them. They don’t know what’s right or wrong. If one is afraid of the camera, he should correct it. The [Turkmen] government which did not accept the Israel’s two diplomats credentials, should be able to manage that.

Senem disagreed with Kural:

But Kural, it is America. We shouldn’t be expecting anything better from America.

Kural responded:

Senem, to be honest, I have seen all of the difficulties in my life in Turkmenistan. I got past it. But even if the people are being beaten or reprimanded, they are soo content with the government. One shouldn’t be afraid but act boldly. They shouldn’t come to teach us, we should teach the people.

Abadan asked:

Why is there a sign on the wall of the American Embassy showing that taking photos are banned? Every time I go past I am wondering. There is nobody here taking a photo to stage an attack.

Senem responded:

They think that everybody is like them.

Leo Messi said:

If I go out of the country I film everything that I am not used to see. I film the taxis, the restaurants, even when the people are talking. Now, am I a spy? LOL to you. Is the dead village a military or strategic point worth of filming? Are you comparing Skobelev’s period to our time? Once more LOL to you. The technology has progressed now the spy info is being obtained through cyber spies not by sending one of their citizens to a dead village. Besides not all Americans are bad. If instead of America, Turkey or Russia were the superpowers they would be worse. I don’t see anything bad what America is doing. They are trying to clean countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan from dirt. America forever.

Turkmentalyp insisted:

They have finished the Iraqi state calling it democracy. To clean up the dirt we don’t need America. It would be better for them not to get their nose into the affairs of others. To learn the people’s opinions is a large information. It also includes learning the traditions, But to invade a country there is not only military information necessary. The media and the disputes that derive from the thinking of the people are also important. To make it perfect, learning the traditions is a must.

Leo Messi replied:

Turkmentalyp, to learn the thinking of the people they have special services. Besides there are no Americans working in these services. The people of the country under study are passing it. For example, on Turkmenistan, it is azatlyk.com’s workers find for them.

Halasgär sounded pessimistic:

Their goal is not only to spy but also to find young collaborators for the future. To raise people like Sylapmen [a Christian turned Turkmen]. One should be very careful. May Allah not separate the people from their belief, their beautiful life, and their homeland. Omin.

Heromant joined saying:

I am currently working in the Azatlyk Farmers Union in Yoloten. I am video taping whatever I see because here it looks like Afghanistan. Am I also a spy? LOL to you. Go to see America as well, to see their villages with cameras. You won’t be called a spy. Learn and let your thinking progress. Rather than gossiping about America let your thinking grow.

YaSwami opined:

In my opinion they know what we the Turkmens don’t know, in politics they know that we are the ass cleaners of the Russians. God knows what you are trying to hide from the cameras.

Belulym said:

Who has appointed him as a teacher? It is unlikely that he who came from America would become a teacher in a village. If anything, he would come to work in the cities. Hmm, it’s a highly suspicious situation.

Mylayym explained:

The English teachers are being sent by the Peace Corps. Likewise, our people are being sent to the States for learning English. There is nothing to be afraid of. Our people can also video tape there. I have seen with my own eyes that how many of them have been taught English. If my family had allowed me I would have brought a girl to live with us if we were a family but the relatives at home didn’t allow and the Corps said that they don’t locate their people in Ashgabat. When I asked why they said to teach the village people English and second they said it is easier to learn the Turkmen language in the villages than in the cities. Not only in Ashgabat but in all the U.S. Embassies taking photos is not allowed.

Explorer had the last word on the issue:

You are behaving like if you were living in the 18th century. Let them video tape if they want. Are our villages also a state secret now? Don’t let foreigners listen to what you’re saying cause you will make them laugh about you. This is a mentality issue. The issue about not believing that one person can indeed travel into another country to learn the culture and its people. Because our computers don’t have such a code in their BIOS. It should be a spy or an enemy or the like. Consequently he should be hanged, stoned to death or extradited.

Turkmenistan: Challenges for education

Adil Nurmakov — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:38:05 +0000

Annasoltan talks with a professional teacher in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, about education’s challenges in this country, from shifting generational and cultural values to corruption in the schools.

Turkmenistan: Government campaigns against satellite dishes

Adil Nurmakov — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:55:38 +0000

President Berdimuhammedov has declared satellite dishes a stain on the cityscape of Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan— but is it just a ploy to curtail the seeping influence of outside media, ponders Tomyris.

Turkmenistan: A veteran’s view of the country's music scene

Adil Nurmakov — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:48:49 +0000

Annasoltan interviews a veteran of the Turkmen music scene to explore the last 20 years of artistic development in Turkmenistan.

Turkmenistan: Israel's trip over geopolitics

Adil Nurmakov — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 07:14:42 +0000

Few observers are aware of Israel’s strange diplomatic dance with Turkmenistan, which has involved the Tel Aviv’s attempts to court Ashgabat as a potential lever against Iran, Emerson reports.

Turkmenistan: Explosion of online activity

Adil Nurmakov — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:07:45 +0000

Joshua Foust comments on the recent news about the emergence of new social groups forming online in Turkmenistan, and argues how effective they can be at gathering information.

Turkmenistan: The Tower of Media and Totalitarianism

Adil Nurmakov — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 06:34:38 +0000

Emerson writes that a 137 million euro television tower - both state-of-the-art and hypocritical - is set to be inaugurated in October in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. neweurasia’s Emerson reports.