11.08.2022

Akhal-Teke

Obsessing about sports, building bridges, and speaking up for China. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan briefing.

As per the president’s instructions, the government is away from the office for the whole month of August, taking a break at one of several sanctioned domestic resorts.

President Serdar Berdymukhamedov is also ostensibly at rest.

This point was amply documented in an August 4 evening news bulletin in which Berdymukhamedov and his son, Kerimguly, were seen together cycling through the spookily empty streets of the Awaza resort on the Caspian Sea. The pair later did a light session of weight training in the gym. Unlike his father, from whom he took over this year,… >> подробнее

06.08.2022

Akhal-Teke

Ashgabat wants Afghanistan to become part of the global economy. It’s not so keen to bankroll integration, however.

On the subject of the ruling regime in Afghanistan, Turkmenistan is firmly in the dialogue camp.

This point, that the international community needs to find ways to establish lines of communication with the Taliban*, was made afresh on July 26 at a Tashkent conference devoted to security and economic development in Afghanistan.

Reintegrating Afghanistan into the global economy, argued Vepa Khadzhiyev , Turkmenistan’s deputy foreign minister, “will have a positive impact on ensuring the security and stability of both the country itself and the region as a whole.”… >> подробнее

26.07.2022

Akhal-Teke

Far from Turkmen people acquiring new rights, there is every reason to believe things are poised to get worse on at least one front, if that is even possible. Our weekly briefing.

The regime in Turkmenistan is not interested in improving its human rights record.

It is, however, prepared to engage in the choreography required to convince foreign partners that it is committed to doing so.

On July 21, Deputy Foreign Minister Vepa Khadzhiyev met in Ashgabat with Ryzsard Komenda, the Central Asia representative for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights , for a bout of seat-warming.

A Turkmen Foreign Ministry statement has the pair discussing Turkmenistan’s supposed efforts to live up to the human rights… >> подробнее