Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Turkmenistan

Turkmen President Pledges Free Utilities, Salt Until 2030

(RFE/RL)

October 25, 2006 -- Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov today promised that his countrymen would continue receiving free gas, electricity, water, and salt until 2030.

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October 25, 2006

Niyazov made the pledge at the opening of the 17th session of the 2,600-member Halk Maslahaty, or People's Council, Turkmenistan's supreme legislative body.

Turkmen citizens have been granted free access to utilities since 1992, but shortages are reported to be frequent.

(Interfax)

Human Rights In Turkmenistan

Tajigul Begmedova speaking at RFE/RL in Prague on July 21 (RFE/RL)

LIFE UNDER NIYAZOV: On July 21, RFE/RL's Prague broadcasting center hosted a presentation by TAJIGUL BEGMEDOVA, chairwoman of the Bulgaria-based Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (THF). Begmedova discussed the human rights situation in Turkmenistan under President Saparmural Niyazov, focusing on the arrests in June of THF activists and RFE/RL Turkmen Service correspondent Ogulsapar Muradova. Begmedova, who graduated from the Institute of Economy in Moscow in 1987, fled Turkmenistan in 2002 and lives in exile in Sofia.

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Listen to the complete presentation (36 minutes; presentation in Russian with consecutive translation into English):
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Some RFE/RL Coverage Of Human Rights In Turkmenistan:

Media Coverage Of Leader Distracts From Real Problems

Authorities Cast Wide Net In Conspiracy Allegations

Embattled Turkmen Writer Honored Abroad

RFE/RL Correspondent Recounts Arrest

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RFE/RL coverage of Turkmenistan.

THE COMPLETE STORY: Click on the icon to view a dedicated webpage bringing together all of RFE/RL's coverage of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

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