Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Turkmenistan

Rights Group Says Repressive Turkmen Policies Unchanged

(RFE/RL)

July 10, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- The head of an international rights group says there has been no relaxation of policies restricting civil society groups in Turkmenistan since President Saparmurat Niyazov died in late 2006.

TEXT SIZE - +

July 10, 2007

Aaron Rhodes, executive director of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, told RFE/RL's Turkmen Service today that no independent human rights organizations can openly work inside the country.

He also called for an independent investigation into the death of RFE/RL correspondent Ogulsapar Muradova, who died while in custody in late 2006.

RFE/RL Central Asia Report

SUBSCRIBE For regular news and analysis on all five Central Asian countries by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Central Asia Report."

Production and distribution of rap music is not officially banned, but it

Yo! Turkmen Rappers Flip The Script On Repression

For a growing number of Turkmen youth, rap music has become a way to express their daily struggles and inspire political change in one of the world's most oppressive countries. More

A woman relaxes underneath a photo of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov at the resort of Avaza.

Turkmenistan's Personality Cult 2.0

Turkmen Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov appears to be building a personality cult to match that of his eccentric predecessor. More

Myalikguly Berdymukhammedov, the father of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, in a September 2009 television appearance

Keeping Up With The Berdymukhammedovs

Reports say a police unit in Turkmenistan this week was named after the father of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov. State-run media reportedly describe it as a gesture to honor Myalikguly Berdymukhammedov's years of service to Turkmenistan's Interior Ministry and "his efforts in educating the younger generation." More