President Saparmurat Niyazov (file photo)
23 August 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov has banned the playing of recorded music at public events, on television and at weddings.
The decree was signed by Niyazov on 22 August and published in newspapers today.
It bans the use in Turkmenistan of recorded music "at musical performances on state holidays, in broadcasts by Turkmen television channels, at all cultural events organized by state and social institutions, in places of mass assembly and at weddings and celebrations organized by the public."
In comments carried by the official daily newspaper "Neitralny Turkmenistan," Niyazov said there was a need "to protect true culture, including the musical and singing traditions of the Turkmen people, from the negative influences of factors that to them are foreign."
(AFP/gazeta.ru)
For RFE/RL's full coverage of events in Turkmenistan, see News And Features On Turkmenistan
It bans the use in Turkmenistan of recorded music "at musical performances on state holidays, in broadcasts by Turkmen television channels, at all cultural events organized by state and social institutions, in places of mass assembly and at weddings and celebrations organized by the public."
In comments carried by the official daily newspaper "Neitralny Turkmenistan," Niyazov said there was a need "to protect true culture, including the musical and singing traditions of the Turkmen people, from the negative influences of factors that to them are foreign."
(AFP/gazeta.ru)
For RFE/RL's full coverage of events in Turkmenistan, see News And Features On Turkmenistan