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Cases of citizens of Turkmenistan flying abroad being prevented from boarding the plane just before departure are becoming more frequent. This is according to a report by Azatlyk Radiosy, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's affiliate in Turkmenistan. Those who managed to leave say that they were interviewed by officials at the airport, and forced to pledge not to talk about the problems inside Turkmenistan, but rather to praise the country. According to the publication, Turkmen citizens have faced various difficulties when traveling abroad for several years. It now takes as long as two years to receive a biometric passport, which is only issued inside the country. Obtaining a foreign visa and purchasing tickets also involves unnecessary bureaucratic hassle. Among Turkmen citizens having difficulties leaving their home country are many who had been forced to return home when their passports expired -- and are now planning to leave again. "According to government instructions, security officers don't let such citizens out of the country. Border guards create various problems for citizens at the airport, do not let them on the plane and force them to return," said someone who themselves had been prevented from leaving Turkmenistan. Citizens are not being reimbursed for all of the associated costs of their planned -- and then canceled -- trips abroad. Noted Radio Azatlyk in its report: "Cases of passengers leaving Turkmenistan, including migrant workers and citizens going to study abroad, being taken off flights have happened before. Representatives of the migration service have never officially commented on the situation. But the bans were reported anonymously at various times by sources in the migration service. In 2018, young women were banned from leaving the country, and then all citizens under the age of 40 were removed from flights en masse. When introducing and removing such bans, instructions are given verbally."
On 2 May the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Committee for Water Resources of Turkmenistan launched a new metering system to measure water flow on the Karakum River near Ashgabat. Financed with a grant from USAID Central Asia’s Regional Water and Vulnerable Environment Activity, the system offers a powerful means by which the country can sustain water availability and build climate resilience. As reported by the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan, by providing real-time data to the State Committee for Water Resources, the new system will enable a more efficient allocation of water to agriculture, households, and industry. The World Bank has forecast that because of climate change, the volume of water flowing from tributaries of the Amu Darya River into Turkmenistan could drop by 25% in July and August, and consequently could impact supplies of drinking water and water needed to produce wheat and cotton. Within this context, the new metering system will provide the invaluable information about flow rates and water withdrawals on the Karakum River and in turn, allow the government to advise farmers of the precise amount of water needed for crop growth.
In Turkmenistan's Balkan province, heads of government agencies are being forced to buy wristwatches with the current president Serdar Berdymukhamedov and his father, the previous president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov on the face. They cost from 1,500 to 3,000 manats ($430-$860 at the state exchange rate or $75-$150 at the black-market rate), according to a report by Radio Azatlyk. The heads of all departments -- including healthcare, education, law enforcement, transport and communication companies -- at the velayat (regional) and etrap (district) levels are required to buy wristwatches with portraits of the Berdymukhamedovs elder and younger. The heads of higher-level offices were obliged to buy a commemorative watch with double portraits costing 3,000 manats, while the heads of small budgetary organizations will have to shell out 1,500 manats for the watch. According to Azatlyk, several different watches are available. The most expensive one has a portrait of Serdar Berdymukhamedov in a black tie on the left and his father Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, now chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (People's Council), in a red tie on the right. The flag of Turkmenistan is placed at the top of the face, and there is a map of the country at the bottom. Other watches have only the portrait of Serdar Berdymukhamedov and a map, while the third watch has him with the flag and map. During the reign of independent Turkmenistan's first leader Saparmurat Niyazov, watches with his portrait were also produced and given as gifts to schoolchildren and employees of state-run and government agencies. A government worker from the town of Turkmenbashi told Azatlyk's correspondent: "We used to see watches with the president's image during Niyazov's time. It is not surprising that Serdar Berdymukhamedov has also started producing gift watches with his portrait on them. Now all that's left is for him to start installing statues to himself all over the country." "We already can't make ends meet because of constant extortions to buy books and [attend] various events," the frustrated worker added.
Meteojournal has reported that Turkmenistan's State Statistics Committee has published a voluntary national review of its progress in implementing the global agenda for sustainable development until 2023 on its website. According to MeteoJournal, in 2021, almost all water resources in the country – 92% – went to agricultural needs. Another 5% was used by industry, and only 3% went to household needs. At the same time, Turkmenistan used almost all available fresh water resources, and due to increasing consumption, the country has no additional water sources. In 2016, the utilization rate of water resources reached 97.5%; in 2018, it had dropped to 89.9%, then in 2020 it reached 85.2%, and in 2021 -- 87.1 percent. Meteojournal stated that the increase in demand for fresh water can be met only through its rational use. According to the review, 95% of the population has access to clean and safe water, whilst 99.9% of the population uses water supply services organized in compliance with safety requirements. The share of safely treated wastewater in 2022 was 57.4%. Meteojournal, which familiarized itself with the review, noted that Turkmenistan - which possesses huge potential for using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy - is currently not harnessing its potential. The review mentioned the construction of a 10-megawatt (MW) hybrid power plant using solar and wind energy in Kyzil-Arvat. The project was planned to be completed in January 2024, but has yet to open, and local media haven't reported any updates on the pace and status of the work.
On March 25th, Rashid Meredov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and Sultanbay Raev, Secretary General of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), attended a ceremony in Ashgabat for the declaration of the nomination of Turkmen city Anau as 'Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2024'. Coinciding with the 300th anniversary of the birth of Turkmen’s beloved bard, 2024 has also been declared the ‘Year of the Great Poet and Thinker of the Turkic World: Magtymguly Pyragy.’ Revered throughout the country, the 18th century Sufi poet and spiritual teacher, Pyragy, is hailed as the father of Turkmen literature and his legacy persists through a rich ingrained tradition of Turkmen bards or ‘bagshys’ adapting his poetry to song. His image appears on numerous monuments as well as banknotes and The Magtymguly International Prize is awarded annually to distinguished scholars of Turkmen language and literature. A 197ft bronze statue, erected in Ashgabat, will be officially unveiled on June 27th; the date of a national holiday celebrating the poet. According to reports from their meeting, Meredov and Raev emphasized the importance of promoting both Magtymguly Pyragy’s legacy and the cultural significance of the ancient Turkmen city of Anau on various international platforms including those of TURKSOY, UN, and UNESCO.
The prices of subsidized products in Turkmenistan's state stores continue to rise, according to a report by correspondents from the Chronicles of Turkmenistan. Beginning March 12, the price of a kilogram of poultry increased to 35 manat ($10) from 21 manat ($6). The price for domestically produced chicken is the same as for poultry imported from Turkey. In some stores chicken legs are still being sold at the old price -- 16 manat ($4.57) per kilogram -- but according to sellers, new batches could be more expensive. These days in various parts of Turkmenistan's capital Ashghabat, private traders are selling rice -- the price of which has increased by three manat per kilo -- directly from trucks. As of March 6, eggs have become more expensive in Ashgabat's state stores. The price has increased to 1.50 manat ($0.43) and 45 manat ($12.86) for a 30-egg tray, respectively, from one manat ($0.29) per egg or 30 manat ($8,57) per tray. The cost of flour went to 3-5 manat ($0.86 – $1.43) per kilogram from one manat ($0.29) in February -- while the cost of bread increased to four manat ($1.14) from one manat ($0.29) per loaf. Turkmenistan's president Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed an order to raise the purchase prices of wheat and cotton by two to three times beginning with the harvest of 2024 -- just before the sharp increase in the prices of goods in state stores.
