Turkmenistan Life & Culture - The Times Of Central Asia

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Aviation

Pilots for Turkmenistan Airlines to Be Trained in Turkey

Turkmenistan Airlines has announced a recruitment campaign for candidates to study aviation at the Turkish Aeronautical Association University. The four-year program will be funded by the airline. Selection will be conducted on a competitive basis. Applicants must be male, under the age of 25, hold Turkmen citizenship, and have completed secondary education. Additional requirements include passing a medical examination at the Ashgabat Airport Medical Center and holding a valid military ID. The admission process consists of several stages. Candidates first undergo an initial interview with airline representatives, followed by entrance exams and an interview with representatives of the Turkish university. In the final stage, applicants must pass a medical examination in Ankara. The airline will cover tuition fees, dormitory accommodation, and travel costs, including flights to Ankara at the start of the academic year and return travel to Ashgabat upon completion of the program. However, students will be responsible for certain expenses, including visa fees, health insurance, meals, communication, and local transportation. Upon graduation, participants are required to work for the airline for ten years. Limited Progress in Air Connectivity Despite this initiative, Turkmenistan’s broader aviation sector continues to face challenges. No new international routes have been launched, and several previously announced flights have yet to begin operations. Plans to expand the country’s international air connectivity have been discussed for years, but tangible progress remains limited.

Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Out Now

As Managing Editor of The Times of Central Asia, I’m delighted that, in partnership with the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, from October 19, we are the home of the Spotlight on Central Asia podcast. Chaired by seasoned broadcasters Bruce Pannier of RFE/RL’s long-running Majlis podcast and Michael Hillard of The Red Line, each fortnightly instalment will take you on a deep dive into the latest news, developments, security issues, and social trends across an increasingly pivotal region. This week, we examine a series of significant developments across Central Asia, from the deepening fallout of Kyrgyzstan's political power struggle, with fresh arrests, widening investigations, and reports of military build-ups in one of the country's key districts, to a meeting of the Organisation of Turkic States carrying implications that could reverberate well into the rest of the year. We also look at Kazakhstan's announcement of a new oil discovery so substantial it comes close to rivalling Kashagan, alongside the decision by four of Central Asia's five states to dispatch aid convoys in support of the humanitarian response in Iran, as well as a notable diplomatic development where two neighbouring states are finally moving to establish formal relations for the first time since 2021. Before finally turning to the escalating conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan, where some of the heaviest fighting in months is raising fresh questions about border stability, regional security, and the risk of wider spillover. Special guest on the show this week: - C. Christine Fair, professor in the Security Studies Program within the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and an expert in the Pakistani military and Afghan relations.

Internet Freedom

Turkmenistan Ranked Last Among Central Asian Countries in Internet Freedom Index

According to a report by Cloudwards, a portal focused on technology and internet security, Turkmenistan scored just 16 out of 100 points for internet freedom in 2026, placing it among the countries with the lowest levels of online freedom. The authors note that significant internet censorship persists in the country. Compared with its regional neighbors, Turkmenistan’s score is among the lowest. Uzbekistan received 24 points, Kazakhstan 35, and Kyrgyzstan 52, while Tajikistan ranked highest in Central Asia with 56 points. The gap reflects varying levels of access to information and differing degrees of online restrictions across the region. In a global context, the disparity is even more pronounced. North Korea received the lowest possible score of 0. The report describes it as a country where most residents have no access to the global internet, with only a limited group permitted to use a heavily restricted internal network. Countries ranking only slightly higher include Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and China, each scoring 4 points. None is classified as fully free under the report’s criteria. According to the study, platforms such as X, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok are blocked or have at times been restricted in these countries. The report also highlights that in some cases, restrictions are more flexible in nature. For example, in China, access to VPNs and social media is not entirely prohibited but is tightly controlled, with users largely limited to approved platforms. Expressing politically sensitive views can lead to serious consequences. Turkmenistan is grouped alongside India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, all of which scored between 12 and 20 points. In these countries, the report notes significant censorship and restricted access to information. At the other end of the ranking are Belgium, East Timor, Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Slovakia, Suriname, and Finland, each with a score of 92. No country achieved a perfect score of 100. The study assessed internet freedom across several criteria, including access to torrents, adult content, political and social media platforms, and the ability to use VPN services. “Although certain types of internet regulation, when implemented carefully, can help combat hate speech, protect vulnerable groups, and limit the spread of harmful misinformation, in many countries, censorship has been taken to extremes,” the report’s authors state. They add that residents of countries with strict internet controls are effectively deprived of full access to information. This has implications not only for freedom of expression but also for education, technological development, and innovation. In some cases, the consequences can be more severe, including imprisonment for online speech.

Nauryz

The History of Nauryz: An Ancient Festival That Continues to Unite Central Asia

Ahead of the Nauryz holiday, The Times of Central Asia looks at the origins and enduring significance of one of the region’s oldest celebrations. More than a seasonal festival, Nauryz reflects a deep connection between people, nature, and cultural identity, a tradition that has evolved over thousands of years and remains central to life across Central Asia. Origins and Meaning Nauryz, also known as Nowruz, is one of the world’s oldest holidays, marking the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year. It is celebrated on the day of the spring equinox, when day and night are approximately equal and nature appears to begin a new cycle. For many communities, the holiday symbolizes renewal, hope for prosperity, and the start of a new stage in life. The name “Nowruz” derives from ancient Iranian words meaning “new day.” This concept lies at the heart of the celebration: the renewal of life and the symbolic rebirth of nature after winter. With a history spanning more than 3,000 years, the holiday spread across Eurasia along the Silk Roads and became embedded in the cultural traditions of Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Caucasus. [caption id="attachment_45687" align="alignnone" width="300"] @depositphotos[/caption] Today, Nowruz is recognized not only as a calendar event but also as a cultural tradition that promotes values such as peace, mutual respect, and harmony with nature. Connection to the Spring Equinox Nauryz is traditionally celebrated during the spring equinox, which usually falls on March 20 or 21, when the Sun crosses the celestial equator and daylight and nighttime hours are nearly equal. Since ancient times, this moment has symbolized the awakening of nature and the beginning of a new agricultural year. Historical sources indicate that different communities once observed various dates in March, often guided by natural signs. Over time, however, the astronomical equinox, commonly observed on March 21, became the most widely accepted date. Medieval scholars paid close attention to this phenomenon. In the 11th and 12th centuries, astronomers such as Omar Khayyam refined calendar calculations to align the start of the year more precisely with the equinox. Alongside scientific knowledge, traditional methods were also used to forecast harvests and weather conditions, including observing seed germination or measuring the length of shadows before the holiday. Today, Nauryz is officially celebrated on March 21 in countries such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, while UNESCO also recognizes Nowruz as marking the first day of spring. Rituals and Traditions For centuries, Nauryz has been marked by rituals symbolizing renewal, fertility, and prosperity. Among both nomadic and settled communities, it has traditionally been celebrated with public festivities, games, and family gatherings. Common customs include ritual cleansing with water, exchanging gifts, and offering food to neighbors and guests. The altybakan swing is widely regarded as a symbol of spring and joy. In some regions, the ancient practice of jumping over fire has been preserved as a purification ritual. Food plays a central role in the celebration. Although culinary traditions vary by country, they share a...

Turkic Languages

Uzbek Scholar Proposes Unified Writing System for Turkic Languages

Across the Turkic-speaking world, debates over language policy and writing systems are gaining renewed importance. More than 300 million people across Eurasia speak Turkic languages, yet they use different scripts, Cyrillic, Latin, and Arabic. Uzbek scholar Bakhtiyor Karimov argues that this diversity of alphabets weakens cultural and intellectual connections among Turkic societies. Karimov, a linguist and professor who helped develop the pan-Turkic auxiliary language Ortaturk, is an academician of the Turon Academy of Sciences and director of its Ortaturk Language Research Institute. Together with Shoahmad Mutalov, he developed the concept of the Ortaturk language. In this interview, he discusses the challenges posed by alphabet diversity, his proposal for a new writing model, and his view that language policy is closely linked to political and geopolitical developments. A fragmented writing landscape Karimov describes alphabet diversity as one of the most serious challenges facing Turkic-speaking communities. “Roughly thirty Turkic languages exist,” he said. “About twenty use the Cyrillic alphabet, three use the Latin alphabet, two are transitioning toward Latin, and many communities still rely on the Arabic script. In numerical terms, around 100 million Turkic speakers use Arabic, another 100 million use Latin, and another 100 million use Cyrillic.” The situation has deep historical roots. Over the past century, shifting political systems and state policies have shaped the writing traditions of Turkic languages. As a result, speakers of closely related languages often find it difficult to read each other’s texts. For example, Uyghurs in China write using the Arabic script, while Uzbeks in Afghanistan also rely on Arabic-based writing. In Uzbekistan, both Cyrillic and Latin scripts are used. Azerbaijani communities in Iran use the Arabic script, whereas Azerbaijan employs a Latin-based alphabet. Most Turkic languages within Russia continue to use Cyrillic. Karimov also notes legal constraints. He points to Russian legislation requiring languages used in official contexts to employ the Cyrillic alphabet, arguing that this limits the ability of Turkic-speaking communities in Russia to adopt Latin scripts even if they wish to do so. “About twenty Turkic peoples living in Russia are effectively restricted to Cyrillic,” he said. Meanwhile, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan have fully adopted Latin alphabets. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are gradually transitioning, although the process has been uneven. Kyrgyzstan continues to rely primarily on Cyrillic. “All of this means that the Turkic world is linguistically connected but graphically divided,” Karimov said. Efforts toward a common alphabet Recognizing this challenge, the Organization of Turkic States established a working group of linguists to explore the creation of a unified Turkic alphabet. Experts from Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Turkey participated in the initiative. “They worked together for about two years and produced a draft proposal,” Karimov said. “However, the project remains under discussion and has not yet been formally adopted. Ultimately, political leaders must reach a consensus.” Karimov believes the draft proposal contains technical shortcomings, particularly in how certain sounds are represented. “In some cases, a single phoneme is represented by more than one graphic symbol,” he said. “From a computational...

International Women's Day

How Much is Berdymuhamedov’s 8 March “Gift” to Turkmen Women Actually Worth?

Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdymuhamedov has ordered that female residents of the country receive 60 manats each in honor of March 8, International Women’s Day. At the current market exchange rate of 19.5 manats to the U.S. dollar, this amounts to approximately $3. Officially, the decision is described as recognition of “the great contribution of women in bringing about changes for the prosperity of the country, in raising a healthy and enthusiastic generation devoted to the Motherland, in order to continue the noble traditions of our ancestors in honoring our beloved mothers and dear sisters in the era of the rebirth of a new era of a powerful state.” Payments are scheduled to be distributed between March 2 and March 6. Eligible recipients include women employed in enterprises and organizations regardless of ownership, pensioners and recipients of state benefits, graduate and doctoral students, clinical residents on leave from work, students of the Academy of Public Administration with a term of study of at least two years, as well as schoolgirls, university students, and kindergarten pupils. Turkmen women have received the equivalent of about $3 for the holiday for seven consecutive years. However, since 2019, the cost of food and consumer goods in the country has risen significantly. The official exchange rate of the Turkmen manat has remained fixed at 3.5 manats per dollar since 2015. By that rate, 60 manats would equal approximately $17. However, the widely used parallel market rate currently stands at about 19.5 manats per dollar, reducing the real value of the payment to roughly $3. As a result, the actual purchasing power of the “gift” is significantly lower than the figure implied by calculations based on the official exchange rate. In September 2025, one elder publicly called for an end to increasing such payments, stating that “the social and living conditions of the country’s population have reached a high level.”