TURKMENISTAN, Republic of Turkmenistan, a state in Central Asia. It borders with Kazakhstan in the north, Uzbekistan in the north and east, Iran and Afghanistan in the south. In the west it is washed by the Caspian Sea. From 1924 to 1991, Turkmenistan was part of the USSR as a union republic (Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic). The independence of Turkmenistan was declared in October 1991.
Terrain
Most of the territory of Turkmenistan is located within the Turan Lowland. The Karakum Desert (“black sands”) occupies the middle part of the republic. Rocky and gravelly deserts predominate in the west, and sandy deserts in the east.
Mountains and hills are confined mainly to the southern periphery of the country. Only 3% of Turkmenistan's area is suitable for agriculture.
In the extreme south of the country there is the Kopetdag mountain system (the highest point is Mount Rize, 2942 m). Its northeastern continuation is the low remnant mountains of Maly Balkhan (up to 777 m) and Bolshoi Balkhan (Mount Arlan, 1881 m). To the north of the Kopetdag there is a piedmont plain, turning in the west into the vast Caspian lowland. Near the shore of the Caspian Sea there is a small Krasnovodsk plateau (up to 308 m). In the northwest, the southern edge of the Ustyurt Plateau with altitudes of up to 400–460 m enters the borders of Turkmenistan.
In the extreme south of the country there are the Badkhyz and Karabil hills with maximum heights of 1267 m and 984 m, respectively. These are the foothills of Paropamiz, which continue into Afghanistan. In the extreme southeast rise the Kugitangtau Mountains with the highest point of Turkmenistan, Mount Airybaba (3139 m).
The country's climate is arid continental with large temperature differences, low precipitation and high evaporation. Summers are usually hot and dry, with average July temperatures of 28–32° C. Winters are mild, with little snow, but in some years there are heavy but short-term snowfalls and temperatures can drop to –20° C. Average January temperatures range from –5° C in the northeast of the country to +4° C in the south. The average annual precipitation is approx. 80 mm in the middle reaches of the Amu Darya, 150 mm in the Karakum Desert, 200–300 mm in the foothills and intermountain valleys and over 400 mm in the mountains. Hot, dry winds and dust storms are typical for the plains.
Water resources
Almost the entire territory of Turkmenistan, with the exception of the south-eastern and south-western outskirts, does not have constant surface flow. The largest river, the Amudarya, which receives glacier-snow feeding in the Pamir Mountains, enters the territory of Turkmenistan in its middle course. The Karakum Canal (now named after Turkmenbashi) with a length of over 1000 km is diverted from this river to the west. In addition to river water, it is also fed by groundwater. In the south of the country, three significant rivers - Murghab, Tedjen and Atrek - receive snow and rain in the Paropamiz and Kopetdag mountains (in Afghanistan and Iran). A number of small rivers fed by springs and rain also flow from the Kopetdag and other mid-altitude mountains. In spring, water levels in the rivers are highest, and in some years there are severe floods. In summer, many rivers become shallow and dry up. Even such of them as Tejen and Murghab remain without water in their lower reaches. Usually rivers end in the so-called. “irrigation fans” - shallow branches and artificial channels through which water is passed to irrigation fields. The main reason for the shallowness of rivers is the large amount of water used for irrigation, but a significant part of the river flow also ends up in groundwater and is spent on evaporation. There are numerous oases along the rivers and canals.
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Naturally, being a big fan of traveling around the post-Soviet territory, I couldn’t miss this chance, took a couple of days of vacation and decided to see on the spot what kind of country it was and how the ordinary working people lived there. Looking ahead, I’ll say right away that this trip just completely blew the threads in my head - I didn’t even expect so many surreal impressions. But first things first.
I’ll warn you right away - I’m not going to make any assessments and I won’t talk about politics. As in the case of Georgia, I will only try to show photographs and tell what I saw there, and the reader will decide for himself what is really happening there. Of course, I didn’t look into the “underside” of the country; there was no opportunity, and what is there is nothing more than a “facade” through the eyes of an outsider. And I immediately apologize for the quality of many of the photos - I didn’t walk much, and took pictures mainly on the move from the car at the highest possible ISO.
In the Turkmenhavayolara plane, a portrait of the current President Gurbanguly Melyakkulimovich Berdimuhamedov hangs at the entrance. Immediately upon takeoff, they announce that we are flying not just with an airline, but with “Turkmen Airlines named after the Great President Saparmurat Turkmenbashi.” Along the way, they provide excellent food with pilaf or kebab, and at this time you are stunned by the sight of the endless desert under your wings.
Upon arrival, locals go in one direction, foreigners in the other. Moreover, all foreigners entering Turkmenistan must pay a fee of $12. By the way, a “tourist” visa costs $140. Customs is leisurely, but quite calm, unlike Uzbekistan and Russia.
They also say that from August 1, external surveillance will be established for all visiting foreigners. To be honest, I never noticed it, especially when we went to the desert 250 kilometers from the capital to look at the hellish burning well of Darvaza. In general, everything was extremely friendly and calm.
The first trip around Ashgabat turned out to be at night. And let me tell you, it blows your mind. This city and this country are a completely crazy mix of Dubai, the desert, the Soviet Union, petrodollars, capitalism and Central Asian flavor. After cold Moscow, offices and flights, what is happening around seems like complete fantasy.
2. The first impression is a city of luminous buildings, fountains and monuments of Turkmenbashi.
4. The same street during the day
5. Turkmenbashi (“father of the Turkmen”) is the official title of the country’s previous president, Saparmurat Niyazov. The main attraction of the city until recently was his golden statue on a huge tripod, which rotated after the sun (or did the sun rotate after it?).
6. Collectively it was called the “Arch of Neutrality.” Turkmenistan is the second state in the world after Switzerland that has declared neutrality as the overriding principle of its foreign policy, and even the central national newspaper is called “Neutral Turkmenistan”. Turkmenbashi always said that he never liked so many of his portraits and statues, and now the new president has begun to gently make this wish come true. Today, the Arch no longer “fits into the city’s development concept,” and the whole matter is being sorted out. I regret that I didn't have time to watch it. The former tripod is on the right, and on the left is a monument to the terrible earthquake of 1948, which completely destroyed the city.
7. The bull symbolizes the power of the earth, the people on the ball on the left are victims of the earthquake, and the small child is Turkmenbashi, who was caught in this earthquake as a child and lost his mother and two brothers in it. He was left a complete orphan, since his father had died earlier during the war in the Caucasus in 1943.
8. In addition to the “three-legged”, there is also an “eight-legged” - an equally monumental monument to Independence, which is depicted on all money.
9. And here is the monument to “Rukhnama” - the sacred book written by Turkmenbashi.
10. Every Turkmen studies the Rukhnama from school and must know it by heart. It describes the history of the Turkmens, the biography of the Great President, as well as the basic commandments and moral principles. Now this entire square is under reconstruction and behind a fence, but previously at a certain hour the book was opened, and the pages of the great history of Turkmenistan came to life with the help of modern multimedia technologies. As a digression, here is one of the exhibitions of the National Museum, which is worthy of a separate story. The map shows the countries into whose languages the Ruhnama was translated.
11. Continuing the “night” photos, this is a fountain dedicated to Oguz Khan, the “father” of all Turkmens, according to the same “Rukhnama”.
12. It is claimed that this fountain complex is the largest in the world in terms of area.
13. Around Oguz are his six sons, who became the ancestors of the main clans, which later spread throughout the territory of modern Eurasia (including to the north in the region of the Urals and Volga).
14. An interesting detail on the hand of one of the sons.
15. In fact, the eagle on the Turkmen coat of arms is not two-headed, but five-headed, that is, even wiser than its Russian relative.
16. To be even more precise, this is not a coat of arms, but a presidential symbol, and the heads are the five wilayats (regions) into which Turkmenistan is divided. The coat of arms depicts the Akhal-Teke stallion, which is now replacing portraits of Turkmenbashi on the facades of government institutions.
17. But still there are a lot of monuments, portraits and bas-reliefs of Turkmenbashi - people remember his good deeds and sacredly honor his memory.
18. Police Academy...
19. Olympic complex...
20. Ministry of Health...
21. Drama theater...
22. Just a monument...
23. Even the city of Krasnovodsk is now called Turkmenbashi.
24. Bas-reliefs and monuments are mostly standing, but portraits of the old president are gradually being replaced with a new one.
25. New medical institute (the current president is a doctor by education and previous profession).
27. The previous Turkmenbashi at one time decided that having hospitals throughout the country was an unaffordable luxury, and closed hospitals everywhere except the capital - if people need treatment, they will come to Ashgabat, and at the same time look at all the splendor. Well, transport is also an incentive for development. At the same time, it cannot be said that Turkmenbashi did not care about the health of the nation - he built the so-called “health path” - a 20-kilometer trekking route along the ridges of the Kopetdag, which every Turkmen must regularly pass in order to stay healthy. The road is illuminated even at night. I’ll tell you separately about how we walked along it. There were a lot of innovations under him - for example, all the months of the year were renamed: January became “Turkmenbashi”, some months were named after his mother, father, etc. It was also forbidden to have gold teeth, since it was inappropriate to flaunt your wealth, and, in general, you had to live modestly. A unique shot - the old president looks at the new one.
28. Screens in central squares tell about the achievements of the Turkmen neutral state.
29. They are echoed by patriotic posters
31. Traffic lights and lanterns are also decorated. Moreover, the traffic lights are LED and have a countdown timer.
32. Traffic cops stand at EVERY intersection in the city and drive brand new Mercedes.
33. A lot of people are in uniform. Serving in the army or law enforcement agencies is prestigious. After 10 o'clock there are almost no cars. This is what a suburban highway looks like at this time.
34. Tak - city center
35. And so - the city center during the day.
36. The fences on the sides are a reconstruction or construction site, which in one way or another contains almost the entire city.
37. I was surprised that there weren’t so many people on the streets. For example, Tashkent is much more crowded. Either everyone is working, or they prefer to stay at home in the heat, or they travel by car. Mostly schoolchildren, students, military personnel and middle-aged women walk the streets.
38. One of the three “gates” of the city (it seems to be the western one).
39. In the middle is another golden statue.
40. And here is the “northern” gate. Also with the profile.
41. In general, the volume of construction is simply amazing. The whole city is in new buildings, lined with marble, all of them are beautifully lit.
42. What does all the marble have to do with imported marble? There is none of our own.
43. Ordinary street. All houses are residential.
45. National Library
46. Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry, popularly called the “lighter”.
47. It’s the third one from the right.
48. And in this complex of buildings live the employees of this ministry.
49. Also a complex of residential buildings. Ceilings 4 meters.
50. Local “Leaning Tower of Pisa” (also some kind of ministry).
51. Puppet theater.
53. For the leap that the country has made over the past 15 years thanks to oil, gas and the wise leadership of Turkmenbashi, the 21st century is called the “Golden Age of Turkmenistan”. This “Altyn Yasyr” is now everywhere - on posters, signs, on banknotes. The largest flagpole in the world, on which hangs the world's largest flag (confirmed in the Guinness Book of Records).
54. There is also the world’s largest carpet and the world’s largest mosque dome, which will also be discussed in the following stories. "Soviet" district. Painfully familiar panels.
55. Old neighborhoods with the private sector are completely demolished, and new ones are built - in a single urban planning concept.
56. It is interesting that all students wear school uniforms - schoolgirls wear green, female students blue. A skullcap and pigtails are a must. If there are no braids, then skullcaps with fake ones are sold.
57. A lot of people are busy establishing order and cleanliness - at almost every traffic light someone is cutting, watering or sweeping something. Everything is in order.
58. Because of the pervasive dust, women are wrapped in scarves, for which people call them “ninjas.”
59. I was very pleased that, by law, smoking is completely prohibited on the streets of Ashgabat. If Sobyanin does the same in Moscow, I agree to the installation of a golden monument to him by Zurab Tsereteli with fountains. Something like this.
60. The Turkmens seemed to me to be generally friendly and hospitable people. During the entire trip for two, we only spent $35 for entering the National Museum and filming there - and only because we separated from our escorts for a while and went there on our own. In all other cases, you almost get slapped on the wrist when you try to pay in a restaurant or at a market - you are a guest, and in the East this is one of the most respected species of Homo Sapiens. There is no discrimination or hostility towards Russian-speaking tourists - everyone willingly speaks Russian, everyone is fluent in it. As for the Russian-speaking people living there, I honestly don’t know, there was no opportunity to communicate. They say all sorts of things, including the abolition of dual citizenship, but there were airport employees with Russian names and surnames on their badges. The city is completely safe, there is zero crime, cars are not locked, even executive cars. At night, unlike in Tashkent, you can walk completely calmly. Cars pose a much greater danger - they don’t slow down before crossings, they can easily run you over. But people don’t even bother - everyone goes where they want.
61. In general, the people are friendly and hospitable. No extremism, fanaticism or aggression. The state is secular, there are only about 5 mosques in Ashgabat, the people are not particularly religious, and especially there is no talk of any fundamentalism. Everything is under control, everything is calm.
62. What’s also amazing is that there are absolutely no beggars, vagabonds or other asocial elements in the city. In the same Uzbek cities of the “Silk Road” (Khiva, Bukhara,) or Cambodia, you are attacked by crowds of children and beggars. Here all people are provided with food, gas, gasoline and a roof over their heads. Lenin monument. Naturally, also with fountains.
63. It is interesting that it was built at the dawn of Soviet Power, during the period of Comrade Sukhov’s struggle against the Basmachi.
64. Pushkin is also held in high esteem - there is a street named after him, a theater, a Russian school, and also a monument dating back to Tsarist times.67. The soldiers around the edges are one to one, just like in Treptower Park in Berlin.
70. Oriental flavor
71. Nothing is prohibited, the Internet is also completely accessible. All people can easily travel abroad; they regularly fly to Dubai on vacation and to buy cars and goods. There would be money. There is no tension with food either. Weddings are held for 400-600 people, the tables are crowded. Although we tried to fight off the huge amount of all sorts of Central Asian fillings, we still ate ourselves to our fill every day, vowing to ourselves that in the morning we would become strict vegetarians. When you cut the tomatoes, the smell spreads throughout the room, and the peaches just melt in your mouth. In short, babble. I especially liked the pasties...
74. A real oasis in the middle of the bare desert.
Turkmenistan is located within the Turan Lowland, most of the territory is occupied by the Kara-Kum desert. In the south are the Kopetdag mountains (the highest point is Mount Airybaba, 3139 m), the Badkhyz and Karabil hills. The coastline of the Caspian Sea is strongly indented, forming vast bays, practically separated from the sea - Kara-Bogaz-Gol and Krasnovodsky. The largest river is the Amu Darya, which irrigates the extreme east of the country, in the south - the low-water Murghab and Tedzhen. The waters of the Amu Darya are transferred 1000 km to the southern regions via the Karakum Canal. The climate is sharply continental, arid: the average temperature in January is -4 °C, July is 28 °C, precipitation ranges from 80 mm per year in the northeast to 300 mm in the mountains.
The vegetation is mostly desert (saxaul, kandym and other shrubs), almost lifeless dunes are covered with sparse greenery for a short time after the rains. On the foothill plains, rocky and clayey wormwood deserts are common. Takyrs and salt marshes are often found on the plain. The vegetation of the mountains is more attractive: in Kopetdag (the flora of which has more than 2000 species) there are juniper forests, Karabil is a hilly steppe, in Badkhyz dry steppes are common (with abundant spring herbs, when poppies, irises, tulips and many other herbs bloom ), thickets of almonds, rose hips and pistachio woodlands. Tugai forests (of turanga, silver elk and other trees) grow along the river valleys. Turkmenistan is home to 91 species of mammals, including rare ones - kulan, snow leopard, leopard, argali, saiga; 372 species of birds (including pelicans and flamingos), 74 species of reptiles. The fauna is protected in the Badkhyz, Krasnodar and Repetek reserves. Among the natural attractions, the famous Baharden cave with the huge underground lake Kou-Ata should be noted. In Badkhyz there is a unique natural site - the Yer-Oylan-Duz basin, surrounded by 300-meter high clay cliffs. The bottom of the basin is almost entirely occupied by a salt lake and salt marshes, among which rise low but colorful cones of ancient volcanoes.
Turkmenistan has been an area of human settlement since ancient times, although the Turkmen ethnic group itself was formed only in the 14th–15th centuries. The remains of ancient civilizations and cities have been preserved: the ruins of Merv (VI century), the Talkhatan Baba mosque near Kushka, the ruins of the city of Amul, known since the time of the Parthian kingdom (not far from Chardzhou), Kunya-Urgench - a reserve of architectural monuments. Turkmen carpets, items made of silver and semi-precious stones, pottery, as well as the pride of Turkmenistan - Akhal-Teke horses, are famous throughout the world.
Lifestyle
The basis of the socio-political life of the country, including the lifestyle of citizens, is the principle of authoritarianism of power. According to the country's leaders, a national classless society of a fundamentally new type is being successfully formed in the country, which has no analogues in historical retrospect and in the modern world. This, according to President Niyazov, is “a society built as a result of a conscious desire for self-determination, in which all its citizens, regardless of age, social status and religion, live with common aspirations.” In the future, such a social organism will be transformed into a “fair, legal society of general prosperity, in which everything will be subordinated to the well-being and prosperity of man.”
However, in reality, the country has seen a rise in Turkmen nationalism and the strengthening of the cult of the president. New conceptual approaches are being created to study the development of the Turkmen state and its place in the world historical process, the ideology of “Turkmenbashism” is being actively implemented, which, according to the authorities, should form the basis of the lifestyle of every resident of the country. These ideas are propagated by all media.
In the humanitarian sphere, the idea of the exclusivity of the Turkmen nation and its enormous contribution to the development of world culture is being propagated. The works of Turkmen writers and poets, artists and composers, theatrical productions and films are devoted to this topic. At the same time, censorship is intensifying, designed to minimize consumer access to works that do not fit into the officially established framework, but encouraging works that are artistically weak, but praise the era of the current Independent Turkmenistan.
Formally, since the beginning of the current millennium, the way of life of the Turkmens has been determined by the “holy book of Ruhnama,” which is the quintessence of the ideas of “Turkmenbashism.” This is a kind of spiritual code that summarizes the life guidelines of the state, born, as the author of the book emphasizes, “to cultivate strength and greatness of spirit in the Turkmens.” Turkmenbashi’s work is a study of almost all aspects of the life of the Turkmen people and prescribes “correct” standards of life, including behavior in everyday life. The nationalist concept embedded in the Ruhnama also has a religious overtones: some of its postulates correlate with the provisions of the Koran and serve as the basis for asserting the inviolability of the power of the president. The postulates underlying the Rukhnama are somewhat reminiscent of the moral code of the builder of communism, where moral and ideological ideas underlie all aspects of an individual’s life.
Attractions
The cradle of many ancient civilizations and cultures, Turkmenistan is fraught with many mysteries and secrets. Here you can see a large number of unique natural and historical monuments. The main attraction of mysterious Turkmenistan is the amazing Karakum desert, on whose territory more than 200 species of plants grow. In addition to the Karakum Desert, the coast of the Caspian Sea is considered an important tourist destination, where a huge number of projects for the construction of entertainment complexes are being implemented today.
There are many historical and cultural monuments located on the territory of Turkmenistan. The most famous of them are the remains of the ancient cities of Merv and Amul, as well as the Talkhatan Baba mosque, an underground house in Takhta Bazar and numerous ancient fortresses and forts. Most tourists turn their attention to the amazing historical monuments of Turkmenistan - Altyndepe, Nissa, Dehistan, the mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, Najmettin Carpet and many other buildings.
The capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, is famous throughout the world for its famous Carpet Museum. A huge number of hand-woven samples of these products are collected here. Not far from the city are the ruins of the capital of the Parthian state - Nissa, which attracts archaeologists and historians from all over the world. The hunting residence of the Persian Kingdom was once located in Firyuz. Today this settlement is considered the most popular mountain resort in the country.
Ancient Merv in the Middle Ages was famous as the largest city in Central Asia. The surroundings of this amazing city contain the remains of buildings and structures of antiquity. The amazing mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar amazes with its grandeur and unique beauty. What makes this structure unique is the legendary dome, which was built from two thin brick shells. When visiting Merv, you need to look into the United Museum of History, which has collected the most significant finds found during excavations of the ancient city.
In addition, on the territory of Turkmenistan you can see many architectural monuments, for example, Kunya-Urgench, which during the 13th century was the “heart” of Islam. The stunning town of Gaurdak, located in the foothills of the Pamirs, has become especially popular among adherents of eco-tourism. The area around the city preserves a whole complex of amazingly beautiful gorges, caves and waterfalls. The Kugitang Nature Reserve is famous for its huge rock plateau, which has preserved hundreds of dinosaur footprints.
The symbol of Turkmenistan is the famous Akhal-Teke stallions. These are graceful, fast and incredibly hardy horses. It’s not for nothing that these amazing animals are depicted on the state’s coat of arms. You can get to know this breed of horse better at the Turkmen Horse Festival, which is dedicated to the Akhal-Teke stallion. In addition, travel companies have developed almost two dozen equestrian tourist routes along numerous monuments of Turkmenistan.
Kitchen
Turkmen cuisine is quite unusual. It has much in common with the cuisines of its neighbors - Tajiks, Uzbeks and Karakalpaks. The national cuisine of Turkmenistan includes the traditions of nomadic pastoralists, farmers and fishermen of the Caspian Sea.
Of the huge variety of meats, Turkmens prefer lamb and chicken. Residents of the country do not consume horse meat, most likely due to the huge role of horses in their lives. Typically, Teke and Saryk Turkmens consume lamb, while Yomud Turkmens prefer the meat of mountain goats, young camels and game. Meat in Turkmenistan is boiled, stewed, fried and dried. The most popular dish among the local population is “govurma”. This is canned finely chopped fried meat. It is consumed both hot and cold. It is worth noting that Turkmens are very fond of preparing “gara chorba” soup, based on “govurma”.
The peculiarities of climatic conditions allow the Turkmen peoples to use special methods of preparing meat that are not used anywhere else. Thus, yomuds string large pieces of lamb onto a special point and leave them under the scorching sun for several days. Locals call this dried meat “kakmach”.
The main dish of Turkmenistan, of course, is pilaf. Its main difference from dishes from other Central Asian countries is that it uses game meat. Pheasant meat has become the most popular. Turkmens add green rice, carrots or apricots and sesame oil to pilaf. Here it is customary to serve pilaf with pomegranate and sour plum sauce. Traditional lamb is added to dishes only by those peoples who live near the Caspian Sea.
Turkmens are very fond of various dairy products. Sheep and camel milk are especially popular.
The most popular drink in Turkmenistan is “chal”. To prepare it, fresh camel milk is used, to which a special starter is added. After a few days, you get a sour, slightly carbonated drink that perfectly quenches thirst. Like true Asians, Turkmens simply adore tea. The peculiarity of this drink in this amazing country is that the tea leaves are poured with fresh camel milk, and then the teapot is placed on hot coals. Not every foreigner will dare to try such an exotic drink.
Fish dishes are widely used in Turkmen cuisine. The Turkmens have adapted fish to products that are considered completely incompatible with it, for example, raisins, apricots, pomegranate juice, sesame, etc. In addition, the local population cooks fish in a cauldron and on a spit. To prepare dishes, Turkmens use exclusively fresh fish, which can be combined with the sweet and sour range of Turkmen seasonings. Interestingly, the main fish dish in Turkmenistan is considered to be shish kebab, which is prepared in the same way as the meat version. The famous Turkmen dish “kavurdaka” is small pieces of fish fried in sesame oil. They are transferred to a clay jug and filled with melted fat tail fat.
Turkmens are especially fond of various flour products. Flatbreads are very popular among the local population.
For dinner in a middle-class restaurant you can pay no more than $7 per person.
Accommodation
Turkmenistan has always been famous for its hospitality. Here you can find modern hotels and inns that combine all the splendor of oriental luxury and European quality of service. True, large hotels are present only in large cities and resorts. Thus, in the south of Ashgabat a whole complex of several dozen high-class hotels has been built.
It’s interesting, but almost all hotels do not have a standard world classification. But the quality of the services they provide is in no way inferior to world-famous hotel brands. In the capital's four- and five-star hotels, you can take advantage of not only spacious and comfortable rooms, but also swimming pools, saunas, gyms, restaurants and bars. Some hotels even have modern conference rooms that you can use for business meetings.
Outside the capital there are less comfortable hotels. It is worth noting that when checking into such hotels, it is necessary to clarify in advance the availability of a separate bathroom and hot water in the hotel room.
The cost of living in hotels in Turkmenistan ranges from $30 for a single room in a small hotel to $220 for a luxury suite in the most prestigious hotel in Ashgabat. In addition, meals may be included in the price of your stay. True, most hotels offer their clients to pay only for breakfast.
Entertainment and relaxation
Mysterious Turkmenistan offers its visitors a huge selection of entertainment.
The Avaza tourist complex, located along the coast of the Caspian Sea, is very popular among foreign guests of the country. This is a luxurious complex of modern hotels, entertainment centers, restaurants, discos and other entertainment venues. Here you can use the services of gyms, fitness clubs, and swimming pools. On the vast territory of Avaza there are several stadiums, tennis courts and even golf clubs. All elements of the Avaza resort area are located on a small piece of land adjacent to the sea, the Karakum desert and mountains.
Ancient Turkmenistan is full of natural and historical monuments. Numerous travel companies organize excursions to the unique Karakum Desert, Baharden Cave and the Dinosaur Plateau. In addition, unique comprehensive tours around Turkmenistan and neighboring countries have been developed. The most famous of them is the “Great Silk Road”, which runs through the territory of Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China. It was along this route that caravans with silk and gems moved hundreds of years ago. You can explore the ruins of ancient cities on the stunning “Pearl of the East - Sogdiana” tours. In ancient times, on the territory of modern Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, there was a powerful state of Sogdiana, the history of which can be learned during the excursion.
Turkmens celebrate a large number of holidays, ranging from the birth of a child, the First Step Festival and ending with the Turkmen Carpet or Turkmen Melon Festival. Quite unusual holidays, such as the Tulip Festival, the Snowdrop Festival, the Turkmen Horse Festival, the Good Neighborhood Festival and many other colorful events, are very popular. Religious holidays are widely celebrated by society.
Purchases
Turkmenistan is famous for its stunning bazaars. The most famous of them is located in the capital of the country - Ashgabat. Here you can buy whatever your heart desires, from food to purebred Akhal-Teke dogs.
The main wealth of Turkmenistan is considered to be amazingly beautiful carpets, often hand-woven. You can buy such a product in any store in large cities. However, the largest assortment of unsurpassed carpets can be found in the bazaars of Ashgabat and in the famous Carpet Museum. Every person will find a carpet in Turkmenistan to suit their taste and budget. The most expensive goods are considered to be beautiful knotted carpets made of silk or wool. Felt mats, or “koshma” as locals call them, will cost slightly less. It is most convenient to purchase a carpet in state stores: in this case, to export the product abroad, it will be enough to present only a sales receipt.
Many tourists also prefer to export items of national clothing from Turkmenistan. The famous headdresses of Turkmenistan - skullcap and telpak (sheep's wool hat) - are especially popular among foreigners. Figurines of the famous Akhal-Teke horses, silver jewelry, and Turkmen silks are also selling well.
In most stores, prices for goods are fixed, but in bazaars and private stalls it is recommended to bargain. Turkmens like the bidding process itself, so here you can easily reduce the price of the product you like several times.
Payment for purchases is made only in the national currency - manat. For non-cash payments using VISA and MasterCard cards, you can pay only in large shopping centers, and then only in Ashgabat.
Transport
The transport system of Turkmenistan is quite well developed. Railways have received particular development here. The length of the railway track is about 2,500 kilometers. Every major city has a train station. This transport is considered the most popular among local residents for moving around the country. The cost of a train trip from the capital of the state to other major cities is approximately $2.5 in a reserved seat carriage. If you want to ride in a SV carriage, you need to pay a little more - about $4.
The city of Turkmenbashi is home to the country's largest seaport. Freight and passenger ferries depart from here daily to ports of other countries. The cost of a ferry to other countries is approximately $30–40.
Air transport in Turkmenistan is gaining more and more popularity among foreign tourists every year. About ten air carriers operate on the territory of the state. The main one in Turkmenistan is the Türkmenistan Howaýollary company. Turkmenistan Airlines operates both domestic and international flights. Among the foreign carriers in Turkmenistan, there are such “masters” of transport companies as Lufthansa Airlines, British Airways and others.
Public transport is represented by buses, trolleybuses and taxis. The bus fleet is quite diverse both in terms of model range and age of vehicles. In Turkmenistan you can find both a modern bus with air conditioning and TVs, and barely moving rolling stock with huge holes in the doors. Public transport fares are paid directly from the driver and at the end of the trip. Their cost does not exceed $0.1. If, to put it mildly, you do not like public transport, then it is best to use a taxi. To travel across the city you will need $1.
Connection
Telephone communications in Turkmenistan are poorly developed. Many cities still use relay equipment. In large populated areas on the streets you can find another relic of the Soviet past - pay phones. From such devices you can make a call to any part of the country. The cost of such a call does not exceed $0.5. To call to another country, you must contact any post office. In addition, you can communicate with your family from hotels and inns. The price of one minute of international call is approximately $1.
Recently, cellular communications have become widespread in the country. Mobile operators provide communications standard GSM 900/1800. There are several cellular companies operating in Turkmenistan: Altyn Asyr MC, Barash Communication Technologies INC and MTS. They successfully support roaming of most Russian and global mobile operators. The cost of a minute of conversation on a mobile phone is slightly more than $1.
In the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat and other large cities of the country, there are small Internet cafes where you can have a great rest, work on the Internet and even have a delicious lunch. The price of one hour on the Internet slightly exceeds $2. Most luxury hotels and inns offer wireless technology. This service is also available at major airports in the country.
Safety
Turkmenistan is recognized as the safest country in Central Asia. Here, even in large cities, the crime rate is incredibly low. Offenses against foreigners are very rare. However, for the greatest safety of your trip and for an extremely positive experience, you need to be extremely attentive to your belongings, especially if you are in crowded areas. Some remote areas should not be visited alone. We also note that in Turkmenistan there is a ban on foreign citizens visiting certain areas.
As in any Asian country, in Turkmenistan there is a high risk of contracting typhoid, malaria, dysentery and hepatitis. Therefore, before traveling, it is worth getting the necessary preventive vaccinations.
Business climate
Recently, the country's authorities, in order to attract foreign investors, have adopted a number of laws that soften the operating conditions of enterprises. Thus, there are certain tax benefits for joint organizations.
The most important direction of development of the Turkmen economy is the creation of free economic zones. Investment activity and entrepreneurship in such zones has a number of additional benefits, which, of course, is a determining factor for making decisions in the field of cooperation of foreign businessmen with Turkmen enterprises.
Recently, a high increase in the interest of foreign tourists in the cultural and historical heritage of Turkmenistan has been noticed. In addition, the unique natural beauty attracts numerous ecotourists to the country. This trend did not go unnoticed by many large investment companies, which decided to invest their money in the development of the tourism industry of the Turkmen economy. An example of successful cooperation in this area is the famous resort area “Avaza”. Today, the construction of entertainment complexes and centers, luxury hotels and hotels, and the organization of tours to the unique sights of Turkmenistan has become more relevant than ever. It is worth noting that the state creates excellent conditions for organizing a tourism business. Several laws have been passed regulating the taxation and financing of such companies.
Real estate
The real estate market of Turkmenistan today is one of the most attractive in Central Asia. First of all, people from neighboring countries, as well as from Russia, are showing interest in local apartments and houses. A contributing factor to this is the absence of any restrictions on investing in property.
It has been noticed that the majority of home buyers in Turkmenistan prefer to rent out their property. Of course, the bulk of such proposals are concentrated in the capital region. Typically, the price for renting a one-room apartment is approximately $400–500 per month. In other large cities of the country, the cost of such a service is much less - about $200.
If a buyer wants to purchase a small apartment, he or she should stock up on approximately $30,000. To purchase a country cottage, you will have to prepare an amount significantly exceeding $50,000. It is worth noting that the volume of low-rise construction is significantly inferior to the apartment market. This is due to some difficulties in obtaining loans for building houses. Turkmen banks are afraid of falling land prices, which is why they do not take country houses as collateral.
To make your vacation in amazing Turkmenistan unforgettable and, most importantly, safe, you must adhere to some basic rules adopted in the country.
When traveling around the country, it is worth remembering that visiting some areas is only possible when accompanied by employees of a travel company. And certain territories are generally closed to foreign citizens.
The legislation of Turkmenistan requires tourists coming to the country to be accommodated in exactly those hotels that they indicated in the stay program. Taking photos and videos of some objects requires special permission.
Turkmenistan recently adopted a ban on smoking and drinking alcohol in public places.
It is not safe to drink tap water. You should definitely boil it even for brushing your teeth. You can use bottled water. Food products, such as fish and meat, must be thermally processed, and vegetables and fruits must be washed thoroughly.
When purchasing various souvenirs in Turkmenistan, you must remember that some products and products are strictly prohibited from being exported from the country. These products include fish and black caviar. Export from the country of jewelry, archaeological and artistic exhibits, carpets is possible only if you have the appropriate documents confirming the fact of purchase. In addition, it is worth remembering that you can take a carpet abroad if you receive a certificate from the Carpet Museum that it has no historical value. A mandatory condition for the export of carpet products is the payment of a tax depending on the size of the goods. When purchasing carpets in government stores, the tax is already included in the price of the product.
Visa information
All foreign tourists to visit Turkmenistan must obtain a visa issued on the basis of an invitation provided by a travel company. After receiving a letter of invitation to obtain a visa, you must contact the Consulate of Turkmenistan, located at the address: 121019, Russia, Moscow, lane. Filippovsky, 22.
To obtain a visa, you must submit the following documents: the original invitation, a foreign passport with a validity period of more than six months, a photocopy of your internal passport, two visa applications, a certificate from your place of employment indicating your position and salary, as well as two photographs. A visa is issued only after a personal interview with the consul.
The cost of visas is $31 for up to 20 days, $41 for 20 days, and $51 for a whole month. It is worth remembering that when obtaining a visa at the border on weekends and holidays, the cost of registration increases by $10.
Culture
Turkmenistan has a rich cultural heritage that has been created over thousands of years. This, in particular, is evidenced by the ongoing excavations of Nisa (18 km from Ashgabat) for many years, the capital of the ancient Parthian state, which existed at the turn of the 1st millennium BC. – 1st millennium AD The remains of city blocks, temples, and palaces have been preserved here. During the excavations of Nisa, elegant rhytons (horn-shaped cups) made of ivory, sculptures made of clay and stone, coins, and archival records on clay tablets were discovered. These finds are of global significance.
To the north of the city of Bayram-Ali lie the ruins of another ancient city - Merv, which is one of the most significant historical and architectural monuments of Turkmenistan. Its oldest part is the Erk-Kala settlement, which dates back to the 1st millennium BC. In the middle of the 1st millennium AD. Merv was the capital of the eastern part of the Sasanian Empire, and later the center of the Arab governors in Khorasan. The city reached its heyday in the 12th century. as part of the state of the Seljuks and Khorezmshahs, as evidenced by the remains of the Sultan-Kala settlement with the mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar in the center. At that time, Merv was the largest center in the East for the production of artistic stamped ceramics. In the north of Turkmenistan, where ancient Urgench, the capital of Khorezm in the 12th–13th centuries, was located, monuments such as the Akkala fortress (“White Fortress”), a minaret, and the mausoleum of Fakhreddin Razi (second half of the 12th century), which is a brick cube-shaped building with a twelve-sided hipped dome.
The ancient culture of Central Asia, including Turkmenistan, is based on the religious traditions of Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Christianity and some other cults and beliefs. Beginning at the turn of the 7th–8th centuries, when the region was conquered by the Arabs, Islam became the dominant religion. Believers Turkmens, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Kazakhs and some other ethnic groups of modern Turkmenistan profess predominantly Sunni-Hanifi Islam. However, a small part of the local population, who come from Iran, professes Shi'ism.
For centuries, Sufism has played a major role in Turkmen society - a mystical direction of Muslim faith, which is characterized by a combination of metaphysics with ascetic practice, the doctrine of gradual approach through mystical love to the knowledge of God. Sufism (as well as Sunnism) had a significant influence on the cultural development of Turkmenistan, literature, folk art, and even political life in the country.
Until the mid-1930s, the culture of Turkmenistan was also built on the cultural traditions of the Turkic Oghuz people, dating back to the pre-Islamic period and most noticeably manifested in music, epic and literature. The culture of the country was also based on the Turkmen traditions themselves, which developed, as noted above, at the end of the 9th century. after the adoption of Islam by the Seljuk state. The most famous work of the pre-Islamic period is the national epic of the Oghuz Oguz-name (Book of the Oghuz), which belongs to the cultural heritage of not only the Turkmen, but also the Azerbaijanis and the Turks. It was passed down orally from generation to generation and was only written down in the mid-16th century. Also known is the epic poem Kitabi Dede Korkud, which reflects the pre-Islamic tribal culture of the Oguz and the influence of Islam in the 11th–12th centuries.
After the adoption of Islam by the Turkic peoples, writing based on the Arabic alphabet became widespread in Central Asia. At the same time, Persian, adopted as the state language by the Seljuks and almost all subsequent dynasties, was considered the language of science and high culture. However, Turkmen poetry used the Chagatai language, also widely spoken in Central Asia. Its phonetic system was flexible enough to convey the features of Turkic languages. In this case, Arabic graphics were used, slightly modified to better convey Turkic phonetics; It was in the Chagatai language that Turkmen literature developed. The great Turkmen poet and thinker of the 18th century wrote on it. Magtymguly (1733–1780s) and his followers Seitnazar Seidi (1775–1836) and Kurbandurdy Zelili (1780–1836). Before Magtymguly, Turkmen poetry was represented mainly by Sufi philosophical treatises in poetic form. He and his followers began to write poetry about nature and politics, going beyond the narrow conventions of Persian poetry; At the same time, motifs of Turkmen folk poetry and epic traditions were widely used. Among the outstanding poets of that time, Nurmuhamed-Gharib Andalib, Magrupi (or Kurbanali), Shabende and Gaibi should also be mentioned.
Since the middle of the 19th century. the works of Turkmen poets acquire political overtones; At the same time, the influence of Islamic mysticism, mainly Sufism, which previously dominated in Turkmen literature, is significantly weakening. After the annexation of Turkmenistan to the Russian Empire in the 1870s–1890s, social and political satire occupied a leading place in poetry. Satiric poets, such as Durdygylych and Mollamurt, were very popular in the early 20th century.
The Soviet period was marked by radical changes in social and cultural life. In 1928, the Arabic alphabet was replaced by the Latin one, and the Turkmens found themselves cut off from their literary heritage. In 1940, the Latin alphabet as the basis of writing was replaced by Russian, and the continuity of cultural traditions in Turkmenistan was again disrupted. However, at the turn of the 20th–21st centuries. The country's government decided to switch back to the Latin alphabet.
Turkmen fiction and drama began to develop mainly in Soviet times. The novels and plays written then praised the real and imaginary achievements of socialism, incl. the emancipation of women, the collectivization of agriculture, the eradication of feudal and tribal remnants, and later the victory of the Soviet people in World War II. Among the Turkmen writers of the Soviet period, the most famous is the poet, novelist and playwright Berdy Kerbabaev (1894–1974).
It should be especially noted that over the course of thousands of years, many legends have been created about the world-famous Akhal-Teke horses, which, according to legend, originated from heavenly horses, and about which already in the 5th century. BC. “Father of History” Herodotus reported that the Turanians (ancestors of the Turkmens) chose them as a symbol of the sun. Even now it is prohibited to export Akhal-Teke horses from Turkmenistan without special permission.
In 2003, the “Society of Turkmen Culture” was registered in Russia, uniting representatives of the Turkmen diaspora living in Moscow. Its main task is to promote the development of Turkmen culture, deepening friendship and mutual understanding between the peoples of Russia and Turkmenistan.
In the cultural sphere there were strict prohibitions and restrictions on the part of the authorities. After the ban on opera, ballet, circus, and the closure of cinemas, public libraries were closed at the beginning of 2005, because, according to the country’s leaders, “no one goes there or reads books anyway.” Subscription to foreign publications was prohibited back in 2002. Only the president’s works, primarily the Rukhnama, are sold in abundance in bookstores.
Story
The first evidence of human settlement of the territory of Turkmenistan dates back to the Neolithic era. During archaeological excavations, many stone tools were found, as well as the remains of settlements of hunters and fishermen, among which the most famous is the Jebel Grotto in the eastern part of the Caspian Sea. It was also discovered that in the 2nd millennium BC. Pottery production and metal processing arose in these territories.
The southern part of Turkmenistan represented the northeastern outskirts of the ancient agricultural cultures of the Middle East, and it was here that agriculture and cattle breeding most likely began to develop for the first time in Central Asia. The Jeitun settlement, found near Ashgabat, dates back to the 6th century. BC, is one of the most ancient agricultural settlements in the territory of the former USSR.
The ancient farmers of the foothill plains of southern Turkmenistan lived sedentarily in houses built from clay rollers - the predecessors of mud brick, and made harvesting sickles with flint inserts, grain grinders, and molded ceramic dishes decorated with red painting. During the Neolithic period, the first primitive irrigation canals began to appear in this zone. The development of agriculture continued into the Bronze Age. A number of archaeological sites date back to that time - large settlements Namazga-Tepe, Altyn-Tepe, Kara-Tepe, etc., some of which belong to the proto-urban type. During the excavations, objects of art were also discovered there - figurines, ceramic vessels with paintings, etc.
Areas of agriculture in southern Turkmenistan in the 7th–6th centuries. BC e. were part of different states: Margiana (Myrgaba basin) - was part of Bactria; the southwestern regions of Parthia and Hyrcania are part of Media. In the 4th–6th centuries. BC e. The territories that later formed Turkmenistan itself were part of the Achaemenid state, and then into the possession of Alexander the Great and his successors. At the end of the 1st millennium BC. The Khorezm kingdom was founded, the period of prosperity of which began in the middle of the 4th century. BC. The cities of Khorezm were centers of development of agriculture, crafts and trade.
The Parthian kingdom, which appeared later during the reign of King Mithridates II (124–84 BC), quickly became one of the large eastern states. During that period, the city of Merv (the main city of Parthia, now Mary) became an important trade, craft, cultural and even intellectual center. It is no coincidence that Merv was called “Shahu-jahan”, which means “Queen of the World”. Important trade routes passed through this city (including the famous Great Silk Road), which connected Khorezm, Sogd, Balkh, India and China.
In 224 AD southern Turkmenistan was captured by the Sassanid dynasty of Iranian shahs. At the same time, part of the nomadic tribes of Turkmenistan began to assimilate with the Xiongnu tribes, predecessors of the Huns. In the middle of the 5th century. an alliance of Hunnic tribes led by the Hephthalites managed to subjugate most of this territory. The Hephthalites were defeated by the Turkic union of tribes, which had a great influence on the language and way of life of the peoples they conquered. By the beginning of the Arab conquest in the 6th century. almost all the tribes here became Turkic-speaking and later began to profess Islam introduced by the Arabs. Since that time, this denomination has become fundamental in the Turkmen state until the present day.
Middle Ages. At the beginning of the 8th century. the territory between the Caspian Sea and the Amu Darya came under the rule of the Arab Caliphate. Local Turkic tribes who converted to Islam established close trade and cultural relations with the rest of the Muslim world. However, as the power of the Arabs weakened (although Islam still remained the dominant religion), the Oghuz Turks penetrated into the territory of Turkmenistan, and in the mid-11th century. it came under the rule of the Seljuk state, which was named after the leader of the Oguz - Seljuk ibn Tugak and his descendants - the Seljuks. The capital of this state was the city of Merv. The Oguzes mixed with local tribes, and on this basis a people was formed that received the name “Turkmen”, and the country began to be called Turkmenistan (“land of the Turkmens”). In the 12th–13th centuries. it was under the rule of the shahs of Khorezm, which in turn was conquered by the troops of Genghis Khan in 1219–1221 and became part of the Mongol Empire. In subsequent centuries, large-scale settlement of Turkmen tribes was observed along the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, the Mangyshlak peninsula, Ustyurt, Balkhany, the northwestern part of the Khorezm area, the shores of Lake Sarykamysh and Uzboy, and even in the Karakum desert. They also occupied the lands of southern Turkmenistan, where an Iranian-speaking agricultural population still remained.
During the reign of the descendants of Genghis Khan, some Turkmen tribes achieved partial independence and founded vassal feudal states. They played a prominent role in the history of the Turkmen even after Central Asia at the end of the 14th century. was conquered by Timur (Tamerlane). After the fall of the Timurid dynasty, nominal control of this territory passed to Persia and the Khanate of Khiva. At that time, a layer of traders gradually emerged among the Turkmen, mainly among the tribes living on the coast of the Caspian Sea, who began to trade with Russia (especially actively during the reign of Peter I).
During the late Middle Ages, the Turkmen tribes were finally divided between three feudal states - Persia, Khiva and Bukhara. The social system of the Turkmens, starting from the 16th century, has been defined by historians as patriarchal-feudal with elements of patriarchal slavery. Feudal relations were most developed among the settled agricultural tribes (Daryalyk Turkmens, Yazyrs of the Kopetdag region). At that time, the Turkmens had almost no large cities, developed crafts, and economically lagged behind their neighbors - the indigenous inhabitants of Persia, Bukhara and Khiva, which was one one of the main reasons for their political fragmentation. In the 16th–17th centuries. their territory was the object of fierce wars between the Bukhara and Khiva khans, and the south of Turkmenistan was captured by Safavid Iran.
During that period, Sarykamysh Lake, along the shores of which Turkmen tribes lived, began to gradually dry out, and the water flow along the Daryalik also decreased. This circumstance forced people to gradually move south, to the Atrek steppes and Kopetdag regions, and from there to the southeast, to the valleys of the Murgab and Amu Darya. From the beginning of the 17th century. Kalmyks, who came from the east in search of free lands, began to raid the nomads of the northern Turkmens and the city of Khorezm. By that time, the strengthening of political and economic relations between the Turkmens and Russia began. Moreover, at the end of the 17th century. Some Turkmen tribes, tired of the raids of the Kalmyks and the armed detachments of the Khiva Khan, transferred to Russian citizenship and partially moved to the North Caucasus.
New story. In the first half of the 18th century. Most of the territory of Turkmenistan fell into the hands of the Iranian Shah Nadir. The unconquered part of the Turkmen went to Mangyshlak, to the Caspian steppes and to Khorezm. However, after the assassination of Nadir Shah in 1747, his empire quickly collapsed, which allowed the Turkmen tribes, who had temporarily gone north, to return to southern Turkmenistan.
At that time, Turkmens inhabited almost the entire territory of modern Turkmenistan. Many of the Turkmen tribes - Ersari, Tekins (Teke), Emut (Iomut), Goklen, Saryks and Salyrs, Chovdurs, etc. - had significant military potential and established trade relations with other countries. Trade routes connecting Europe with Central Asia, Iran and Afghanistan ran through the Turkmen lands.
During the Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813, Russian diplomats entered into a friendly alliance with a number of Turkmen tribes against Persia. The territory of Turkmenistan itself was assigned the role of a springboard in Russian plans to conquer Central Asia with its rich natural resources. Russia's penetration into Turkmenistan began with the founding of the city of Krasnovodsk in 1869 on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. In 1869–1873, the tribes of western Turkmenistan easily succumbed to the pressure of diplomats and the military force of Russia, while the tribes of eastern Turkmenistan offered fierce resistance to Russian troops until January 1881, when the Geok-Tepe fortress was taken. The fall of this fortress completed the conquest of the Turkmen lands by Russia.
After joining Russia, Turkmenistan began to be actively involved in the economic system of Russian market relations, which was much more progressive compared to the archaic socio-economic structure of the Turkmen tribes. In the 80s of the 19th century. The Trans-Caspian Railway was built on the territory of Turkmenistan, which stimulated the growth of the region’s economy, the production and export of raw materials (primarily cotton) to Russia and further to European markets.
Cities arose in the Transcaspian region (Krasnovodsk, Ashgabat, etc.) with a growing Russian and Armenian population, and industrial enterprises appeared. Before the October Revolution, elements of the market appeared in the social system of the Turkmen, which remained mainly patriarchal-feudal, especially noticeable in the southern (Ashgabat, Merv) regions.
During the first Russian revolution of 1905–1907, strikes organized by Social Democrats took place on the Trans-Caspian Railway. After the defeat of the revolution, strikes were prohibited, and any manifestations of discontent were harshly suppressed by the authorities.
In 1916, a wave of mass protests of the indigenous population against mobilization for rear work swept across Turkmenistan. After the overthrow of the tsarist government in March 1917, previously banned groups of Social Democrats, including the Bolsheviks, became active in large cities - Ashgabat, Krasnovodsk, Chardzhou, Mary. However, the rural population remained passive and did not leave the control of their religious and tribal leaders.
Recent history. After the October Revolution of 1917, the Red Army, the White Guard, the British Expeditionary Forces, and the Social Revolutionaries fought on the territory of Turkmenistan. The eastern regions of Turkmenistan remained under the rule of the Khiva and Bukhara khanates, which were vassals of the Russian Empire. Although the Bolsheviks managed to win over the Russian workers in the cities, attempts to win the trust of the Turkmen peasants - dekhans - were unsuccessful. In December 1917, the Bolsheviks seized power in Ashgabat, but did not last long there. The White Guards and Socialist Revolutionaries, with the support of British troops, rebelled in July 1918 and expelled the Bolsheviks. To prevent the loss of Turkmenistan and the entire Trans-Caspian region, units of the Red Army were sent there. In August 1918, the territory of Turkmenistan was occupied by British troops, who retained control until September 1919, when most of them were withdrawn by the British government. Individual anti-Bolshevik formations continued to resist until February 1920, when units of the Red Army occupied Krasnovodsk. This event meant the final defeat of the White Guards and Social Revolutionaries; At the same time, the withdrawal of British military units was completed. In 1920, revolutionary upheavals took place in Khiva and Bukhara, and the Khorezm and Bukhara People's Soviet Republics were formed there.
In the period from April 1918 to October 1924, the country was officially called the Turkmen Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic and was part of the RSFSR. On October 27, 1924, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic was formed as part of the USSR. The first step taken by the government of the Turkmen SSR was the continuation of land and water reforms that began after the victory of the Red Army in 1920. At the same time, the redistribution of lands that previously belonged to large landowners - bai - was carried out; the organization of peasant cooperatives and the restoration of the oil industry began.
In 1926, the republic began to collectivize agriculture and create large cotton plantations. By 1929, almost 15% of dekhans became members of collective farms (kolkhozes), and by 1940 almost all the land was in the use of collective farms, and the peasants who cultivated it became collective farmers. Shortly before the start of World War II, Turkmenistan came to second place (after Uzbekistan) in the USSR in cotton production. Other branches of agriculture also developed intensively, facilitated by the expansion and improvement of irrigation systems, primarily the construction of reservoirs and irrigation canals.
The 1930s were marked by the intensive development of the oil industry. Production resumed at the fields of the Cheleken Peninsula, which were damaged during the civil war, and new fields near Nebitdag were explored and put into operation. Almost all raw materials mined or grown in Turkmenistan were sent for processing to other Soviet republics.
One of the important results of the development of industrial production was the formation of new social groups - engineering and technical workers and skilled workers. The level of literacy of the population was significantly increased in the republic, and thanks to the support of the federal government of the USSR, significant progress was achieved in the development of education and health care.
However, along with this, during collectivization, the Turkmen middle class (the so-called “kulaks”) in agriculture was practically destroyed, and during collectivization, almost the entire Muslim clergy and a significant part of the newly formed national intelligentsia became victims of repressions that took place from the mid-1930s -x until 1953.
The Second World War gave a powerful impetus to the economic development of Turkmenistan, since at the beginning of the war many industrial enterprises from the western regions of the USSR were evacuated to Turkmenistan; Accordingly, the need arose for the rapid development of transport. At that time, the Ashgabat (now Central Asian) railway was extended to the Caspian port of Krasnovodsk.
At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the 87th separate Turkmen brigade was created, which later formed the basis of the 76th Infantry Division. During the war, 19 thousand soldiers and officers of Turkmenistan were awarded orders and medals, 51 Turkmen soldiers were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The economic and social difficulties of the post-war years were added to by the tragedy that befell the Turkmen people in 1948 - the devastating Ashgabat earthquake. However, during the post-war period, it was possible (largely thanks to the Russians and Ukrainians who came to Turkmenistan from the regions of the USSR devastated during the war) to restore and modernize the national economy of the republic: create an oil and gas complex, develop the oil refining industry, build the Karakum Canal, diversify agricultural production, including increasing cotton harvests.
Period of independence. On August 22, 1990, Turkmenistan declared its sovereignty within the USSR. In October 1990, Saparmurat Niyazov, first secretary of the Communist Party of Turkmenistan since 1985 and chairman of the Supreme Council of the republic (since January 1990), was elected president of the republic in uncontested elections. On October 26, 1991, the government held a referendum on the independence of Turkmenistan; 94% of the population voted for independence. The next day, October 27, 1991, the Supreme Council declared Turkmenistan an independent state, and at the end of December 1991 the country joined the CIS. The following year, 1992, the Constitution of Turkmenistan was adopted (May 18), and three years later, on December 12, 1995, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the “Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan,” which determined the country’s domestic and foreign policy.
The 2001 offensive in the country was declared the beginning of the “golden age” of the Turkmen people, an era of prosperity in the economic and social sphere.
At the same time, according to international human rights organizations, in recent years Turkmenistan has been among the top ten countries in the world with the most brutal dictatorial regimes (along with countries such as the DPRK, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, etc.). In December 1991, at a joint meeting of parliament, the Council of Elders and the national movement “Galkynysh”, President S. Niyazov received powers for an indefinite presidency. In his public speeches, he emphasizes that during the transition period in the country it is necessary to maintain strict government regulation of the socio-economic sphere. In his opinion, rapid socio-economic reforms (especially market reforms) and democratic transformations will lead to absolute impoverishment of the population and chaos in all spheres of public life. According to the president, “no one is allowed to play at democracy. First, laws must work, and democracy will come by itself. Any attempts to push Turkmenistan to untimely radical measures of a socio-economic nature run counter to the national interests of the country, which has chosen its own path of development.”
The opposition has been completely suppressed in the country. Turkmenistan is one of the few countries where the prosecutor's office officially receives 50% of the confiscated property of persons accused of various crimes.
At the same time, there are positive aspects in the socio-economic policy of the authorities; stability in society is maintained. There is a desire to prevent the activation of Islamic extremists in the country; measures are being taken to prevent the penetration of orthodox Islam into Turkmenistan from the outside (from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, etc.). A significant achievement of the president is the low crime rate in the country. According to official data in Turkmenistan, with a population of more than 5 million (2000), only 10,885 crimes were registered, incl. 267 murders, 159 grievous bodily harm, 61 rape, 3234 thefts, 320 robberies.
In addition, the country has low utility bills. The use of gas and water is free, electricity consumption is almost not paid for, significant benefits are provided to the population when purchasing salt and flour; low tariffs for public transport (bus, trolleybus) - 2 cents per trip, the cost of an air ticket from Ashgabat to Turkmenbashi (formerly Krasnovodsk on the Caspian Sea) - about 2 dollars. A liter of AI-95 gasoline costs about 2 cents, low prices for basic food products – lavash, milk, suzma (national cottage cheese), many vegetables and fruits.
Nevertheless, foreign observers note the consistent and targeted oppression of ethnic minorities, including Russians, the suppression of the rights and freedoms of the country's citizens, detention without trial in prisons, and the flourishing of corruption in public life and the economy. Drug use is widespread in the country, especially among young people, and unemployment is high. In 2004, Turkmenistan was ranked as one of the worst countries to live in, ranking 150th out of 155 countries in the Economic Freedom Index. North Korea ranks last.
Economy
About 30% of the economically active population is employed in agriculture, about 40% in industry, and about 30% in the service sector.
The main natural wealth of Turkmenistan is natural gas.
According to official data, the economic growth rates of GDP were: 1999 - 16%, 2000 - 18%, 2001, 2002 - 20%, 2003 - 17%, 2004 - 21%.
Oil and gas production and their subsequent export. Various modes of transport are used to supply energy resources, the main of which is the Central Asia - Center gas pipeline, built in Soviet times. Projects for the construction of gas pipelines to Afghanistan, China, India and other Asian countries are at various stages of development. To transport gas to Europe, bypassing Russian territory, the Nabucco gas pipeline is being designed.
The leading sector of the economy is light industry, primarily the textile industry, and the agricultural sector.
Turkmenistan is a country that, in the 90s of the 20th century, after the collapse of the Union, went through a rather difficult path. First there was destruction, then a period of gradual formation began. Turkmenistan, whose standard of living still required improvement, began to develop confidently. The people played an important role in this process. One of the first republics to adopt the Declaration of Sovereignty. In 1995, this state became neutral.
Complex process of formation
The first decade of Turkmenistan’s independent existence passed in complex processes of destruction of the structure that existed before this period.
All of these negative phenomena were accompanied by a lack of economic development accompanied by the theft of industrial enterprises, defense facilities and the energy complex. Life in Turkmenistan during this period was further complicated by the redistribution of power and property, accompanied by bloody and fratricidal events.
Factors that contributed to economic development
Turkmenistan, whose standard of living has risen significantly thanks to the perseverance and hard work of the people, was able to stop the destructive processes in the economy.
Turkmenistan is a luxuriously God-given place. Its main features are a sunny and warm climate, gas and oil deposits. The country is characterized by a closed type of economy, which is expressed in the fact that they are attracted only to complex deposits. It should be noted that Turkmenistan is a geographically closed space, has no access to the sea, and is also surrounded by states in which the political situation often makes it difficult to expand gas pipelines. And, of course, talented people, politically conservative in an Eastern way, but
These factors contributed to the economic recovery of the country, namely:
- the modern agricultural sector can annually produce about two million tons of wheat and the same amount of cotton;
- equipping the processing industry with new plants for processing raw cotton or sugar beets;
- new factories for denim and cotton fabrics appeared in light industry;
- Turkmen oil is now used to produce lubricating oils and high-octane gasoline;
- Thanks to the annual supply of natural gas and oil by the mining industry, Turkmenistan's need for energy materials is fully covered.
Turkmenistan through the eyes of a foreigner
A person who has been absent from the country for some time is amazed by almost everything in Turkmenistan. Thus, the landscape, architecture and infrastructure of both the country as a whole and its individual cities are being transformed at tremendous speed. There is a fabulous speed in the construction of new high-rise buildings, swimming pools, hospitals, highways, concert halls, tennis courts, business centers, hotels, stadiums, as well as the beautiful Ashgabat airport made of marble and glass.
Economy of Turkmenistan
Modern Turkmenistan, whose standard of living has significantly improved, is characterized by political calm and stability.
The high pace of economic development contributes to the creation of a warm investment climate. As a result, investments in the development of Turkmenistan by global construction companies.
The economy of Turkmenistan is developing successfully thanks to significant investments by foreign investors in the energy and mining industries.
In a fairly short period, this country has transformed from a raw material base into a rapidly developing state. The modern economy of Turkmenistan confirms its independence. amazes with its calmness on the streets and beneficial external changes.
Today Turkmenistan (the standard of living of the people) ranks first among the CIS. The population has the opportunity to use natural resources free of charge: salt, gas, water and electricity. Air communication between the cities of Turkmenistan is sufficiently developed.
Main macroeconomic indicators
The International Monetary Fund predicts a decrease in GDP growth to 9% in 2015 (this information is posted on the official website of the IMF).
As indicated in this press release, 2014 for Turkmenistan was marked by a GDP growth of 10.3%. At the same time, the state’s economy remained quite resilient to various shocks in the regional market. Such life in Turkmenistan became possible thanks to the active export of hydrocarbon resources and government investment.
The expected decline in GDP this year, according to the IMF, will be due to a decrease in the level of revenues from natural gas exports, as well as a decrease in public investment in relation to GDP.
Despite the latest depreciation of the national currency, expected inflation at the end of the year will be about 6.5% (the average figure for Turkmenistan is 7.5%). This situation will become possible due to a subsequent fall in food prices in the world and an increase in the dollar exchange rate.
Life in Turkmenistan for other nationalities
The 2003 census showed that Turkmens make up only 85% of the total population of the state, the remaining 15% are representatives of other nationalities.
Let's take a closer look at the life of Russians in Turkmenistan. So, in the same 2003, an agreement was signed between Moscow and Ashgabat, according to which Gazprom began purchasing natural gas from Turkmenneftegaz until 2028. However, the same year for Turkmenistan was significant for the termination of the 1993 Agreement, according to which this state unilaterally terminated the possibility of having dual citizenship. Despite this fact, the Russian embassy still issued Russian passports even after 2003, explaining this by the lack of ratification of this protocol by the Russian parliament.
In 2013, the situation worsened somewhat, since under the pretext of changing their old-style international passports to a new one, the Turkmen authorities asked the “doubles” to renounce citizenship other than Turkmen. This problem has not been resolved to this day.
Standard of living in Turkmenistan today
The standard of modern life in the state under consideration has increased significantly in recent years, and this is confirmed by an analysis of this indicator using the example of the capital, Ashgabat.
So, the answer to the question “Is it easy to live in Turkmenistan?” serves as an increase in the number of foreign cars on the roads, as well as expensive mobile phones among residents.
For ordinary people, such arguments may seem a little naive. However, economists can say with confidence that an improvement in the well-being of the population of any state can only occur with GDP growth and an increase in per capita income. At the same time, an ordinary person only focuses on the prices of products that are on store shelves. Based on these components, we can say that the average standard of living of the population in Turkmenistan has become higher.
Priorities in development
To further improve the standard of living in Turkmenistan, strong social guarantees must be provided for the population, which are the basis for the development of economic activity, as well as forms of ownership. The reform of the banking, credit and financial system of the state must continue, and the most favorable conditions for the protection of the population must be created.
The first decade of the 21st century to ensure the socio-economic development of the country is due to the need to refine legislation, as well as to develop completely new approaches to regulating economic relations in the legal field. Therefore, legislative activity should be carried out in the following directions.
Improving the regulatory framework
This is the first direction that should strengthen and develop the market economy. One of the main directions for finalizing the economic block was the development of new legislation, which defines the legal framework for carrying out commercial (entrepreneurial) activities. This circumstance is the need for subsequent legal regulation of the processes of creation and operation of business entities. Enterprises occupy an important place among them.
Legislation of tax, monetary and budgetary spheres
This is the second direction of improving the regulatory framework. The modern legal framework is distinguished by a certain solidity, and also regulates relations in the financial system of the entire state. The main attention in this process should be paid to increasing the efficiency of the state budget as a macroeconomic mechanism for managing the entire economy of the country.
The success of budget policy directly depends on the state’s tax system. The main principle of legislative work is the codification of the entire tax regulatory framework that Turkmenistan has today. Scientific life in this regard can significantly improve the general state of legislation. Thus, based on a systematic study of various taxes and fees, as well as methods and forms of ensuring their payment to the budget, a unified system for the formation, collection and approval of all mandatory payments should be developed and legislated.
Regulation of the activities of certain sectors of the economy
This area is the third in importance and should contribute to the legal regulation of activities that are carried out in some industries that occupy one of the key places in the entire economic structure of Turkmenistan.
Thanks to the socio-economic reforms and transformations carried out, intensive development will be achieved in such agro-industrial, fuel and energy and construction complexes. In this case, we cannot forget about the textile industry, construction industry, transport and communications.
Summarizing the material presented, it should be noted that Turkmenistan was able to overcome the difficulties that arose after the collapse of the Union, and not only overcome the crisis, but also take the path of economic development.
Turkmenistan is located in Central Asia. Its area is 448.1 thousand square meters. km, population - about 4.8 million people (2003). People live mainly along the borders of the country, where there are rivers and lakes, on the coasts of the Caspian Sea and the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay. More than 80% of the country's territory is desert, mainly the famous Karakum - Black Sands. Rare bushes and dunes (walls of sand, moving from place to place under the influence of the wind), takyrs (cracked earth) are a typical desert landscape in Turkmenistan.
The climate is arid. Summer is very hot, sometimes reaching 50°C in the shade, but winter can be cold. There is a catastrophic shortage of water in Turkmenistan. There are few rivers; the population is supplied with water by numerous wells. Plants in the deserts include saxaul, wormwood, sedge, ferula (this giant grass can be mistaken for a small tree), camel thorn (its roots stretch 20 m deep for moisture). In the oases, farmers grow cotton, grapes, melons, and watermelons. Turkmenistan is home to lizards, swift-footed gazelles, kulans, and mountain goats. The most popular pet is the camel; The famous Karakul sheep are bred here. Rich oil and gas deposits have been explored in the Turkmen desert.
For a long time, Turkmens were engaged in leather processing, were good blacksmiths, jewelers, and Turkmen women wove magnificent carpets, thin wool and silk fabrics, and patterned felts.
The capital of Turkmenistan is Ashgabat (Ashgabat). In 1948, the city was completely destroyed by an earthquake. Has been restored. After 1991, several architectural projects developed in foreign countries were implemented in Ashgabat.
Of all our neighbors, Turkmenistan is the most ancient region of agriculture; it arose there already 8 thousand years ago. The Turkmen people developed in the 14th and 15th centuries. In the 16th-19th centuries, Iran, Khiva and Bukhara laid claim to the lands of Turkmenistan, which was accompanied by devastating raids and brutal wars. At the end of the 19th century, following Khiva and Bukhara, the Turkmen lands were annexed to the Russian Empire. After the Civil War and the expulsion of the British interventionists, in 1924-1925 Turkmenistan became part of the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, it declared independence. The President of Turkmenistan is Gurbanguly Myalikgulyevich Berdimuhamedov, elected in 2012.
The official language is Turkmen. The monetary unit is manat.