Central Asia News Digest March 19, 2009

Turkmenistan

03.03.2009: During a Cabinet meeting the Turkmen President underlined the necessity of having foreign media outlets in Turkmenistan. According to a Presidential Decree that was signed by Berdymukhamedov, the Turkmen Post Ministry has to sign a contract with two Russian agencies for the subscription of Russian newspapers (for the amount of 27 million Rubel). The subscribed Russian newspapers should be delivered to Turkmen administrative bodies, ministries and scientific institutions. Citizens still will not be able to read foreign press.

Commentary: The information vacuum in Turkmenistan started in 2002, when President Niyazov announced a ban on all foreign print media. Until today, the subscription of foreign press is not allowed, also the import of such products. Meanwhile the Turkmen press is still not accepted by its citizens, mainly because of the missing independent information and knowing the fact that all media are state-owned; in addition, only one Turkmen newspaper is published in Russian. A subscription to Turkmen newspapers is mandatory for all civil servants, even employees are obliged to subscribe. The costs are in relation to the salaries in Turkmenistan very high.Social Situation

28.02.2009: According to a Presidential decree the salary of employees working in state-funded institutions will be increased for 10%, as well as pensions and welfare. President Berdymukhamedov already announced such a step in July 2008.

Commentary: An increase of 10% is only „virtual“. After the recent economical reform and the installation of a stable exchange rate to the US-$ prices increased enormously in Turkmenistan: According to ETG-sources they doubled, mainly daily goods at the private markets in the country; it is reported, that some major daily goods reached prices close to the ones in Western Europe. Meanwhile, it became clear that the salary increase did not come into effect for all parts of the society. An ETG source at the Ministry of Finance reported that the Presidential decree only mentioned the average of 10%; the information also says that citizens, who ask for
clarification won‘t get an answer.

02.03.2009: This winter was very calm in Turkmenistan. Nevertheless, prices nearly doubled during this period. In addition, the global financial crisis reached the country: the unemployment rate is also increasing (during the Niyaziv reign, approximately 70%-80%), at the same time the possibility of migrant work in Russia, Kazakhstan or Iran vanished. According to ETG sources, President Berdymukhamedov stopped all running construction projects in the area of energy.

In addition, the Administration is discussing the halt of „Avaza“, a tourism project in the country. Although official protests did not occur during this winter, Turkmen citizens start to talk about the situation more privately on markets and places, where people meet: They say, Berdymukhamedov would be Turkmenbashi II in a critical and ironic tone. Meanwhile, the close circle around the Turkmen President is evaluating the possibility of announcing the social situation in Turkmenistan as a result of the global financial crisis.

Energy:

02.03.2009: Diplomats in Ashkhabad internally are beginning to doubt the results of the test drillings at Turkmen gas fields in 2008. According to a source in Turkmenistan, members of the civil service are not allowed to discuss the issue with Western diplomats.

Economy:

10.02.2009: Although the social situation of the Turkmen people is deteriorating, President Berdymukhamedov during a Cabinet meeting announced the signing of a contract between the Turkmen Government and the Turkish construction company „Bahar Insaat Sanayi we Tijaret A.S.“. The Turkish company will build a huge fountain park with two underpasses of roads on the Makhtymkuly Prospect in the Turkmen capital. According to ETG sources, this project will cost 33 million US-$. The construction should directly start and is planned to be finalized in June 2010. Experts say that on the same ground, a park alley with water fountains already exists
and the car traffic in Ashkhabad is not in need of having a 2-way underpass. ETG sources say that the amount of 33 million US-$ is not the real construction price, but probably doubled.

Commentary: The experience of the above mentiones „price policy“ is well known since the Niyazov times: The Government is looking for companies, which agree to do it that way (mostly construction companies from Turkey and Ukraine): the difference between real costs and the announces price is split between officials and the companies.

Interior Policy:

20.02.2009: Staffers of the oil company „Burren Energy“ were not allowed to travel to London and Milan for a foreign internship, which was planned already nearly two years ago. Though the Turkmen staffers of this company passed all internal requirements and passed all relevant documents to the Turkmen authorities, they were not allowed to leave the country. The decision was announced during a meeting with officials of „Burren Energy“ and the Turkmen Minister for Oil and Gas.

Commentary: According to ETG sources, costs for such internships are normally split between the Government (Ministry for Oil and Gas) and the company; this procedure is the basis of a contract between the Turkmen authorities and relevant international companies, in order to continue the education of Turkmen employees. The Ministry in this case demanded that the costs for such education programmes should only be paid by the private sector and not in cooperation with the Turkmen authorities anymore.

Foreign Policy:

12.03.2009: The Turkmen leadership is pressing to increase the dialogue with NATO/US regarding the „Line Communication“ programme of the security organization. According to a source inside the Presidential Administration in Ashkhabad, President Berdymukhamedov said internally that the US problems in Afghanistan will deteriorate and Turkmenistan has to use this situation for its own benefit. The information source said that Berdymukhamedov‘s main aim is to get more financial support from NATO for countries, that allow the transport of goods for the allied forces in Afghanistan.

Eurasian Transition Group

Even if the construction sector everywhere else in the region looks to be in trouble, Turkmenistan can always be relied on to provide work for foreign building firms in search of a contract.
As ever, the ideas are eye-catching and veer towards the predictably unnecessary and grandiose, suggesting that President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov is steadily learning to emulate his predecessor’s eccentric excesses. The latest slew of contracts comes in time to coincide with the Turkmen leader’s newly discovered overwhelming passion for horses, which he displayed recently with the publication of his self-penned “Ahalteke Horses Are Our Pride and Glory”, illustrated with a cover jacket photo of Berdymukhammedov himself manfully straddling one of the beasts. In this enthusiasm for all matter equestrian, Berdymukhammedov last month inaugurated a new stud farm outside the capital, Ashgabat, and later posed for photos as he took a canter on one of the horses _ an event described in detail in a front page article in the Neutralny Turkmenistan state newspaper.
But that was little compared to the lavish raft of contracts handed out to foreign construction companies to build an impressive array of equestrian facilities across the country. The list in full runs as follows:

- Turkey’s Etkin Yapi Sanayi ve Ticaret AS will build a hippodrome in Ahal Region for 80 million euros.

- Russia’s Itera Invest Stroy LLC will build a hippodrome in Balkan Region for 49 million dollars and another hippodrome in the Lebap Region for 49 million dollars;

- Lebanon’s Goodness International Resources LTD will build construct a hippodrome in Dasoguz Region for 49 million dollars.

- Turkey’s Sevincler Insaat, Taahut, Ticaret LTD Sti will build a hippodrome in Mary Region for 49 million dollars.

According to plan, that means a new hippodrome will be built in each of Turkmenistan’s five velayats by October 2010.
The idea behind the initiative is almost literally drawn on the ancient Roman principle of ‘panem et circenses’, although the Turkmens are naturally never assured of a steady supply of bread, so even that is only half true.
In more practical terms, the notion of reappraising traditional cultural past times and having them so closely identified with the president is in a sense a milder reprisal of the cult of personality concept. Berdymukhammedov is not megalomaniacal to the extent of the late Saparmurat Niyazov, so the exercise bears more hallmarks of a PR stunt than an attempt to carve out a virtual demi-god status.
In a similarly conceived escapade in the summer, Berdymukhammedov took a ride in a MiG-29 jet in a bid to display his manly prowess in the style of Vladimir Putin, who has regularly been pictured on hunting trips or firing off rounds from handguns.
To take a generous position, Berdymukhammedov’s posturing is little more than some harmless fun, although it goes without saying that all cults have to start out small. It was always inevitable that he would eventually have to undertake some form of legitimacy-creation and these staged displays of charisma go some small way to serving that purpose.
It is perhaps unfortunate that Berdymukhammedov is very far from charismatic and all this ill-conceived effort does not go far in disguising that fact.
More importantly, his lack of popular political legitimacy is indeed complete. He succeeded Niyazov by fraudulent means, jailing the speaker of parliament who was meant to serve as an interim leader before the presidential elections in January 2007. His eventual election was inevitable given that he was opposed only by complete non-entities, unknown to almost everybody except their immediate family.
These are historical footnotes by now, but the facts are worth recalling as Berdymukhammedov continues in his attempt to reinvent himself before his own people and the international community. It will also be worthwhile dwelling on these details when Berdymukhammedov rides into one of the grand new hippodromes in October 2010 _ possibly just weeks or months before a new round of presidential elections _ like the knight in shining armour.

[inspic=8,left,,150]Youth culture, pop videos and cutting-edge technology in Turkmenistan – what sounds like a joke or a science-fiction trip into the year 2100 is actually a reality. When you watch Turkmen TV, you will still think it is a joke. But when you go ‘underground’ on a market in Ashgabat, the capital of this Central Asian country, you will soon come across thousands of CDs and DVDs to choose from with the latest songs and videos of young Turkmen artists. Berdi (26) is the Turkmen equivalent of Robbie Williams. S.T. is a Turkmen rap band and could be called the Beastie Boys of Ashgabat if their lyrics were not only about love. And Mahri (20) is Ashgabat’s answer to Britney Spears, only without the scandals. They all are celebrities in Turkmenistan because of their music, and also because of their high-quality music videos.

The man behind many of the videos is 22-year old Begench Hangeldiogly. Begench studies to become a film director at the Institute of Culture. “I have always wanted to become a video editor. When I was a child, I took four old VHS recorders and connected them so I could edit a film. But I really only started more professional editing with my first computer about six years ago.” Since then, Begench has made a great leap forward. He owns his own small production company ‘Elwan’ now and has a staff of five co-workers including his younger brother who all work out of a rented basement of an old Soviet apartment block in the Eastern outskirts of Ashgabat.“I work hard. I don’t have any days off in the week and I hardly ever sleep more than six hours” says Begench, who is constantly answering calls on his mobile phone while showing me around in his studio. There are different themes of decoration in every single room of the basement he rents for his ‘underground work’. “I am soon going to install a blue box here so I can experiment more with artificial backgrounds. That will enable me to be more creative in the videos”, he says while he shows me the latest videos he edited for Berdi and other stars of the Turkmen pop scene. Read the full story »

The lustre to Turkmenistan’s rising star is starting to fade as its lamentable human rights record continues to draw criticism and news emerges of the arrest of yet another political dissident.
The Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (THFHR) said in a statement on its web site Wednesday that exiled dissident Gulgeldy Annaniyazov was arrested at his parents’ home earlier this week as his family and friends celebrated his unauthorised return to Turkmenistan.
As a guest at the party told THFHR:

“We talked peacefully over dinner. Gulgeldy told us all about life abroad [NOTE: He has been living in exile in Norway]. At 9pm, emergency paramedics knocked at the door and asked if anyone had called. We said nobody had called, but still they insisted on carrying out a medical examination on Gulgeldy. He refused and was backed up by people present. As the paramedics left the room, three special service officers came in without producing any identification and proceeded to arrest Gulgeldy. He was not even allowed to change clothes and take anything with him, but was just taken away wearing his slippers.”

Gulgeldy is now being kept at an undisclosed location and his own family is unable to contact him, THFHR said in its statement. (More details here).

In a separate incident, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty says one of its reporters has been tortured by Turkmen security forces.

“[On Tuesday] a contributor to RFE/RL’s Turkmen Service (Radio Azatlyk) was found beaten and tortured for refusing to sign a letter in which he agreed to stop reporting for RFE/RL.”

RFE/RL says in its statement that Sazak Durdymuradov, who comments for the station on educational and constitutional reforms, told his wife that he wanted to die upon being found in the detention cell.

These two worrying reports make a mockery of news that the European Union is currently holding in-depth talks with Turkmen authorities in Ashbagat on human rights issues. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have independently issued two very timely warnings for the West not to relent in urging Turkmenistan to commit to civilised standards on human rights.
Amnesty’s thorough and well-documented report lists the following issues as key in its executive summary:

• The enforced disappearance of dozens of prisoners labelled as “traitors of the motherland” by the authorities, who were sentenced in unfair trials to prison terms of between five years and life in connection with an alleged coup attempt in November 2002;

• The harassment, interrogation and arbitrary detention of human rights defenders, other independent civil society activists and journalists;

• The severe restriction of religious freedom;

• The courts are heavily dependent on the executive branch and a fundamental reform of the judiciary is urgently needed to strengthen the rule of law in the country;

• Law enforcement officers and prison guards have allegedly subjected detainees and prisoners to torture or other ill-treatment in many cases, sometimes even leading to death in custody. Impunity for such human rights violations is the norm in Turkmenistan.

This is a test of fire for all involved. Turkmenistan’s authorities must prove it can meet the challenge of its words and act fast to countermand the disturbing zeal of its security forces. They need to realise the government must go beyond public relations acts designed to generate positive publicity, like the demolition on Wednesday of a prison in Turkmenbashi, and act on creating some semblance of tolerance for plurality and indepedent thought.
Perhaps more importantly, this is a key juncture for the EU, which will prove once and for all whether its prepared to sacrifice its values for the prospect of a beneficial energy trading role.

Moscow-based business daily Kommersant reported Tuesday that Turkmenistan has agreed on the purchase of six BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launchers from Russian armaments manufacturer Motovilikhinsk Factories.
The transaction is being linked by experts to ongoing negotiations about the Caspian littoral pipeline project, the paper said.
A source says the two of 90-kilometre range motorized rocket launcher will be delivered this year and the remainder will reach Turkmenistan in 2009. Based on the average cost of a single BM-30 unit, the deal may be worth up to $70 million, Kommersant reported.
The paper suggests that the deal may be another incentive from Moscow to persuade Turkmenistan to giving up any prospective commitments to the Nabucco gas pipeline, which is designed ostensibly to circumvent Russian soil. This is a pretty implausible linkage, although it might be recalled that Turkmenistan did used to sell gas to Ukraine in exchange for weapons and military training. Ashgabat has also received military equipment from the United States and coordinated with NATO over select military issues.
There is also a precedent for attempted arms-for-gas deals, as Kommersant observers. In 2001, Rosoboronexport weapons exporter struck a deal with former President Saparmurat Niyazov for gas trader to act as a go-between in just such a deal. Elsewhere, in countries including Algeria and Libya, Moscow has been making full use of its military-industrial export capabilities in efforts to solidify its role as the world’s prime energy power.
Despite the temptation to view this as a quid pro quo deal, it is perhaps more interesting to contemplate what exactly this might mean for Turkmen military and foreign policy.
A large component of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov’s reform agenda has been based on plans to reform the military sector. The most eye-catching initiatives to date have involved changes on military service and efforts to professionalise the army. But Berdymukhammedov has also stated it is his government’s aim to modernize the country’s military equipment, and importing from Russia suggests that his ambitions have superseded reliance on technically inferior Ukrainian materiel. As an aside, it should be noted that the BM-30 deal is relatively modest in scale and is unlikely by itself to constitute a significant bargaining pawn of any kind.
A parallel development, as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported recently, has been Ashgabat’s increasingly friendly overtones to NATO, as exemplified in Berdymukhammedov’s attendance of the security bloc’s Bucharest summit in April.
As with its energy policy, Turkmenistan has begun to take a leaf from fellow Central Asian nation Kazakhstan, by pursuing a delicate balance of interests among strategically opposed partners. The emerging diplomatic and trade patterns Turkmenistan has chosen to weave looks likely to put it in the enviable position of owing nothing more to its partners than what they are due.