In 2005, lip syncing was banned at concerts. In 1991 and 2001, Niyazov issued decrees making water, gas, electricity, and refined salt free to use for ten year periods. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow took power of Turkmenistan in February 2007, succeeding Saparmurat Niyazov. In an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper, Niyazov claimed that Turkmenistan was able to process 85% of its domestic output. Case Study: Destination & Product Development, Ashgabat, The City of Love: A Scavenger Hunt, 20 Sustainable Travel Tips: How to be a Good Global Traveler, Our Offbeat Travel List: 11 Destinations Youre Not ConsideringBut Should, Trekking Around the World: 15 Best Offbeat Treks That Youre Not ConsideringBut Should, How Street Food is the Ultimate Travel Guide: 50 Favorite Street Food Dishes. Turkmenistan's Melons. Strange weird snapshot photo wild hula dances wild beach holiday - eBay The reasons cited for this are the negative effects of fire on the health of people living around it, and also the enormous environmental damage it has caused. Not to mention that most of these records are, of course, thought of and executed by only - and we mean, really, only - Turkmenistan. As usual when I can't decide, I choose both. The capital city of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, resembles a blend of Pyongyang and Las Vegas due to its fountains, boulevards, statues, and white buildings. Since achieving independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the country has only had two presidents. Niyazov continued the old practice of demanding yearly quotas in agricultural output, and then blaming and/or sacking deputy ministers when quotas were not met. He then studied at the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute, where in 1967 he received a diploma as an electrical engineer. 20. The highest number of fountains in public spaces and the highest concentration of white marble buildings with 543 in an area of 4.5m square meters. Within mosques, it was to be treated the same as the Quran. Niyazov said: Let this humane act on the part of the state serve strengthening truly moral values of the Turkmen society. Larger than any law, it illuminates the path of the Turkmen like the sun. [24], His father Atamyrat Nyazow's Red Army service was used to shape how the country celebrates Victory Day (9 May). The official results showed that 99.9% of voters approved this proposal. 15. Homosexuality is still very much disapproved of socially. Other laws were merely based on the whim of a president with full power and control. In kitapcy.com. What is strange is that the same rule as in Tajikistan still exists. You can even be fined if you own a vehicle that is not painted white! Yes, you read that correctly. Illustration: Seemon The progressive erosion of women`s rights conflicts with Turkmenistan`s Constitution, laws and international conventions, to which Turkmenistan is a signatory, including the 1997 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). In his time, he was one of the world's most totalitarian, despotic and repressive dictators. However, this seems a bit beside the point when you realize that people got sick and couldn't access doctors. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com, Unbelievable Facts About Turkmenistan, the Dystopian Dictatorship You Haven't Heard Of, Top 10 Unbelievable Places In The World That Anyone Can Visit, 10 Unique And Interesting Facts About Turkmenistan. Check before taking photographs near potentially sensitive sites such as airports, military barracks, police stations, government buildings, embassies and the Presidential Palace. Turkmenistan is the only country in the world that has been recognised asneutral by the United Nations. In Ashgabat, he erected a rotating, $12 million, golden statue of himself that always faces the sun. Not only this, local bookstores, government offices had to display it prominently. The post was equivalent to that of president. This was part of a publicity stunt in response to death hoax rumors. Under Niyazov, the Turkmen Communist Party had a reputation as one of the most hardline and unreformed party organizations in the Soviet Union. A picture of the Hell's Gate or the Darwaza Crater. Niyazov had ordered the book to be kept in all the mosques. He gained this post after Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev had removed his predecessor, Muhammetnazar Gapurov, following a cotton-related scandal. [67][68][69] Like Kim Il-sung, there is even a creation myth surrounding him. Unlike other Central Asian countries, Turkmenistan under Niyazov put emphasis on the country's sacrifice during the Second World War. Rapper 50 Cent found out the hard way this small Caribbean nation takes public swearing seriously. Subsequent emergence of a fundamentally new compasses for society, politics and economics, the government has engaged in reforming the law and the legal system of the country. Dogs were banned from the capital because of their unattractive smell. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The garment is made of sheepskin and is worn on the head to resemble a turban. After all, Berdymuhamedov is the initiator and inspiration of the new renaissance and global reforms; May God give him the strength and strength to carry a nation of 5.3 million Turkmen on his shoulders! Saparmurat Niyazov was the President of Turkmenistan from 1991-2006. For these, and other reasons, the US government said that by the time he died, "Niyazov's personality cult had reached the dimensions of a state-imposed religion."[74]. According to some reports, he felt presenters should "appear natural" on-screen. By Ella Morton. "The Golden Man: Saparmurat Niyazov's Reign of Insanity". Seychelles, Sierra Leone . [30] In February 2005 all hospitals outside Ashgabat were ordered closed, with the reasoning that the sick should come to the capital for treatment. There is no shortage of natural beauty and places to visit in Turkmenistan, but a shrewd visa regime hinders the growth of the tourism sector. Inside Central Asia. here are a few of Turkmenbashi's laws and decrees: No lip syncing at public concerts (it has a negative effect on musical . During the drilling, their equipment, including heavy machines fell into the crater, and natural gas began escaping. The government has used central planning, such as state control of production and procurement, direct bank credits with low interest rates, exchange rate restrictions, and price controls, since it existed as a Republic within the USSR.[18]. THE ONLY NEUTRAL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, Indian PM Narendra Modi met Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov in July 2015. One foreigner we spoke to confirmed that she recently received a firm reprimand from a policeman in Ashgabat because her car was a bit dusty. Niyazov ordered that all mountains and places in Turkmenistan be named after Turkmen heroes, poets and leaders. He renamed the town of Janga and city of Krasnovodsk after his nickname Trkmenbay, and renamed schools, airports, Ashgabat streets, and even a meteorite after himself and members of his family. Photo: Getty Images. m). A remarkable fact about the country is that it was home to a giant sea 30 million years ago. Someone, at some point, did something so nutty that people felt compelled to make it illegal. Unbelievable Facts About Turkmenistan, the Dystopian - WorldAtlas It has also destroyed the wildlife around it. His mother, Gurbansoltan Eje, was part of the cult of personality later. For other people with the same surname, see, "Turkmenbasi" redirects here. All Rights Reserved, 80 per cent desert and the life of Turkmen, As per the record, the city has 543 white marble buildings covering an area of 4.5 million square metres. Actually, the President recently visited the site and drove doughtnuts around it! 5. Turkmenistan under Turkmen Presidents Niyazov and Berdymuhamadov has. During his rule, Niyazov created a strong cult of personality around himself, which resembled the one around the Kim dynasty in North Korea. Not Turkmenistan. However, Ataew was arrested on 21 December 2006 and Berdimuhamedow was subsequently named acting president. In January 2018, the president banned black vehicles in the city because he associates black with bad luck. Carpets hold such prominence in Turkmenistan that there is a Ministry of Carpet in the government. The strange thing is that the rule similar to one in Tajikistan still exists. It is cheaper to let the gas burn than spend money on matchboxes. It was not changed or repealed by Berdymukhamedov. It is a cultural sign of appreciation for a family to offer guests a plate of plov whenever they visit. President for Life, Saparmurat Niyazov implemented many laws throughout his reign, here are just a few: In February 2004 men were banned from having long hair or beards. Turkmenistan, a land-locked country, is the least densely populated countryinCentral Asia. Remember him, because we will be talking about him quite a bit. While the buildings are very well-kept, they are often empty and give the impression of a ghost town. Turkmenbashi, Smiling Leader of Turkmenistan. In 2005, he closed down all rural libraries and hospitals outside of the capital city Ashgabat, in a country where at that time more than half the population lived in rural areas,[8] once stating that, "If people are ill, they can come to Ashgabat. 5. The Turkmen can also be sensitive about pictures being taken in the Teke, Russian and Tolkuchka bazaars in Ashgabat. His birthday is designated as a national day (not an official holiday), called "Turkmenbashy Remembrance Day". He was first secretary of the Turkmen Communist Party from 1985 until 1991 and supported the 1991 . Several places still bear his name, including the city of Turkmenbashy and the nearby town of Turkmenbashy, as well as several villages. In the years following independence, Turkmenistan invested heavily in plants and machinery in an attempt to convert it from being primarily a supplier of petroleum to a more advanced economy; such investments included oil refineries and a polyethylene plant. After all, it's hard to forget about a place once you know what goes on behind closed doors. Somewhere, a bit of greasing of the palms of the license-givers. 6. That was more than 50 years ago and the fire is yet to be put out. One of the many weird rules framed by Niyazov in 2004 was that young men were barred from having beard or long hair. Young cant grow beards, no black cars, a record-breaking fascination for setting world records are some of the weirdfacts about Turkmenistan. You should carry a copy of the details page of your passport at all times. In the year 2002, Niyazov decided that every day of the month and week would be renamed after his family members. Another ban in the vein of it's un-Turkmen. No one we spoke to seemed to know much about this rule. After graduating, he went to study in Russia, but was expelled a few years later for academic failure.[1]. The Darwaza Crater or The Hell's gate. Niyazov himself had short hair and was clean shaven. And by 1985 he was already First . As a result, in 2005 Turkmenistan would downgrade its links with the Commonwealth of Independent States becoming only an associate member under article 8 of the CIS charter, as such it would not participate in any of the military structures of the CIS. He made the book mandatory to be studied in schools, universities and government offices. The Craziest Laws That Still Exist In The United States People say that subsidized mortgages are also available to teachers and doctors, but I couldn`t find a teacher who would confirm this to me. The geologists lit a fire imagining that it would burn for a couple of days. From 1925-1991, it was part of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. Carpets of Turkmenistan. It is illegal to send a surprise pizza delivery to someone's house in Lousiana. He was a member of the influential Teke tribe of the Turkmens. He has over 14 years of experience in researching, informative writing, fact-checking, SEO & web design. https://bit.ly/3Fsk0qoHave you ever heard of ASHGABAT, TURKMENIS. As per the record, the city has 543 white marble buildings covering an area of 4.5 million square metres(with no one living in them, by the way). 42 Unexpected Ways to Get Arrested Around the World Luke Ward is the owner of The Fact Site. In 1995, all 185 members voted for Turkmenistan to remain neutral and in celebrationof this, an olive branch was added to the flag. The 10 Most Unbelievable Laws in Turkmenistan - YouTube [citation needed], Niyazov became president at the transition of Turkmenistan from a Soviet republic to an independent state. Girls are required to wear national clothing and tie their hair into braids, as well as the takhya national headgear. Speaking of cities, their capital city is bizarre and made out of marble Many buildings in Ashgabat are reminiscent of old Soviet blocks, except made of marble. Mr Saparmurat Niyazov,the late President of Turkmenistan", "Soz to represent India at Niyazov's funeral", "Late President of Turkmenistan laid to rest", "Absolute leader's name dropped from anthem", "Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov: Illusion of a Khrushchevian Thaw? Gurbansoltan Eje was named in honor of Niyazov's mother, and Serdar ("leader" in Turkmen) referred to Niyazov himself. 3. In Turkmenbashi`s time, utility prices were so low that bills for these services arrived every year. Apparently, lip syncing was not an activity held in high esteem by Niyazov. [72] A silhouette of Niyazov was used as a logo on television broadcasts. He even went to the extent of inscribing the verses of Ruhnama and Quran on the largest mosque of Turkmenistan, Turkmenbasy Ruhy Mosque. Prior to this achievement, it was in the Guinness Book for having the worlds tallest flagpole (133 m), the largest fountain complex, largest architectural image and largest Ferris wheel in an enclosed architectural design. There are no laws in Turkmenistan; There is only the will of the Fhrer. You should take care over public displays of affection. Via Emil Delavele 18 A Ci sono spazi che sono fatti per la luce. We have a thorough fact-checking process and a dedicated team verifying our content for accuracy. Deserts and sand form the prominent part of the geography of the country today as it is home to Karakum desert. In 2014, adventurer George Kourounis became the first person to enter the "Door to Hell" and reach the bottom of the pit. It is the second largest land-locked country in Central Asia next to Kazakhstan; andTurkmenistan'scapital and largest city, Ashgabat, sharesits southern border with Iran. In late 2020, teachers in Turkmenabat, the country`s second largest city, were banned from dyeing their lighter hair. ", OpenStreetMap Wiki:Districts in Turkmenistan, : " " - . We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Do everything you can to get it across the border, even if you have to push it or drag it. Photographing official buildings is forbidden. If we were asked why a plane flies to Turkmenistan, we would say it is because of the buoyancy force.