International Crisis Group
text only version
Turkmenistan| Central Asia
CrisisWatch database
Recent reports and briefings

Turkmenistan remains closed, repressive, isolated and – despite enormous natural gas deposits – chronically poor. The country’s isolation resulted largely from the idiosyncratic authoritarianism of President Saparmurat Niyazov, who remained the overwhelming force in Turkmen political life from its independence from the Soviet Union (USSR) in December 1991 until his death in December 2006.

Authoritarianism and the destruction of civil society reinforced by strict censorship, travel restrictions and human rights abuses are most keenly felt by the ethnic Uzbek and Russian populations. Niyazov nurtured a personality cult focused on his quasi-spiritual Ruhnama guide, intended to help displace the Koran as the primary Turkmen religious guide (Turkmenistan is 90 per cent Muslim) and to serve as the basis for civic school education.

The decline of state institutions and lack of unity within the political elite will raise difficulties throughout the succession process. Crisis Group's February 2007 report explores what must be done to reverse the most egregious of Niyazov's socioeconomic policies and improve the country's human rights situation.

Some of our regional reports on Central Asia are also relevant to Turkmenistan--please also see our Central Asia page.

Articles, op-eds, speeches and media releases can be found under the media section.

 


Recent reports & briefings