Turkmenistan

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President Saparmurat Niyazov Assembly People's Council Political parties Democratic Party of Turkmenistan Elections Provinces Human rights Foreign relations Ruhnama

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Politics of Turkmenistan take place in the framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Turkmenistan is both head of state and head of government. Turkmenistan has a single-party system ruled by President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov. Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turkmenistan local long form: none local short form: Turkmenistan former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic Data code: TX Government type: republic Capital: Ashgabat Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Turkmenistan declared its independence on October 27, 1991. ... Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov (Turkmen Saparmyrat Ataýewiç Nyýazow) (born February 19, 1940) has been the most powerful figure in Turkmenistan since 1985. ... The Assembly (Mejlis) has 50 members, elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies. ... Next to the Assembly (Mejlis), the Peoples Council (Khalk Maslakhaty) is considered the ultimate representative body. ... Turkmenistan is a single-party state. ... The Democratic Party of Turkmenistan is the only political party in Turkmenistan. ... Elections in Turkmenistan gives information on election and election results in Turkmenistan. ... Turkmenistan is divided into 5 provinces or welayatlar (singular - welayat): Ahal (capital Ashgabat) Balkan (capital Nebitdag) Dashhowuz (formerly Tashauz, capital Dashhowuz) Lebap (capital Turkmenabat, formerly known as Charjew) Mary (capital Mary). ... The human rights situation in Turkmenistan, an authoritarian state, remains extremely poor. ... Turkmenistans declaration of permanent neutrality was formally recognized by the United Nations in 1995. ... Ruhnama (or The Book of the Soul from Persian: روح ruh (soul) and نامه nâma (book), sometimes spelled Rukhnama) is the combination autobiography, historical fiction, and spiritual guidebook written by Turkmenistans President for Life, Saparmyrat Niyazov. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... Republics with presidential systems are shown in blue A presidential system, or a congressional system, is a system of government of a republic where the executive branch is elected separately from the legislative. ... In a broad definition, a republic is a state or country that is led by people whose political power is based on principles that are not beyond the control of the people of that state or country. ... Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turkmenistan local long form: none local short form: Turkmenistan former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic Data code: TX Government type: republic Capital: Ashgabat Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Turkmenistan declared its independence on October 27, 1991. ... Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State of 16 countries including: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand and the Bahamas, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... The head of government is the leader of the government or cabinet. ... States in which a single party is constitutionally linked to power (or the provisions of its constitution are currently suspended while a single party rules) are coloured in brown. ... President for Life is a title assumed by some dictators to ensure that their authority, legitimacy, and term is never questioned or disputed. ... Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov (Turkmen Saparmyrat Ataýewiç Nyýazow) (born February 19, 1940) has been the most powerful figure in Turkmenistan since 1985. ...

Political background

Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Turkmenistan declared its independence on October 27, 1991. Saparmurat Niyazov became the first president of the new republic and still remains the supreme decisionmaker. On December 28, 1999, Niyazov's term was extended indefinitely by the Mejlis (parliament), which itself had taken office only a week earlier in elections that included only candidates hand-picked by President Niyazov; no opposition candidates were allowed. President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov, a former bureaucrat of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, has ruled Turkmenistan since 1985, when he became head of the Communist Party of the Turkmen SSR. He retains absolute control over the country and opposition is not tolerated. The president's party, the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, is the only one legally permitted. Political gatherings are illegal unless government sanctioned. All citizens are required to carry internal passports, noting place of residence, and movement into and out of the country, as well as within its borders, is difficult. Turkmenistan is dominated by a pervasive cult of personality extolling President Niyazov as Turkmenbashi ("Leader of all Turkmen"). His face adorns many everyday objects, from banknotes to bottles of vodka. The logo of Turkmen national television is his profile. The two books he has written are mandatory readings in schools and public servants are quizzed yearly about their knowledge of its contents. It's also common in shops and homes. Many institutions are named after his mother. All watches and clocks made must bear his portrait printed on the dial-face. A giant 15-meter (50 feet) tall gold-plated statue of him stands on a rotating pedestal in Ashgabat, so it will always face into the sun and shine light onto the city. President Niyazov has recently proclaimed that anyone who reads his book Ruhnama three times will "become more intelligent, will recognise the divine being and will go straight to heaven"[1]. October 27 is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 65 days remaining. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov (Turkmen Saparmyrat Ataýewiç Nyýazow) (born February 19, 1940) has been the most powerful figure in Turkmenistan since 1985. ... December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... President for Life is a title assumed by some dictators to ensure that their authority, legitimacy, and term is never questioned or disputed. ... Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov (Turkmen Saparmyrat Ataýewiç Nyýazow) (born February 19, 1940) has been the most powerful figure in Turkmenistan since 1985. ... The Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Russian: Коммунисти́ческая Па́ртия Сове́тского Сою́за = КПСС) was the name used by the successors of the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party from 1952 to 1991, but the wording Communist Party was present in the partys name since 1918 when the Bolsheviks became the All... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Communist Party of the Turkmen SSR was the ruling communist party of the Turkmen SSR, and a part of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. ... The Democratic Party of Turkmenistan is the only political party in Turkmenistan. ... Billboard of Joseph Stalin. ... Vodka bottling machine, Shatskaya Vodka Shatsk, Russia Vodka is typically a colorless liquor, usually distilled from fermented grain or potatoes but also from other raw materials (see Production below). ... Aşgabat Aşgabat Aşgabat Aşgabat (Turkmen: ; Persian: , UniPers: Ešq-âbâd; Russian: - Ashkhabád) also spelled as Ashgabat, Ashkabat, Ashkhabad, Ashgabad, is the capital city of Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic. ... Ruhnama (or The Book of the Soul from Persian: روح ruh (soul) and نامه nâma (book), sometimes spelled Rukhnama) is the combination autobiography, historical fiction, and spiritual guidebook written by Turkmenistans President for Life, Saparmyrat Niyazov. ...

A slogan popular in Turkmen propaganda is "Halk! Watan! Türkmenbashi!" meaning "People! Motherland! Leader!". Niyazov renamed the days of the week after members of his family and wrote the new Turkmen national anthem/oath himself.

Foreign companies seeking to exploit Turkmenistan's vast natural gas resources have cooperated with Niyazov since he also controls access to the natural resources. His book Ruhnama (or Rukhnama), which is expected to be revered in Turkmenistan almost like a holy text, has been translated into 32 languages and distributed for free among major international libraries[2]. Natural gas is commonly referred to as gas. ... Ruhnama (or The Book of the Soul from Persian: روح ruh (soul) and نامه nâma (book), sometimes spelled Rukhnama) is the combination autobiography, historical fiction, and spiritual guidebook written by Turkmenistans President for Life, Saparmyrat Niyazov. ...

While the constitution provides for freedom of the press, the government has full control of all media. Only two newspapers, Adalat and Galkynysh, are nominally independent, but they were created by presidential decree. Cable TV, which had existed in the late 1980s, was shut down.

Activities of all but the officially recognized Russian Orthodox and Sunni Muslim faiths are severely limited. Religious congregations are required to register with the government, and individual parishes must have at least 500 members to register. Severe measures are directed toward religious sects that have not been able to establish official ties of state recognition, especially Baptists, Pentecostalists, Seventh-day Adventists, Hare Krishna, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Bahá'ís. Practitioners of these sects have allegedly been harassed, imprisoned, and/or tortured, according to some outside human rights advocacy groups. The Russian Orthodox Church (Русская Православная церковь) is that body of Christians who are united under the Patriarch of Moscow, who in turn is in communion with... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... Baptist churches are part of a Christian movement often regarded as an Evangelical, Protestant denomination. ... The Pentecostal movement within Evangelical Christianity places special emphasis on the direct personal experience of God through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as shown in the Biblical account of the Day of Pentecost. ... The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Christian denomination which, as its name suggests, is best-known for its teaching that Saturday, the seventh day of the week, is the Sabbath and that the second advent of Jesus Christ is imminent. ... Hare Krishna Mantra in Devanagari. ... Seat of the Universal House of Justice in Haifa, Israel, governing body of the Baháís The Baháí Faith is a religion founded by Baháulláh in 19th century Persia. ...

Corruption continues to be pervasive. Power is concentrated in the president; the judiciary is wholly subservient to the regime, with all judges appointed for 5-year terms by the president without legislative review. Little has been done to prosecute corrupt officials.

Turkmenistan refuses to join any international organization, because of its "status of permanent neutrality," which was accepted by the UN General Assembly on December 12, 1995. United Nations General Assembly The United Nations General Assembly is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 19 days remaining. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Executive branch

The president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The present president was unanimously approved as president for life by the Assembly on 28 December 1999. He appoints the deputy chairmen of the cabinet of ministers. Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turkmenistan local long form: none local short form: Turkmenistan former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic Data code: TX Government type: republic Capital: Ashgabat Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Turkmenistan declared its independence on October 27, 1991. ... Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov (Turkmen Saparmyrat Ataýewiç Nyýazow) (born February 19, 1940) has been the most powerful figure in Turkmenistan since 1985. ... October 27 is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 65 days remaining. ... This article is about the year. ... December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

Legislative branch

The legislature, the Assembly (Mejlis) has 50 members, elected for a five year term in single seat constituencies. Turkmenistan is a single-party state, the only political party, the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan is legally allowed to hold power. All candidates at the elections belonged to this party. Furthermore, the Khalk Maslakhaty (People's Council) which is considered the ultimate representative body, has 65 members. All candidates at the elections of 7 april 2003 (turnout 89.3 %) belonged also to the DPT. The Assembly is an example of a "Rubber Stamp Legislature" The Assembly (Mejlis) has 50 members, elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies. ... A constituency is any cohesive corporate unit or body bound by shared structures, goals or loyalty. ... States in which a single party is constitutionally linked to power (or the provisions of its constitution are currently suspended while a single party rules) are coloured in brown. ... The Democratic Party of Turkmenistan is the only political party in Turkmenistan. ... Next to the Assembly (Mejlis), the Peoples Council (Khalk Maslakhaty) is considered the ultimate representative body. ... Rubber stamp, is a political metaphor referring to an institution that has little power and rarely disagrees with more powerful organs, though usually it formally has much greater power. ...

Political parties and elections

The following election results include names of political parties. See for additional information about parties the List of political parties in Turkmenistan. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Turkmenistan.

An election is a decision making process where people vote for preferred political candidates or parties to act as representatives in government. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues. ... Turkmenistan is a single-party state. ... An election is a decision making process whereby people vote for preferred political candidates or parties to act as representatives in government. ... Elections in Turkmenistan gives information on election and election results in Turkmenistan. ... The Democratic Party of Turkmenistan is the only political party in Turkmenistan. ... The Democratic Party of Turkmenistan is the only political party in Turkmenistan. ...

Administrative divisions

Turkmenistan is divided into 5 provinces welayatlar (singular - welayat): Ahal Province (Aşgabat), Balkan Province (Balkanabat, formerly Nebitdag), Daşoguz Province (formerly Tashauz), Lebap Province (Turkmenabat), Mary Province Province is a name for a subnational entity. ... A wilaya is an administrative subdivision usually translated as province. ... Ahal is one of the Welayatlar of Turkmenistan. ... AÅŸgabat AÅŸgabat (Turkmen: ; Persian: , UniPers: EÅ¡q-âbâd; Russian: - Ashkhabád) also spelled as Ashgabat, Ashkabat, Ashkhabad, Ashgabad, is the capital city of Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic. ... Balkan is one of the Welayatlar of Turkmenistan. ... Nebitdag, originally Nebit-Dag, also officially known as Balkanabat (Балканабат), is a city in western Turkmenistan, and the capital of Balkan Province. ... Nebitdag (originally Nebit-Dag) is a city in western Turkmenistan, the capital of Balkan Province. ... DaÅŸoguz Province (also: Dashhowuz) (DaÅŸoguz welaýaty / Дашогуз велаяты) is one of the Welayatlar of Turkmenistan. ... DaÅŸoguz (also Dashkhovuz, Dashhowuz, Dashoguz, Dasoguz, Дашогуз) is a city in Turkmenistan and the capital of DaÅŸoguz Province. ... Lebap is one of the Welayatlar of Turkmenistan. ... Türkmenabat (formerly Chardjui, Чарджоу, Чәрҗев, Charjou, Chardzhou, Chardzhev, Chärjew or Charjew, 39°5′N 63°34′E) is a town in Turkmenistan, capital of the Lebap Province. ... Mary is one of the Welayatlar of Turkmenistan. ...

Foreign Policy

Foreign policy of Turkmenistan is based on the status of permanent positive neutrality recognized by the UN General Assembly Resolution on Permanant Neutrality of Turkmenistanon 12 December, 1995. Articles on Turkmenistan's foreign policy as a neutral state:

• Regional Strategy of Ashgabat
• Neutral Factor of Turkmenistan
• The World Recognized Turkmenistan's Neutrality 9 Years Ago

International organization participation

Turkmenistan is affilliated to the CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) Headquarters Minsk, Belarus Member states 11 member states 1 associate member Working language Russian Executive Secretary Vladimir Rushailo Formation December 21, 1991 Official website http://cis. ... The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) is a NATO organization, a multilateral forum created to improve relations between NATO and non-NATO countries in Europe and those parts of Asia on the European periphery. ... Founded in 1991, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) uses the tools of investment to help build market economies and democracies in 27 countries from central Europe to central Asia. ... The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE or ECE) was established in 1947 to encourage economic cooperation among its member states. ... The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) involves ten Asian nations. ... The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), located in Bangkok, Thailand, is the regional arm of the United Nations Secretariat for the Asian and Pacific region. ... FAO emblem With its headquarters in Rome, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that works to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living; to improve the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of food and agricultural products; to promote rural development; and... Logo of the World Bank The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is one of the five institutions consisting the World Bank Group. ... The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations, codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. ... The Red Cross and the Red Crescent emblems, the symbols from which the Movement derives its name The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement whose stated mission is to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for the human being and all other... Islamic Development Bank (also known as IDB), is a multilateral development financing institution. ... The International Finance Corporation (IFC) promotes sustainable private sector investment in developing countries as a way to reduce poverty and improve peoples lives. ... 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This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body, UNCTAD is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment and development issues. ... UNESCO logo UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... The Universal Postal Union (UPU, French: Union postale universelle) is an international organization that coordinates postal policies between member nations, and hence the world-wide postal system. ... The World Customs Organization (WCO) is an intergovernmental organization that helps member states communicate and co-operate on customs issues. ... The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) was established in the wake of the Second World War to bring together trade unions across the world in a single international organization, much like the United Nations. ... Flag of World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, acting as a coordinating authority on international public health, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ... Headquarters in Geneva The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations. ... The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 187 Member States and Territories. ... World Tourism Organization Building in Madrid The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is a United Nations agency dealing with questions relating to tourism. ... 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