President Nyazov asked to include two imprisoned journalists in independence anniversary pardon

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Recent articles in Turkmenistan

Journalists in Central Asia under pressure to not ‘offend’ Russia in coverage of Ukraine war

The authorities in several Central Asian states have warned news outlets to tone down their coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, or ignore it entirely.

A woman looks at the profiles of candidates during parliamentary elections in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 25 March 2018, IGOR SASIN/AFP via Getty Images

Turkmenistan: Authorities pressure critics in exile by threatening their relatives at home

“Turkmenistan has long been a closed country for independent human rights scrutiny. The pattern of persecution of relatives of activists who live abroad shows the lengths to which its government will go to keep the world from knowing the scale of the human rights violations there.”

A screen showing a portrait of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is seen during the official opening of a newly built airport in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 17 September 2016, REUTERS/Marat Gurt

In Turkmenistan, election takes place amid growing crackdown on journalists

When President Berdimuhamedov succeeded Saparmurad Niyazov in 2007, he tried to portray himself as a reformer committed to modernising his country but human rights are still being trampled underfoot ten years later.