Eurasianet

As the president celebrates, the economic crisis deepened by a coronavirus outbreak he has refused to acknowledge has left his people in a state of Dickensian misery.

Electricity exports; crowd control outside food shops; and despite denials, COVID strikes. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan briefing.

Medics say they are actively discouraged from seeking the compensation.

Only the best medicine for the leader. For everyone else, bread shortages.

Ecological conservation is a matter of pride in Turkmenistan. But a disconnect between rhetoric and reality is a hallmark of the Berdymukhamedov era.

This week in our Turkmenistan bulletin: Ashgabat and Moscow suddenly ratify an aged security agreement. Plus budgets, boasts and bribes.

Some are speaking out against the conflict despite fears the government’s strong support for Azerbaijan could fuel nationalist reprisals.

The dictatorial regime is mostly deaf to people’s complaints, but it sometimes caves.

The appearance of the self-defense units is the second time this year that civil society has been forced to hold the line. Where the state repeatedly fails to live up to its obligations, volunteers step in.

The president’s fury has only served to expose once more the implausibility of official data.

While it would be wrong to start pointing fingers and formulating conspiracy theories, clearly the risks are many and real.

Batken has already reimposed restrictions.

After rewarding himself with a more pliant constitution, the president held a massive military parade. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan briefing.

For all the bombastic propaganda, there is no papering over the fact that Turkmenistan is still clearly struggling with a COVID-19 problem.

Constitutional shenanigans, food shortages and evacuations: Our weekly Turkmenistan bulletin.