Eurasianet

Travel bans, dams and Russian fans. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan briefing.

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.

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

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

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

Many in the territory blame the rising numbers of coronavirus cases on the authorities’ decision to open up to Russian tourists.

All eyes will be on who gets the nod as chair of the Senate, since that person would be in a position to succeed Berdymukhamedov in the event of his sudden death or incapacitation.

Between the unacknowledged pandemic and economic devastation, protestors said the situation at home is so dire that inaction seems worse than government reprisals.

The government’s lack of capacity helps explain the about-face.

As coronavirus cripples the territory’s tourism season and Russia has stopped sending aid, Abkhazia faces a 10 percent GDP decline this year.

The apology or recantation is uploaded to social media. Often, there is a pretense of the repentance being voluntary. But that is not always the case.

The president wrestles with mortality and Muhammad.

Part 1 of a 3-part series.

State media altogether ignored a week of severe weather that may have claimed dozens of lives. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan bulletin.