The Central Asianist Podcast with Nate Schenkkan: Turkmenistan’s Growing Economic Crisis

Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov sings his song titled “Forward, Forward, Only Forward My Beloved Turkmenistan” in early April. While the president likes to showcase his singing-songwriting, car-racing, horse-riding, surgery-performing and book-publishing endeavors, the country’s population is increasingly frustrated by his government’s inability to address multiple enormous problems dogging the nation, including the raging economic crisis. (Photo: Neutral Turkmenistan)

Episode 21

In this episode, Nate Schenkkan speaks with Farruh Yusupov, the director of RFE/RL’s Turkmen service Azatlyk, about the burgeoning economic crisis in Turkmenistan and whether the government will be able to find a way out.

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With both Russia and Iran having ended the purchase of Turkmen gas, and oil and gas prices declining yet again, dollars are scarce, wages are going unpaid, and subsidies for utilities have been cut. Even with the media under tight control, there is growing frustration with the government’s lack of response to the crisis. Is President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov able and willing to address the crisis? Or is a harder crash inevitable?

Editor’s Note: Nate Schenkkan is the Project Director for Nations in Transit at Freedom House and a veteran host of The Central Asianist Podcast. EurasiaNet is pleased to support The Central Asianist, which offers a unique take on developments in Central Asia, featuring top experts and journalists from around the world.

The Central Asianist Podcast with Nate Schenkkan: Turkmenistan’s Growing Economic Crisis

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