RFE/RL
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![True Life: I Was A Turkmenbashi Flower Girl
As journalist from RFE/RL’s Turkmen Service who had the “honor” of being a flower girl during Niyazov’s reign tells it, the young people chosen to perform in these elaborate displays of affection pay a price — literally…[read more]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7go46OUgg1qkgi6go1_500.jpg)
True Life: I Was A Turkmenbashi Flower Girl
As journalist from RFE/RL’s Turkmen Service who had the “honor” of being a flower girl during Niyazov’s reign tells it, the young people chosen to perform in these elaborate displays of affection pay a price — literally…[read more]
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Silly Dictator Story #4: Celebrations Everywhere For Turkmenistan’s ‘Protector
Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov may oversee one of the world’s most repressive security states, but the Turkmen president — commonly referred to in official circles as “arkadag” (protector) — knows how to throw a party…[read more]
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Members of a national dance group wear traditional costumes in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Photo by Azatlyk Radiosy. For more photos take a look at our Pinterest page.
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![@azathabar: First Statue Appears of Turkmenistan’s (Latest) Autocratic President
It took five years, but the first statue of Turkmenistan’s autocratic President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has appeared in Ashgabat.The white equestrian statue depicts Berdymukhammedov clad in the attire of a traditional Turkmen tribal chief, astride his horse and with a dove — a symbol of luck in Turkmen culture — near his raised right hand.The dove is inscribed with a poem, called “My White Dove,” that was dedicated to Berdymukhammedov and has been recited on state television and appeared in other official media…[READ MORE]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0khj0p96U1qkgi6go1_500.jpg)
@azathabar: First Statue Appears of Turkmenistan’s (Latest) Autocratic President
It took five years, but the first statue of Turkmenistan’s autocratic President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has appeared in Ashgabat.The white equestrian statue depicts Berdymukhammedov clad in the attire of a traditional Turkmen tribal chief, astride his horse and with a dove — a symbol of luck in Turkmen culture — near his raised right hand.
The dove is inscribed with a poem, called “My White Dove,” that was dedicated to Berdymukhammedov and has been recited on state television and appeared in other official media…[READ MORE] -
State-run media in Turkmenistan have declared that the Central Asian country has entered a new “era of supreme happiness of the stable state” in the wake of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov’s landslide reelection victory.
RFE/RL’s Turkmen Service reports that the theme of “supreme happiness” over the president’s second term in office was suggested during an official meeting in Ashgabat on February 25…[READ MORE]
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Large billboards bearing Berdymukhammedov’s face now dot Turkmen cities; office walls are adorned with his portraits…[READ MORE]
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Reports say a police unit in Turkmenistan this week was named after the father of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov…[READ MORE]
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![Turkmenistan’s ‘White’ Revolution
Since coming to office five years ago, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has sought to show of his own style of leadership — all the way down to the color scheme. From his clothing to his carpets to the flowers that ornament his public appearances, everything in Berdymukhammedov’s world is a gleaming, crystalline white. We look at Berdymukhamedov’s own “white” revolution…[See the rest of the photos…]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly1v8nYAVj1qkgi6go1_500.jpg)
Turkmenistan’s ‘White’ Revolution
Since coming to office five years ago, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has sought to show of his own style of leadership — all the way down to the color scheme. From his clothing to his carpets to the flowers that ornament his public appearances, everything in Berdymukhammedov’s world is a gleaming, crystalline white. We look at Berdymukhamedov’s own “white” revolution…[See the rest of the photos…]
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Turkmenistan’s 3-D Cinema Falls Flat With Customers
ASHGABAT — Turkmenistan’s first and only 3-D movie theater has fallen flat with audiences apparently tired of its one-dimensional film offerings, RFE/RL’s Turkmen Service reports.
The multimillion-dollar cinema has been showing only one film, “Turkmenistan the Heavenly Land,” since it opened in central Ashgabat about six months ago.
