by Kira Kramer
A new volume of “Chronicles of great accomplishments” devoted to the accomplishments of Turkmenistan and its President in 2016 has been released in Turkmenistan.The book describes the development of the Turkmen economy and the improved well-being of its residents. “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” also decided to recall significant events of 2016 and present to our readers an alternative picture of the developments in the country.
Part I. The TDH version
On 26 July 2018 the 10th volume of “Chronicles of great accomplishments” covering the performance of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov in 2016 was published in Turkmenistan.
Based on official material of TDH, the news outlet lists the President’s business trips, sessions of the Parliament, Cabinet of Ministers and the State Security Council, video conferences and other meetings, his participation in festive opening ceremonies for newly-built facilities in the capital and provinces, overseas visits as well as regional forums.
The media outlet elaborates in great detail the democratic and social and economic reforms with “an explicit social focus” which were implemented in the country.
TDH emphasizes that the book “will help readers to fully evaluate the humanistic nature and noble goals of ideology and policy pursued by the head of stateGurbanguly Berdymukhammedov”.
— The book provides an in-depth coverage of issues pertaining to improving the country’s political system and democratization of state and civil life, sustainable economic development, steady improvement of residents’ well-being, preserving and increasing spiritual and cultural traditions and values, strengthening of authority, and the role and influence of independent and neutral Turkmenistan in the international arena.
The new volume has practical value in terms of promoting social and political knowledge among residents, especially the youth, — the state information agency TDH reports.
Part II. Version of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan”
The “blossom” of the economic slump fell in 2016.
In early 2016 “Gazprom” halted imports of Turkmen gas after the dispute with “Turkmengas” which accused the Russian company of insolvency.
In January the Central Bank announced restrictions on free foreign currency conversion and exchange offices in Turkmenistan stopped selling dollars.
In this connection the dollar exchange rate “in the black market” skyrocketed to 4,2 manats compared to the official rate of 3,5 manats per $1.
Free currency conversion has not been permitted by the authorities since then and in the course of two and a half years the exchange rate went up to 25 manats or dropped down to 13, and as of this writing it has remained stable at 17 manats.
The queue in front of an exchange office in Ashgabat
Moreover, in January cigarettes disappeared from store counters.Throughout the year the sale of cigarettes was either resumed in state-run stores for some time or they disappeared again.
In privately-owned retail outlets the price for a pack of cigarettes sold “under the counter” reached $20.The deficit resulted in huge queues where fights occasionally broke out.
At the Cabinet session held on 2 November the President “with indignation, called on waging war against illicit cigarette dealers”.
In early autumn the financial crisis in Turkmenistan escalated to the food crisis. The country experienced a deficit of groceries sugar and vegetable oil, chicken drumsticks and eggs. Queues formed in front of retail outlets and people joined waiting lists to be able to buy food products in short supply a few weeks in advance.
The problem of the groceries shortage was addressed by the Turkmen authorities in their own fashion by showing news broadcasts featuring an abundance of food at affordable prices on store counters.
Shop assistants were instructed to indicate a lower price on the price tags.
As regards political accomplishments, a really “great achievement” occurred in September: Turkmenistan adopted the revised Constitution which extended the presidential term from five to seven years and abolished the upper age limit for candidates running for office.
Then the attendees of Turkmenistan’s Elders Council put forward a proposal to abolish free quotas for the use of natural gas, electricity and water.
The fact is that a few months earlier the President announced that “free public utilities did not justify themselves”.
A year later public utilities benefits were abolished.
At the end of the year the President launched the 2017 Presidential campaign and promised “to make Turkmenistan residents happier”.
In 2016 state-run television broadcasts started featuring President Berdymukhammedov’s son Serdar, who was elected a member of Turkmenistan’s Parliament.
In 2018 not only did he win at the Parliamentary elections, but occupied the post of Deputy Foreign Minister.
Serdar Berdymukhammedov (on the right)
Later the same year Turkmenistan’s national team took part in the Summer Olympics in Rio where they performed poorly.The team was comprised of 9 athletes, none of whom won any top places, which made the President extremely discontent.
Foreign diplomats were negatively affected by forcible evictions in Ashgabat.
This happened after announcements by the President that executives of the Interior Ministry and local authorities had demonstrated negligence when renting out “residential property” to individuals.The campaign was targeted at evicting non-residents but in the heat of the moment law enforcement authorities detained a number of foreign nationals, including diplomats and entrepreneurs.
In 2016 the Sweden-based company H&M, the largest fashion retail chain, placed a ban on sourcing cotton from Turkmenistan due to the use of child labour in the cotton fields.
That year was also memorable as inhabitants of Ashgabat were ordered to put black tape on their windows.
Internet restrictions persisted. For instance, social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, whatsapp and wechat messengers were blocked and access to the social network Vkontkte experienced disruptions.
In 2016 the Russian photographer and blogger Ilya Varlamov, who referred to Turkmenistan as “one of the most closed and mysterious countries in the world” paid his first and, we are convinced, his last visit to Turkmenistan.
Some time later his blog was blocked in Turkmenistan and he faced threats.
The country’s architectural accomplishments should not be neglected.It is in 2016 when the new airport worth $2 billion was opened, and the Turkish shopping centre Yimpaş, popular among the residents of the capital, was closed down.
The end of the year was marked by the start of “a gas conflict” between Turkmenistan and Iran.Despite the fact that on 30 December Ashgabat and Tehran signed an agreement on supplies of Turkmen gas to Iran, on 1 January 2017 Turkmenistan cut off gas exports, and the dispute which was taken to the International Court of Arbitration, has so far not been settled.