In July 2020 a WHO mission visited Turkmenistan, whose authorities assured the global community that not a single case of coronavirus had been identified by Turkmen healthcare practitioners.
It appears that the WHO doubted their own findings but advised the Turkmen authorities to activate critical public health measures in Turkmenistan, as if COVID-19 was circulating.
Ashgabat agreed to their recommendations. First, WHO prompted a way to launch the fight against the spread of the disease without the need to acknowledge it. Second, having a reputation of being a COVID dissident when trying to attract foreign investment is quite risky.
Allegedly, the measures have been undertaken: wearing a face mask was introduced as a mandatory requirement, notices on keeping social distancing were posted in the city, restaurants and other public places were shut down, train service was suspended and passengers were allowed to fly only if they have a medical certificate, which should be obtained three days prior to departure.
However, traditionally Turkmenistan does not fully follow all recommendations of international organizations but does so by selectively implementing or randomly ignoring unwanted clauses.It appears that the expected result can be achieved only when sticking to a well-conceived program with every element being an integral part of the mechanism.
It is a bad idea to remove the steering wheel or wheels from a car and attempt to reach a better tomorrow, but this is what is now happening in Turkmenistan.
This was the case with the IMF recommendations which the government is implementing only partially, and as a result the economy is being suffocated by low hydrocarbon prices and lack of investments. The restrictions imposed to combat the spread of coronavirus just exacerbate public health and economic situations rather than alleviate the problem.
A selective approach to abiding by the imposed restrictions is being observed in Turkmenistan at all levels: from the President to foreign diplomats, from stores and restaurants to schools and public transport.
The President
President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov first wore a mask in July during the briefing of the WHO experts summing up the results of their visit to Turkmenistan.
Since then a mask has appeared or disappeared on the head of state in a very inconsistent manner.He can wear a mask when going solo fishing, walking his Central Asian sheep dog, riding a horse or a bike, but there is no strict rule.
Sometimes he rides a horse or a bike without a mask.
At the same time, when accompanied by other people Berdymukhammedov might wear a mask or he might not.
Officials
It is impossible to predict whether the officials will be wearing masks during meetings with the President. It makes no difference whether the meeting is held in an office or if it is an outdoors event.
In concert halls or during festive events held outside public officials are lined up at a perfectly measured safe distance from each other. Performing artists and singers, however, do not wear masks or keep social distancing. Upon entering a building officials forget that they need to keep social distancing.
Diplomats
The Turkmen uncertainty also affects foreign diplomats.For instance, in July 2020 the Ambassador of France to Turkmenistan Francois Delaus posted a photo on Facebook where he and his colleagues from other countries had dinner at the residence wearing masks.
The caption says that there was a dinner at the residence with all participants carefully respecting social distancing rules.
Ce jeudi soir, dîner à la résidence respectant soigneusement les règles de distanciation sociale, sauf pendant quelques secondes pour la photo rituelle, mais avec masques pour compenser.
Gepostet von Ambassadeur de France au Turkménistan am Donnerstag, 30. Juli 2020
The Ambassador then repeatedly posted photos with guests. Diplomats were not wearing any masks and no social distancing was observed.
Foreign delegations
Because of suspended international air service there are fewer foreign visitors coming to Turkmenistan.However, even after the border closure Berdymukhammedov met with entrepreneurs, ambassadors and delegations from Kazakhstan.
Judging by a tweet posted by the UK Ambassador Hugh Philpott, diplomats entering Turkmenistan must self-isolate for two weeks.It is unlikely, however, that businessmen follow this mandatory requirement.
At the same time, Berdymukhammedov did not go to Moscow to attend the Victory Parade under the same pretext that he would need to self-isolate for two weeks after the trip.
As regards foreign visitors, it is worth drawing attention to the delegation from Kazakhstan headed by the Prime Minister Askar Mamin.There were no masks on the Kazakh Prime Minister during his meeting with Berdymukhammedov in Ashgabat, or on other members of the delegation during negotiations with Turkmen officials.
However, at least some Kazakh participants of the negotiations took disposable blue masks with them, which can be seen on the photos and television footage.Yet, the delegates refrained from wearing the masks.
As can be seen from the photos of various events and meetings in Kazakhstan published by the website of the public affairs office of the Prime Minister Mamin, everybody is wearing masks, including the Prime Minister, his entourage, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and even Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Restaurants
By violating their own rules and restrictions the Turkmen authorities are sending a bad signal to low level officials and law enforcement officers who work closely with residents.
If higher-ranking authorities violate the rules, others can do the same, especially if one can earn money by that.Since July 2020, the ban on restaurants, cafes, gyms, theatres, museums, theme parks and beauty parlors has been in effect.
A week ago these restrictions were suspended until 15 October.
Despite this, according to correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan”, a large number of these premises are still open.
For instance, there is a restaurant with a karaoke bar “Mukam” in “Ashgabat” park, which is popular with wealthy customers.Although the park is closed for visitors, the restaurant is operating without any restrictions.
A fee of 1500 manats ($428,5 using the official rate or $64 at “the black market” rate) needs to be paid in order to reserve a table.For this amount a customer will have a table for four with a basic serving of food and drinks.
Other dishes can be ordered at a separate fee.
The restaurant “Kumush ai” on Gerogly avenue, which is popular among foreigners, is also operating. It is always crowded, so reservations need to be made in advance. Every night there is live music and dance shows until 4 or 5 a.m.
Restaurant and café owners who have no connections or money for bribes are forced to provide only take-away service, which is not in big demand with residents. Some restaurant owners tried to make some money by letting visitors enter the premises through a rear door but gave up on the idea after being fined.
The owners are unhappy because they have been offered no tax breaks or the possibility to defer the payment of rent or any other help from the government. For this reason a large number of restaurants and cafes have closed down permanently.
Stores
The similar situation applies to stores. Despite the fact that for the time being only grocery stores and pharmacies are allowed to operate, the Ministry of Textile Industry has opened 10 new shops over the past 3 months.
Moreover, judging by television footage, neither visitors or shop assistants were wearing face masks during their grand opening ceremonies.
At the same time, owners of privately-run stores are forced to work in disguise. According to correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan”, when entering a bazaar or a shopping centre some customers are approached by individuals who ask them what they are looking for and escort the customer to a suitable “closed” store.
Lights cannot be turned on so customers have to look at the merchandise using a flashlight from their cell phones. This is how clothes, household appliances and other merchandise are being sold at the markets “Optovka”, “Chandybil” and “15 years of Independence”.
Shop assistants complain that they have no choice. They have been barred from selling merchandise but the owners of markets and shopping centres still demand that rent is paid and threaten to dispose of all merchandise in case of late payments.
I have premises with the space of 6,5 square meters for which I pay a monthly rent of over 3000 manats.The premises in the new section of the market are even more expensive.
My colleagues and I are forced to violate the ban and sell the goods under the counter.The market administration turns a blind eye but they warn us that we will be held accountable in case anything happens, an owner of private stores located at the wholesale bazaar “15 years of Independence” told a correspondent of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan”.
Keeping social distancing, schools and transport
Posters have been put up around Ashgabat calling on residents to keep safe social distance. Yet few people pay attention to them. It is impossible to observe this requirement in queues in front of ATMs, grocery stores or on public transport.
Schools turned out unprepared for these newly-introduced requirements.Schools were instructed to reduce the number of students in classrooms and the length of classes but an amended curriculum has not been designed.
Students are transferred from one overcrowded school to another and then are returned to the original school.
Uncertainty and chaos led to the international row after parents of schoolchildren from Ashgabat school №64 organized a spontaneous protest when they learned about the closure of the Russian language department.
Initially, the Russian Embassy in Ashgabat tried to resolve the situation. Its requests were ignored by the Turkmen side, after which Turkmenistan sent a note to the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation.
Killing people and the economy
All countries worldwide are introducing restrictive measures to stop the spread of coronavirus and reduce the burden on healthcare.As a rule, governments are faced with a choice to rescue people or the economy.
There is no perfect strategy and each state is trying to find its own balance and slow the spread of COVID-19 with minimal losses to the economy.
After reviewing the situation in Turkmenistan, it is safe to say that the measures undertaken are not bringing about a positive result on the public health situation.
The authorities have failed to tackle the task of rescuing people as independent media outlets report on new victims on a regular basis while the economy is successfully being destroyed.