Turkmenistan Celebrated New Year
Turkmenistan’s Main New Year Tree was lit up in the square in front of the entertainment center “Älem” (Universe) in Ashgabat. A 37-meter high tree was topped with an eight-pointed star with a "2013" sign on it. A festive fairy-tale town was set up around the tree, and thousands of children and guests of Ashgabat, folk and dance groups, circus and theater artists gathered to meet Ayaz Baba (Father Frost) and his granddaughter Garpamyk (Snow Maiden). In accordance with tradition, the carriage carrying Ayaz Baba and Garpamyk, accompanied by Akhal Teke riders and characters of Turkmen folk tales, proceeded through the main streets of the capital city, inviting children to a festival.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
President of Turkmenistan congratulates fellow-countrymen on New Year
President Berdymukhamedov congratulated fellow-countrymen on the New Year, wishing them good health and longevity, success, and happiness. In his address he said: “In the New Year, each of us has to work with even more enthusiasm, perseverance and productiveness to help our beloved Motherland – Turkmenistan – enter the ranks of the most industrialized and advanced countries of the world.”
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
Official Data on Crime Rate in Turkmenistan May Be Wrong – Gundogar
In a report, prepared by the oppositional website gundogar.org, Baimurad Altyev says that the Turkmen authorities have tried to mislead international community and Turkmen people and conceal the real data on the rates of crime and extent of corruption in Turkmenistan’s law-enforcement system. Lately many high law-enforcement officials, including the Minister of Interior, have left their posts. The new officials who replaced them regularly are reprimanded by the President for concealing the real state of affairs in combating crime. But despite Berdymukhamedov’s scoldings, the efforts of the law-enforcement have not brought the desired results, and the crime rate in Turkmenistan is high. Local observers say that crimes significantly increase in numbers after the regular amnesties that the Turkmen authorities announce. Those who fall under such amnesties often commit the same crimes for which they were jailed before, such as robberies, burglaries, hooliganism, and other misdemeanours. Furthermore, the author of the report gives examples of corruption in law-enforcement that has lead to impunity for drug lords and recidivists, naming several of them.
Source: gundogar.org
Turkmenistan Chronicles to Go Back Online Soon
Following a massive cyberattack over two weeks ago, the website of the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights, "Chronicles of Turkmenistan" is preparing to go back online shortly. “We've taken necessary steps to increase our web security,” – said the web-site administrators.
Source: Turkmenistan Chronicles
Turkmenistan’s Parliament Passed Law on Mass Media
Turkmenistan’s Parliament adopted a Law on mass media aimed at enforcing “the generally accepted legal and ethical norms and regulations,” according to the the semi-official web-site Turkmenistan.ru. According to MPs, the law was necessary because, “in the modern era the mass media plays a special role in regulating social and cultural relations of state and society.” The law regulates the procedures for working with information, including its gathering and distribution. Currently Turkmenistan has one information agency, seven national TV channels, five local radio stations, and 39 publications. President Berdymukhamedov is the founder of most of the central mass media.
Source: gundogar.org, Turkmenistan.ru
Turkmenistan’s Energy Minister Severely Reprimanded
President Berdymukhamedov is unhappy with his energy minister for poorly preparing for winter temperatures, reported Turkmen state media. Berdymukhamedov formally reprimanded Energy Minister, Murad Artykov, for “improper performance of official duties, weakening of control over the activities of the energy sector of the country, failure to take appropriate measures to ensure the smooth operation of the winter season of the importance of industry facilities,” reported Turkmenistan.ru.
Source: Universalnewswires.com
Berdymukhamedov Reprimanded Vice-Primer
President Berdymukhamedov severely reprimanded his government Vice-Primer in charge of transport and communications, Deputy Chairman of the State Emergency Committee, Rozymurat Seitkulyev, ”for unsatisfactory performance of his duties, improper organization of the work of the Emergency Committee, and weakening control over national strategic enterprises.” Seitkylyev also received a warning that he will be dismissed if these issues were not addressed immediately. Source: turkmenistan.ru
Deputy Head Sacked From Turkmen State committee
Deputy Chairman of the Turkmen State Committee on Emergency Situations Rozymyrat Seyitkulyev was dismissed because he failed to properly organise his work, the Turkmen government reported. Deputy Chairman on Construction of the Cabinet of Ministers Akmyrat Egeleev will take over his duties.
Source: trend.az
http://en.trend.az/regions/casia/turkmenistan/2104948.html
Berdymukhamedov Reprimanded Minister of Public Utilities
President Berdymukhamedov severely reprimanded the Minister of Public Utilities, Arslan Yagshimammedov “for unsatisfactory performance of his official duties, improper organization of the work of the Ministry, poor preparation of utilities for the winter season, and weakening control over improvement and cleaning work.” The minister received a warning that he will be fired if fails to shape up.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
Deputy Chairman of Turkmen Cotton State Concern Fired
President Berdymukhamedov fired deputy Chairman of the State Concern Turkmenpagta (Turkmen Cotton), Ashyrmyrat Cherkezov for improper performance of his official duties.
Source: trend.az
About 200 kilograms of drugs burnt in Turkmenistan
A routine drug burning action was held in Turkmenistan’s town of Kasamly dzhulge near Ashgabat. Over 193 kilograms of drugs, ceased by the Turkmen law enforcement agencies in a number of special operations, were burnt in the action. This is much less than in previous similar actions.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
Turkmenistan’s Car Owners Receive Free Gasoline and Diesel Fuel
The distribution of coupons for free-of-charge gasoline and diesel fuel for owners of cars and motorcycles for the first half of 2013 began in Turkmenistan. The practice of distributing free fuel began in Turkmenistan in 2008. Car owners receive 120 liters and motorcycle owners receive 40 liters of gasoline or diesel fuel per month.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
Presidential Fund for Young Scientists Established in Turkmenistan
Chairing a government meeting, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed a decree on the establishment of the Presidential Fund for Young Scientists. As the Turkmenistan.ru correspondent reports from Ashgabat, the Fund will be managed by the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
Environmental Performance Review of Turkmenistan reveals soil salinity, waterlogging, land degradation and biodiversity loss are top environmental challenges for the country
The Environmental Performance Review of Turkmenistan, performed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), takes stock of progress made by Turkmenistan since 2000 in 13 areas of importance to the country related to environmental policy making, implementation and financing, climate change, water, air quality, waste, energy, biodiversity conservation, forestry, land management and cooperation with other countries on the environment. While necessary actions were taken to address environmental issues, some challenges remain: the salinization of irrigated lands, desertification and biodiversity loss remain the most pressing challenges for Turkmenistan according to the review published this week.
Source: unece.org
President Went on Marathon
On December 29, President Berdymukhamedov went on a five-kilometer marathon, accompanied by his Vice-Premiers, Chairman of the Parliament, Heads of the military and law-enforcement bodies, heads of the regions and the mayor of Ashgabat. They went along the “Health Path” and continued on main Archabil Avenue, reported State Information Agency (TDH).
Source: gundogar.org
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