Turkmenistan Domestic Developments

Turkmenistan Sets Big Plans for Tourism Industry in 2013
Turkmenistan has set big plans for the tourism industry in 2013, including participation in several international exhibitions abroad, and organizing similar exhibitions and conferences at the Avaza resort on the Caspian Sea coast and in Ashgabat, according to the State Tourism Committee of Turkmenistan. The National Program for Development of Tourism Industry in Turkmenistan for 2012-2016 envisions the construction of new hotels, campgrounds, and resorts; further development of the Avaza resort; expanding partnership between Turkmenistan and the World Tourism Organization; developing motorways; and promoting the image of the country as a tourist destination.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru 

Turkmenistan’s Deputy Justice Minister Fired
President Berdymukhamedov expressed dissatisfaction with the work of the Justice Ministry and dismissed Deputy Justice Minister Begli Ballyev for “shortcomings in his work.” Ballyev has held his post since April 2011.
Source: trend.az 

President Berdymukhamedov Criticized Construction of North-South Transport Corridor
At a governmental meeting, President Berdymukhamedov criticized the construction of the international North-South transport corridor (i.e., the Kazakhstan – Turkmenistan – Iran international railway). He stressed the importance of this international project, which is designed to connect Europe and Asia ,and expressed his indignation to the Vice-Premier in charge of transport and communications, Rozymyrat Seitkulyev, for” improper organization of work of the transport complex, untimely performance of entrusted tasks, and lack of due control over construction of the railway.”
Source: Turkmenistan.ru 

President Berdymukhamedov Fired Director of Mary Power Station
President Berdymukhamedov fired the Director of Mary State Power Station, Almyrat Gurbangeldiev, for failure to perform his official duties and replaced him with Ovezdurdy Chashaev. Berdymukhamedov said that the work of the power station does not meet contemporary needs and is not functioning properly.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru 

Turkmenistan Chronicles Web-site Resumes its Work
The web-site Turkmenistan Chronicles, run by Turkmenistan Initiative for Human Rights, resumed its work after a severe Distributed Denial of Service attack on December 5. “Until recently we have intentionally restricted our activities to monitoring the human rights situation, publishing exclusive news from Turkmenistan, and defending the rights of select individuals. Even now, we are not going to become radicalized; we remain a non-partisan human rights organization. However, as a response to regular attacks and threats, we are expanding our information-related activities, launching cooperation with foreign reporters and experts and also providing support to peaceful civic initiatives inside Turkmenistan, at the request of activists and groups of Turkmen. From our side, we consider it to be a justified and adequate response to the actions of the hackers, hired by the Turkmen special services,” said Farid Tukhbatulin, Editor-in-chief of Turkmenistan Chronicles web-site.
Source: Turkmenistan Chronicles 

Turkmenistan Announced Media Freedom as State Policy Principle
Turkmenistan adopted its first law on mass media. “The State Guarantees mass media the freedom to express their opinion. Nobody can prevent or hinder mass media from disseminating information in the public interest, unless the law permits so,” says the government statement. Turkmen authorities announced that this principle will form the basis of Turkmenistan’s policy in the area of mass media. For the first time, Turkmenistan’s citizens received the right “to use any forms of mass media to express their opinions and beliefs,” and “to receive from mass media information regarding activities of state bodies, non-governmental organizations, and governmental officials.”
Source: gundogar.org 

Defiant RFE/RL Turkmen Reporter Wins Free Speech Award
Dovletmyrat Yazkuliyev, a correspondent for RFE/RL's Turkmen language service, received a 2012 Hellman/Hammett grant for his fearless reporting in Turkmenistan, one of the world's most closed societies. Yazkuliyev was recognized for his reporting, in defiance of an official information blackout, on an explosion in Abadan, near the capital of Ashgabat in July 2011 and its aftermath, including the government's failure to provide assistance to victims. In retaliation, security officials threatened him with criminal charges for "disseminating defamatory information" and "causing domestic unrest." He was later imprisoned on fabricated charges that he and other observers believe were further intended to impugn his character and silence him. He was released by presidential pardon in October 2011, although charges against him have not been dropped. Turkmenistan has the second-worst ranking in Freedom House’s 2012 Freedom of the Press report and has numbered among the "Worst of the Worst" countries for freedom overall in the monitoring group's surveys of the last several years.
Source: Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty