President Berdymukhamedov Fired Head of Equine Association
In a televised government meeting February 18, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov fired the head of the national state equine association, accusing him of a complete failure to develop the industry. Over the period of Allanur Oraznazarov’s tenure at Turkmen Atlary (“Turkmen Horses”), the number of animals in state stables has consistently fallen, the President said. “The equine sport complexes built in the provinces are totally empty, there are no events taking place there,” Berdymukhamedov complained, while also criticizing the quality of work in horse-rearing facilities, the poor standard of veterinary medicine, treatment and specialists. “That’s why our horse-breeders can’t take part in competitions abroad,” he said. Berdymukhamedov also reprimanded Annageldi Yazmyradov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture.
Sources: eurasianet.org, Turkmenistan.ru
Turkmen Authorities Demolish Homes Near Presidential Stables
In January, in the south-eastern suburbs of Ashgabat, the authorities began demolishing private homes regardless of whether owners had documents indicating their ownership. The authorities are removing homes located near the presidential stables. According to some observers, the President does not like the look of the houses and does not want to see them while riding his horses. Some also believe that the presidential security service thinks it is unsafe to have residential houses in proximity of a place they need to guard with particular care.
Source: Turkmenistan Chronicles
General Prosecutor's Office Inspects State TV Committee
In January, President Berdymukhamedov fired the Chairman of the State TV and Radio Committee, Shadurdy Alolov, for “failure to perform his obligations." According to information received by the Turkmenistan Human Rights Initiative, Alolov was denied future employment in positions involving financial authority, which is normally a restriction applied to officials found guilty of bribery. The General Prosecutor’s Office has been inspecting the work of the State TV and Radio Committee for several months now. Shortly before Alalov’s dismissal, the President also fired the main accountant of the Committee, Shacenem Soltanmuradova. According to some reports, she was arrested but later released. While there are not yet any official charges against Alalov or Soltanmuradova, investigators have reported that they have caused damages at approximately US$1 million.
Source: Turkmenistan Chronicles
Turkmen Officials Take Bribes
At the end of January, officers of the Ashgabat mayor’s office raided private businesses, “inviting” these businesses to wire money to the mayor’s office to purchase school athletic uniforms. They requested between one and three thousand USD. They threatened those who dared to refuse with state inspections and terminations of leases on their offices, warehouses, and production facilities. Accustomed to this kind of extortion, almost all paid. Later it was revealed that the authorities also requested schoolchildren to pay for the same uniforms.
Source: Turkmenistan Chronicles
Turkmen Authorities Cut Trees and Replant Them
Last week, Turkmen mass media reported that three million trees will be planted in Turkmenistan this year in accordance with the President’s decree. Last November the authorities cut down trees and bushes all over Ashgabat depriving people of much needed shade in the summer. Turkmenistan Human Rights Initiative published several photographs showing areas with no greenery and only tree stumps remaining.
Source: Turkmenistan Chronicles
Underground Tunnels Discovered under Amu Darya River
Construction workers working on a bridge over the Amu Darya River between the cities of Atamurat and Kerkichi in Turkmenistan, for the Ukrainian construction company Altcom, recently discovered underground tunnels. According to preliminary estimates, the tunnels were built about five centuries ago. “We found four tunnels, four-by-four meters in size. It is assumed that this was a transit corridor for laden camels. The tunnels are located four-to-five meters below the bottom of the river. They used to connect the two mountains on the right and left banks, and they had defense facilities inside,” said the director of the company.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
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