Turkmenistan Domestic Developments

Head of State Sports Committee Severely Reprimanded
President Berdymukhamedov severely reprimanded the Chairman of Turkmenistan's State Committee of Sports, Batyr Orazov, for “improper performance of official duties, poor management of entrusted institutions, and lack of control over the use of sports facilities.”
Source: Turkmenistan.ru

Turkmen Women to receive 14 USD for Women's Day
President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov signed a decree to present all women in Turkmenistan with 40 manats (about 14 USD) for Women's Day on his behalf.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru 

Turkmenistan Introduces 12-year Schooling
The academic year 2013 – 2014 will mark the beginning of the 12-year education cycle in Turkmenistan's schools. According to the presidential decree, the transition from ten-year to twelve-year schooling is designed to improve the quality of school education and bring it up to international standards. Under the new system, Turkmen children will begin school at age six and spend four years in primary school, six in secondary school, and conclude with two years in a selected course of study. Under Berdymukhammedov’s predecessor, Saparmurat Niyazov, Turkmen children went to school for just nine years.
Sources: Turkmenistan.ru, Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty  

Turkmenistan to Create State Agency for Intellectual Property
Turkmenistan is to establish a State Agency for Intellectual Property to “bring the national system of protection of intellectual property in line with the international standards, promote the introduction of scientific, technological and cultural achievements in development of state and society and guarantee the protection of intellectual property rights at the national and international level.”
Source: Turkmenistan.ru  

Turkmenistan State Migration Service Launched Official Website
The State Migration Service (SMS) of Turkmenistan has launched its official website - www.migration.gov.tm, which contains legal documents related to migration and describes procedures for obtaining biometric passports, invitations, visas, permits, citizenship, etc.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru  

Popular Turkmen Singers Released from Imprisonment
At the end of February two popular Turkmen singers, Maksat Kakabaev and Murad Ovezov were released from prison. They each served approximately two years of a seven and five-year sentence, respectively. Turkmen authorities detained Kakabaev and Ovezov on January 28, 2011 following their appearance on a Turkish satellite music channel. They were held for 15 days in administrative detention during which time they were verbally and physically abused. Following closed trials, the two men disappeared into custody. It had been reported that Mr. Kakabaev was sentenced to seven years in prison on charges related to a year-old dispute over a TV antenna with his neighbor. Mr. Ovezov was sentenced to five years in prison on charges related to a car accident. Given the suspicious timing of their arrests and the lengthy incongruous prison sentences, observers surmised that the true motivation for the arrests were the ideological overtones in the artists’ songs and their western-style appearance.
Source: freedom-now.org, Turkmenistan Chronicles 

Turkmen Parliament Passes Housing Code
The Turkmen Parliament approved and unanimously adopted a bill on a new housing code, according to the Turkmen Government. The main objectives of the Housing Code are to guarantee the constitutional right of citizens of Turkmenistan to state support in obtaining or purchasing comfortable accommodation; unhindered fulfillment of their housing rights; generating competition of services in the housing market; legal protection of housing and related rights and interests of parties to housing legal relations. In the unanimous opinion of members of the Mejlis [Turkmen Parliament], this law will promote the formation and development of the country’s housing market.
Sources: Turkmenistan.ru, trend.az  

State Residence to be Transformed Into Residential Building
In accordance with President Berdymukhammedov’s decree, one of the state residencies is to be transformed into a residential building for large families. Families with eight and more children will be given apartments for free.
Sources: Turkmenistan.ru, Turkmenistan Chronicles