Turkmen officials deny women's rights are trampled, but evidence suggests otherwise. Iran is making overtures. This and more in this week's Akhal-Teke Bulletin.
Unlike in Arab nations that have relations with Israel, there is no strong domestic pressure in Azerbaijan to take a harder line against the Jewish state.
Ahmad Obali, a prominent proponent of Azerbaijani nationalism in Iran and virulent critic of the Islamic Republic, refused to speak about who might have attacked him.
Ashgabat wants Americans to fix the leaks, Iranians to buy fuel, and China to pay for pipelines. This and more in the latest edition of the Akhal-Teke Bulletin.
Local rights activists say hundreds of religious Shias have been arrested in recent weeks as pro-government media report on the arrests of "spies" and "traitors" working for neighboring Iran.
His outspoken criticism of Iran, and the timing coinciding with the opening of Azerbaijan's embassy in Israel led some fellow MPs to point the finger at Tehran.