here are a few of Turkmenbashi's laws and decrees: No lip syncing at public concerts (it has a negative effect on musical . The statue was designed to rotate so that sun would be shining on his likeness at all times of the day. One of outgoing President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov`s most bizarre laws is that you can`t have black cars in the capital, Ashgabat. In 1962, Niyazov started his political career, becoming a member of the Communist Party. [60][61], The summer of 2004 saw a leaflet campaign in the capital, Agabat, calling for the overthrow and trial of Niyazov. All Rights Reserved, 80 per cent desert and the life of Turkmen, As per the record, the city has 543 white marble buildings covering an area of 4.5 million square metres. 15. Not to mention that most of these records are, of course, thought of and executed by only - and we mean, really, only - Turkmenistan. Everything you need to know before traveling to Turkmenistan the strange country located in Central Asia. Although reliable numbers are not readily available, it is estimated that less than 15,000 people visit the country annually. 2023 The Fact Network Ltd | All Rights Reserved. Thankfully, because it's one of the weirdest laws around the world, we're guessing it never really has to be enforced. It is so hard to legally get to the county that smuggling cartels are a better option for many. There was outside concern about press freedom and to a lesser extent religious rights of minority religious groups. The good folks over at Olivet Nazarene University put together an infographic of some of the most outrageous, confusing and downright weird legislation instilled around our . Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, View a printable version of the whole guide, About Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice. * Most of these rules fell after the death of Saparmurat Niyazov in 2006 and the coming to power of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. No more than 2 packets of 20. Photo: IGOR SASIN / AFP Nice contribution. But Berdymuhamedov also passed bizarre laws. ONE OF THE LEAST VISITED COUNTRIES A complex visa regimen makes Turkmenistan one of the least visited countries in the world. In fact, taming of horses is one of the most respected jobs in the country. One of the drivers of the Aston Martin Tokyo-to-London team was fined $100 by the Turkmen highway militsia for smoking in his own car. We were so close to a visit when we were in this area in 2018, but we were a little nervous about Turkmenistan and Tajikistan and were also running out of time. It`s just one of those strange Turkmen rules that only seem to make sense to its leader. In his spare time, he loves to explore the world, drink coffee & attend trivia nights. [20][21] Nevertheless, Turkmenistan had an emergent period during which there was heavy investment in plant and machinery so the country could change from a producer of raw cotton to a cotton processor. Some historians believe that over one million people were killed. But if you`re looking for a place off the beaten path where few travelers have been before you, this is definitely the place for you. [57], On 25 November 2002, Niyazov's motorcade was fired upon at about 7 a.m. in downtown Ashgabat as he was traveling to his office from his official residence in Arshabil. He loves them so much that his office has only one prominent motif all over the furniture - yes, horses. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. So much white marble was used in Ashgabat that it holds the Guinness World Record for having the highest density of marble buildings. ", Niyazov later announced that surveillance cameras were to be placed at all major streets and sites in Turkmenistan, an apparent precaution against future attempts. But it's a highly secretive country that is often referred to as a . Always works out, somehow. The full independence of Turkmenistan was recognised by a UN General Assembly resolution "The permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan" of 12 December 1995. [59] Ethnic Russians in Turkmenistan were disproportionately targeted in the aftermath. Under the Decree of the Peoples council, on August 17, 2003, the population of Turkmenistan is entitled to subsided electricity, natural gas, water, and salt until 2030. The book is supposed to orbit earth for the next 150 years. ASHGABAT IN THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS, A picture of capital city Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. As for the reasoning behind the make-up ban, anyone's guess is as good as one another's apparently he believed that news reporter should look "natural". You can change your cookie settings at any time. But if you ask the same question to a Turkmen, he will firmly answer you: The plane is flying to Turkmenistan because the passengers have received visas, and Gurbanguly Mlikgulyewi, our wise guide and leader, has agreed to accept the plane on Turkmen land. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. [24], His father Atamyrat Nyazow's Red Army service was used to shape how the country celebrates Victory Day (9 May). President for life Saparmurat Niyazov implemented many laws during his reign, here are some of them: In February 2004, men were banned from wearing long hair or beards. The presidents passed other laws just because he had the power to do so; for example, he named the days of the week after his immediate family members. Turkmenistan under Turkmen Presidents Niyazov and Berdymuhamadov has experienced some crazy laws, and these here are the top 10 most unbelievable laws from Turkmenistan.Thanks for watching! Contact us. Actually, the President recently visited the site and drove doughtnuts around it! Feb 06, 2014 1:28 PM. President Berdymukhamedov had visited the site in 2010, and back then too he had asked for the closure of the site. The first, Niyazov, ruled for 15 years and called himself the "President for Life". Given that there is an abundance of natural gas in Turkmenistan, people never switch off the gas. In 2013, seven years after Niyazov`s death, Ruhnama was finally removed from public schools in Turkmenistan. Photo: Getty Images. Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan is often cited as one of the world's most deranged dictators. Among his actions after naming himself Turkmenbashi (Leader of All Ethnic Turkmen) and declaring himself president of Turkmenistan for life after the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991, Niyazov set out to create a new image for his country of five million by quite literally making it in his own image. No less idiosyncratic than its architecture, Turkmenistan's laws are the stuff of laughter and legend. It was not changed or repealed by Berdymukhamedov. Smoking is definitely allowed. Previously, the government subsidized mortgages. Under Niyazov, the Turkmen Communist Party had a reputation as one of the most hardline and unreformed party organizations in the Soviet Union. It is the second largest land-locked country in Central Asia next to Kazakhstan; andTurkmenistan'scapital and largest city, Ashgabat, sharesits southern border with Iran. However, many police are using the law and people's ignorance of the details to fine anyone with an extremely filthy car, even if the license plate can be seen just fine. Subsequent emergence of a fundamentally new compasses for society, politics and economics, the government has engaged in reforming the law and the legal system of the country. Constitution Constitution of Turkmenistan external link (University of Texas at Arlington) in English Executive President and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Judicial COURTS: Supreme Court Legislative PARLIAMENT: Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) FAOLEX: Turkmenistan external link (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) database of national laws and regulations on . BACKGROUNDTurkmenistan had been under the control of Russia for more than a . Speaking of cities, their capital city is bizarre and made out of marble Many buildings in Ashgabat are reminiscent of old Soviet blocks, except made of marble. Deserts and sand form the prominent part of the geography of the country today as it is home to Karakum desert. In 2005, lip syncing was banned at concerts. A Turkmen could easily leave the gas on so as not to waste a match in the light later! Fortunately, her diplomatic status saved her from fines and her car from the impound lot. Point to note: Turkmenistan has a record-setting inclination towards setting Guinness records and regularly invites folks from the record-keepers to make a note of the newest record set by the country. In keeping with the predominantly Islamic nature of Turkmen society, President Niyazov granted pardons each year on the Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Destiny) in the month of Ramadan. Dogs were banned from the capital due to their unappealing odor. Smoking was banned in all public places and for all government employees. Telpek, a large sheepskin hat worn by men is one of the signs of the nomadic tradition. The Ringling Brothers and Cirque du Soleil may yet have their day in the Turkmen sun. During his time in office, he banned the act of lip syncing at public concerts as well as at public celebrations. After Niyazov's death, his successor as president, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, began to remove some eccentric features of Niyazov's personality cult. In most countries, getting a driving license requires a fair understanding of driving. Niyazov was also once quoted as saying that God himself told him that anybody who will read the book will directly enter heaven. Turkmenistan's media constantly doted on the president and helped build his cult of personality. [64][65] Niyazov gave every citizen a watch with his portrait in its dial. Keep your passport separately in a safe place. Let the entire world know that there has never been a place for evil and violence on the blessed Turkmen soil. People say that subsidized mortgages are also available to teachers and doctors, but I couldn`t find a teacher who would confirm this to me. The melons of Turkmenistan are so sweet and revered that they are recognized by a national holiday. Turkmenistan is a sovereign state in Central Asia. Several places still bear his name, including the city of Turkmenbashy and the nearby town of Turkmenbashy, as well as several villages. Yearly plans set forth by the government and a centralised economy gave little indication of moving away from state-dominated economics, and the dictatorial nature of many of his decrees and his declaring himself "President for Life" gave little hope as to much progress in these two areas. It was not amended or repealed by Berdymukhamedov. Enjoy these Turkmenistan facts that don't seem true, but strangely, they are. Young cant grow beards, no black cars, a record-breaking fascination for setting world records are some of the weirdfacts about Turkmenistan. [78], Foreign news reports also claimed that Niyazov also suffered from ischemic heart disease and kidney failure due to being overweight and overindulgence of alcohol. Which brings us to our next point. Ok, this gets a bit confusing, so bear with us. Do you think you have seen all the strange laws of Turkmenistan? During the drilling, their equipment, including heavy machines fell into the crater, and natural gas began escaping. Turkmenistan has not participated in any United Nations peacekeeping missions. The autocratic ruler had declared himself as the President of Life and even wrote a book in 2001 called Ruhnama (The book of Soul). The capital city of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, resembles a blend of Pyongyang and Las Vegas due to its fountains, boulevards, statues, and white buildings. One foreigner we spoke to confirmed that she recently received a firm reprimand from a policeman in Ashgabat because her car was a bit dusty. Today we are going to look at 20 facts about this little unknown country. Via Emil Delavele 18 A Kids in Turkmenistan get to horse training centres at a young age to become horse trainers. Here, if you want a driving license, your skills with the steering wheel don't matter as much as your rote-learning of the Ruhnama. There is also a National Carpet Museum in Ashgabat with more than 1,000 carpets on display. This is my advice[55]. If you have video suggestions, leave them in the comments. You have accepted additional cookies. Niyazov introduced the practice of "Melon Day", a harvest festival celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of August; unlike some of his other creations, the celebration of "Melon Day" has continued after his death. If the imam or the cleric of the mosque refused to obey his orders, the mosque would be demolished. Some of the first strange laws that were introduced occurred under Turkmenistan`s first president, Saparmurat Niyazov. It's illegal to skateboard without a skateboarding license. Niyazov and his wife, Muza Melnikova, who was of Russian and Jewish descent, had a son (Murat) and a daughter (Irina). Luke Ward is the owner of The Fact Site. It is remarkable to imagine that millions of years ago the country was covered by a sea. That was switched to be named after Niyazov's mother. [25] Individually, Niyazov's father was awarded the honorary title of Hero of Turkmenistan in 1994 and in 2004, a division of the Turkmen Ground Forces was renamed after Atamyrat Nyazow. This wonderful land is with a lot of quirks, but it`s also a place you probably didn`t know much about before reading this article. Unlike other Central Asian countries, Turkmenistan under Niyazov put emphasis on the country's sacrifice during the Second World War. Turkmenistan has the second-largest oil reserves in the former Soviet Union, generating high revenue for the state. The Akhal-Teke horse also appears on the national emblem of Turkmenistan. About 70% of the state is covered by hot and dry climate including the expansive Karakum Desert. Last Updated on February 17, 2018 by Audrey Scott. Although the crater looks like a natural feature, it is a result of drilling by Soviet geologists in the early 1970s. It is against the law to smoke outside in Turkmenistan; this law extends to restaurants and other communal spaces (unless they contain a designated smoking area). In 2013, seven years after Niyazovs death, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov ordered the removal of Ruhnama from all public schools. Some Turkmen opposition sources also claim that Niyazov died several days before the officially announced date of 21 December. It was captured by the Mongols who executed the entire population, apart from 400 artisans. Not Turkmenistan. July 1983 officially saw the hottest day in Turkmenistan and the Soviet Union it was recorded at the Repetek Reserve at 122 F. Turkmenistan has the 6th largest oil and natural gas reserves in the world. To give you an idea of just how strange things get, the episode culminates in Oliver presenting a record-breaking marble . Home Travel No Beards, No Spandex: Rules to Live By? Up to 2014, this also included the vehicles. In 2012, the country had an average of 8,900 visitors annually, which makes it one of the least explored countries in Central Asia. He also took part in creating new holidays with a specific Turkmen nature and introduced a new Latin-based Turkmen alphabet to replace Russian Cyrillic. Photo: Getty Images. Photo:Getty Images. It's no wonder why Turkmenistan had the lowest life expectancy in all of Central Asia at the time. Why is he so memorable, you may ask? All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com, 10 Unique And Interesting Facts About Turkmenistan, 8 Interesting And Unique Facts About Somalia, 10 Interesting And Unique Facts About Samoa, 10 Interesting And Unique Facts About Botswana, 10 Unique And Interesting Facts About Uzbekistan. [4], In 2005, Niyazov appointed Gurbanmyrat Ataew as Minister of Oil and Gas, succeeding Atamurad Berdyev.[19]. Photo: Getty Images. A year later he declared himself Trkmenbay, meaning "Leader of all Turkmen". September? Here are 20 such weird facts about Turkmenistan: 1. The geologists lit a fire imagining that it would burn for a couple of days.
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