turkmenistan weird laws
It is nearly incomprehensible that a desert place can produce melon, but some of the best melons in the world are grown in Turkmenistan. Its also one of the driest deserts in the world, with some areas recording only 0.005 inches (0.12mm) of precipitation annually. Unlike other Central Asian countries, Turkmenistan under Niyazov put emphasis on the country's sacrifice during the Second World War. Rasizade, Alec. On the afternoon of 21 December 2006, Turkmen state television announced that President Saparmurat Niyazov had died of a sudden heart attack in the early morning hours at around 01:10 local time at his residence, the Turkmenbashy Palace, age 66. Dubbed as the North Korea of Central Asia, Turkmenistan is ranked as one of the hardest countries to enter, with strict visa applications requiring assistance from tour agencies and a guide. To put this in perspective, 90 million visitors went to France, and 76 million visited the United States. In 1995, all 185 members voted for Turkmenistan to remain neutral and in celebrationof this, an olive branch was added to the flag. Google Maps. Copyright 2023 India Today Group. The city is heavily surveilled by police and so this ban is strongly enacted. This meant that anyone living in rural areas had to travel across the country to get medical care (which is vaguely the size of California). No less idiosyncratic than its architecture, Turkmenistan's laws are the stuff of laughter and legend. That is, you could register for a mortgage and half of it would be covered by the state. Since 1993, thanks to Niyazov`s initiatives, all Turkmen citizens have had free access to gas, water and electricity. He also made it mandatory to read the Ruhnama in schools, universities and governmental organizations, new governmental employees were tested on the book at job interviews and an exam on its teachings was a part of the driving test in Turkmenistan. In 2005, Nizayov flew to Moscow to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the war's end, and just days prior, he awarded Turkmen veterans of the war as well as Russian veterans on behalf of Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian veterans on behalf of Viktor Yushchenko. I check as often as I can. Photo:Getty Images. [38], I watched young dogs when I was young. Even the new job applicants in their interviews would be tested on the book. The Turkmen government closely controls what goes on in Turkmenistan's many theaters. The largest architectural constructed star in the world, a glass construction, which has a total area of 3,240 sq. Inside Central Asia. [37] In 2006 Turkmenistan set free 10,056 prisoners, including 253 foreign nationals from 11 countries. The new names came into effect with the introduction of a new labor law which stated that "the dates of professional holidays are specified by decrees of the President of Turkmenistan". ", Niyazov later announced that surveillance cameras were to be placed at all major streets and sites in Turkmenistan, an apparent precaution against future attempts. [29], In March 2004, 15,000 public health workers were dismissed including nurses, midwives, school health visitors and orderlies. 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. Smoking was prohibited in all public places and for all government employees. Newly issued Turkmenistani manat banknotes did not feature his portrait. The telpek is an ancient wears that has eluded the test of time to remain relevant. In 2013, seven years after Niyazov`s death, Ruhnama was finally removed from public schools in Turkmenistan. Outside of Hell`s Gate, the country has one of the weirdest sets of rules and living conditions for its people. In 2005 lip-syncing was banned at concerts. He outlawed opera, ballet, circuses and philharmonic orchestras in 2001 for being "decidedly unturkmen-like". Social laws, which mostly apply to women, are stern. Turkmenistan's media constantly doted on the president and helped build his cult of personality. The post was equivalent to that of president. [28] By 2005, there were 36,000 Internet users in Turkmenistan, representing 0.7% of the population. That's why you need to know about some of the weirdest laws that you might break completely by accident. Niyazov supported the Soviet coup attempt of 1991. The Turkmen people are descendents of the nomadic Oghuz tribe that moved into the region in the 7th century. "[9], Under his rule, Turkmenistan had the lowest life expectancy in Central Asia. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Fact Site is the number one source for the most interesting & random facts about animals, celebrities, food, films, games & so much more. Thereby, January was renamed as Turkmenbasy, meaning Leader of the Turkmen, February as Baydak after the Turkmen Flag, April as Gurbansoltan after his mother. Turkmenistan is one of the most censored countries. In his time, he was one of the world's most totalitarian, despotic and repressive dictators. In 1998 Niyazov closed the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan. The national anthem of Turkmenistan referred to him. 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". Turkmenistan, the small country in Central Asia, might be the world's strangest country when it comes to both architecture and the bizarre laws that the locals have to obey under the firm control of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the President of the country. In February 2004, he decreed that men should no longer wear long hair or beards because of the apparent association with, In March 2004, he fired doctors and gymnastics instructors and replaced them with military. 110,000 people died when a 7.3 magnitude earthquake rocked Ashgabat and the surrounding region. For foreign nationals this can result in a fine and deportation from the country. Pilov is the staple diet of the people of Turkmenistan. The following is reprinted from Uncle John's Curiously Compelling Bathroom Reader. You are asked questions from the book. Only white cars are allowed in the capital. During his time in office, he banned the act of lip syncing at public concerts as well as at public celebrations. A year later he declared himself Trkmenbay, meaning "Leader of all Turkmen". The geologists lit a fire imagining that it would burn for a couple of days. In 1948, one of the world's deadliest earthquakes struck Turkmenistan. One of the contentious laws outlaws gold teeth, opera, and spandex. From the United States, based in Berlin, world-bound. Niyazov and his wife, Muza Melnikova, who was of Russian and Jewish descent, had a son (Murat) and a daughter (Irina). Home Travel No Beards, No Spandex: Rules to Live By? * Most of these rules fell after the death of Saparmurat Niyazov in 2006 and the coming to power of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Gurbansoltan Eje was named in honor of Niyazov's mother, and Serdar ("leader" in Turkmen) referred to Niyazov himself. Niyazov made the second Sunday of August "Melon Day" in honor of. In his spare time, he loves to explore the world, drink coffee & attend trivia nights. [4], In 2005, Niyazov appointed Gurbanmyrat Ataew as Minister of Oil and Gas, succeeding Atamurad Berdyev.[19]. Enter Turkmenbashi. The worlds biggest indoor Ferris wheel at 47,6m at the Alem entertainment center in the south of Ashgabat. He was arrested after swearing on stage during a performance. Prior to being moved to the village, Niyazov's body lay in state in an open coffin in the presidential palace from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. At any time, you wont see tourists in high numbers in the country. We could go on all day about this amazing country in Asia. He was heavily critcised by the Muslim population, but none dared to do so openly. Spandex ban Another ban in the vein of "it's un-Turkmen." While the three-legged statue seemed to have enough grandeur on its own, what really drove the point home was a gold 39 foot statue at the top of the tower of - you guessed it - Niyazov himself. He renamed the town of Janga and city of Krasnovodsk after his nickname Trkmenbay, and renamed schools, airports, Ashgabat streets, and even a meteorite after himself and members of his family. This was a rule brought by President Saparmurat Niyazov who introduced subsidies for the people. You see, in Turkmenistan, everything submits to the will of the leader; The birds do not sing, the sun does not rise, and the wind does not blow without his consent. The autocrat even got the book launched in space, in August 2005, so that the book could conquer space as well. [10], Niyazov was born on 19 February 1940 in Gypjak (or Kipchak), just outside Ashgabat in the Turkmen SSR. Since achieving independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the country has only had two presidents. An unmarried woman cannot go skydiving on a Sunday. This bizarre law states that "Any person may possess any number of live frogs to use in frog-jumping contests, but if such a frog dies or is killed, it must be destroyed as soon as possible, and may not be eaten or otherwise used for any purpose." To be fair, this is another weird law that does make sense. In March 2005, he ordered the closure of all hospitals outside Ashgabat, stating that the sick should go to the capital for treatment. According to the 2017 World Press Freedom Index, Turkmenistan ranked is 178th out of 180 with only North Korea and Eritrea below it. Turkmenistan, a land-locked country, is the least densely populated countryinCentral Asia. We could talk all day about this amazing country in Asia. It was formerly known as Turkmenia. One of the most bizarre laws from the incumbent President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov is that you cannot have black cars in the capital city, Ashgabat. Niyazov was also once quoted as saying that God himself told him that anybody who will read the book will directly enter heaven. Dogs were banned from the capital because of their unattractive smell. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. After all, Berdymuhamedov is the initiator and inspiration of the new renaissance and global reforms; May God give him the strength and strength to carry a nation of 5.3 million Turkmen on his shoulders! You have accepted additional cookies. The Ferris wheel is 156 feet (47.60 m) tall, while its surrounding structure is 187 feet (57 m). It is so hard to legally get to the county that smuggling cartels are a better option for many. A year later, all hospitals outside of the capital were closed. Among the figures who were arrested/purged were former Foreign Ministers Boris yhmyradow and Batyr Berdiew, as well as Major Begench Beknazarov of the Turkmen Ground Forces and Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Serdar Charyyarov. You should carry a copy of the details page of your passport at all times. You have rejected additional cookies. What is strange is that the same rule as in Tajikistan still exists. America's Strangest 15 Laws. Saudi Arabia. 7. As a result, in 2005 Turkmenistan would downgrade its links with the Commonwealth of Independent States becoming only an associate member under article 8 of the CIS charter, as such it would not participate in any of the military structures of the CIS. Other laws were merely based on the whim of a president with full power and control. It was not amended or repealed by Berdymukhamedov. With that in mind, here is a complete travel guide to Turkmenistan to get you prepared and ready, with a few Turkmenistan facts and strange laws to go along with it. P.iva: 202474539 Although it's been burning all this time, its future may be limited. 3. The Darwaza Crater or The Hell's gate. Niyazov made a personal attempt to create a cultural background for the new state of Turkmenistan by writing and promoting the Ruhnama, an autobiography meant to guide the people of Turkmenistan with his ideas and promote native culture (and by extension prohibiting foreign culture). If you can't answer correctly, no driving license, sorry. Niyazov had two children, both of whom have maintained distance from politics after their father's death.[98]. It serves as a meeting point between East and West. It declared independence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It is cheaper to let the gas burn than spend money on matchboxes. We do know that bathing suits are not banned. Turkmenistanis right up there with North Korea as far as weird dictatorships are concerned. SUBSCRIBE for More Travel Videos: http://bit.ly/2hyQnZ1 Get My Top 100 Travel Pics FREE! A difficult visa process is one of the reasons behind the low numbers. The statue was designed to rotate so that sun would be shining on his likeness at all times of the day. There is no shortage of natural beauty and places to visit in Turkmenistan, but a shrewd visa regime hinders the growth of the tourism sector. It was captured by the Mongols who executed the entire population, apart from 400 artisans. The current president, Berdimuhamedow, ordered the removal of the statue in 2010. Gulnara Dzhumayeva, a politician with multiple portfolios in education, culture, health care and sports, reportedly told teachers that you don`t become Russian anyway [by lightening your hair]. Darwaza Crater, or Hell`s Gates as it is famous, is not a natural phenomenon, but the result of a natural gas drilling expedition gone horribly wrong. Previously, the government subsidized mortgages. He kindly sent her to his favorite dentist, the Minister of Health (now president), to have her gold teeth replaced with a white enamel set. Moreover, there is also a carpet on the national flag of Turkmenistan. As preferences go, we can't argue. For other people with the same surname, see, "Turkmenbasi" redirects here. September? (Seems just the order of things now): . According to some reports, he felt presenters should "appear natural" on-screen. In 2005, lip syncing was banned at concerts. Circus is also banned. On 21 June 1992 the Turkmenistani presidential election of 1992 featured Niyazov as the sole candidate, and chosen as the country's first popularly elected president. Sometimes, these laws border on the seriously ridiculous, and other times they point to important cultural values that might be different than your own. He introduced a new Turkmen alphabet based on the Latin alphabet to replace Cyrillic. [66] Niyazov claimed those who read it thrice were destined for heaven. Statues and portraits of him were put everywhere throughout the country. Former President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov. Under Niyazov, the Turkmen Communist Party had a reputation as one of the most hardline and unreformed party organizations in the Soviet Union. Today we are going to look at 20 facts about this little unknown country. However, if you have a legal issue with the video uploaded, please contact me first in order to resolve the problem quickly, swiftly and easily. On 13 January 1990, Niyazov became Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Turkmen SSR, the supreme legislative body in the republic. 17 Mind Blowing Facts About Mount Rushmore, 7 Conspiracies That Flat Earthers Believe Are True. Homosexuality is still very much disapproved of socially. However, the rule of no public smoking is enforced. At any time,. Drivers will be fined for splashing pedestrians with rainwater Image credit: @iarjunphotography Keep your passport separately in a safe place. He banned news reporters and presenters from wearing makeup on television. Despite emphasizing a need to move from central planning to a market economy and to a full democracy during his reign, neither plan progressed. 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 . Turkmenistan is among the world's least visited destinations. 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 desert landscape is the prominent feature in Turkmenistan. Even locals you talk to in Turkmenistan don`t know the site, although it remains the biggest attraction that attracts tourists to Turkmenistan. By Ella Morton. Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, View a printable version of the whole guide, About Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice. Weird laws in Florida. He made the book mandatory to be studied in schools, universities and government offices. That was more than 50 years ago and the fire is yet to be put out. He was a member of the influential Teke tribe of the Turkmens. [67][68][69] Like Kim Il-sung, there is even a creation myth surrounding him.