Turkmenistan’s authoritarian President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has cemented his rule in the Central Asian state, winning a new five-year term with more than 97 percent of the vote. The 54-year-old incumbent also serves as prime minister, commander of the armed forces and head of the only political party in the former Soviet republic. He swept to […]
Turkmenistan’s Ruler Wins 97% Vote for New Term
Posted February 13th, 2012 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
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Turkmenistan Holds Presidential Election
Posted February 12th, 2012 at 12:40 am (UTC-5)
Voters in Turkmenistan headed to the polls Sunday in an election that is expected to re-elect President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. The 54-year-old is president, prime minister, commander of the armed forces and head of the only political party in the former Soviet republic, which borders Iran and Afghanistan. Analysts say Mr. Berdymukhamedov is most likely assured […]
Turkmenistan to Pump More Gas to China
Posted November 23rd, 2011 at 5:00 am (UTC-5)
China’s energy hungry economy is about to get a big boost from a growing Central Asian republic. Chinese officials confirmed Wednesday Turkmenistan has agreed to boost its natural gas shipments to China by more than 60 percent a year. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov is in Beijing for a series of meetings with top Chinese officials, […]
Turkmenistan Jails 10 Central Bank Employees in Rare Open Trial
Posted July 29th, 2011 at 3:15 pm (UTC-5)
Turkmenistan has sentenced 10 central bank employees, including several senior bank officials, to jail terms of up to 15 years after they were convicted of corruption in an open trial. The verdicts for the 10 were broadcast on state television. They were found guilty of extorting construction project bribes worth nearly $5 million. It is […]
Turkmenistan Says Fireworks Blast Killed 15; Opposition Says Hundreds Dead
Posted July 10th, 2011 at 7:40 pm (UTC-5)
Officials in Turkmenistan say an explosion at a fireworks warehouse near the capital, Ashgabat, last week killed 15 people, but the opposition and Russian media say hundreds are dead. After days of official silence, the Turkmen government said unusually hot weather triggered the blast in the town of Abadan, killing 13 civilians and two soldiers. […]
Turkmenistan Blasts Damage Town, Cause Remains Unclear
Posted July 8th, 2011 at 2:10 pm (UTC-5)
Reporters for Western news agencies in Turkmenistan say a series of explosions that shook a town near the capital, Ashgabat, caused heavy damage to residential areas. The journalists who visited the town of Abadan on Friday reported seeing streets covered in debris and houses and apartment blocks with smashed windows. Authorities had ordered residents to […]
Blasts Hit Turkmenistan Town, Evacuation Ordered
Posted July 7th, 2011 at 6:35 pm (UTC-5)
Authorities in a town near the capital of Turkmenistan have ordered residents to evacuate after a series of explosions shook the area. There were conflicting reports of casualties and the location of the blasts in Abadan, about 20 kilometers west of the capital, Ashgabat. Authorities say the explosions took place at a fireworks warehouse and […]
