Turkmenistan - Micah W

 I would like to talk about Turkmenistan as it is rarely mentioned. You often hear about North Korea, a country that you don't visit or leave. But what if I told you there was another country with the exact same situation? Turkmenistan is a central Asian country known for its large gas reserves. They also have a horrible human rights record.  The situation for the people of Turkmenistan is so bad that it prompted Human Rights Watch to write, "Turkmenistan is one of the world’s most isolated and oppressively governed countries. All aspects of public life are controlled by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and his associates." No religious or political expression is allowed in the country whatsoever. Information is strictly controlled and no independent monitoring groups are allowed in the country. Those who fail to abide by those rules are allegedly in Turkmen prison. The OSCE (The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) said that the 2018 parliamentary elections, "Lacked important prerequisites of a genuinely democratic election process.” The election campaign was barely visible. All candidates aligned themselves with Berdymukhamedov’s policies." Foreign media barely has any access to the country and swift and strict retaliation is given to those who provide information to outside medias. All internet is government controlled, and in February, President Berdymukhamedov met with an unnamed German technology company to discuss how to block mobile and satellite communications and internet access. In May, an outspoken opposer of Mr. Berdymukhamedov was released from his 3 year prison sentence on false narcotics charges. Additionally there were reports that, "RFE/RL reporter, Soltan Achilova, who has been assaulted numerous times in previous years, was attacked on multiple occasions. In May, plainclothed security agents threatened her and blocked her access to a public memorial event, which she had sought to photograph. In June, two men punched Achilova when she was visiting relatives in Yoloten, knocking her over and injuring her. On the same day, the police seized her relatives’ car, saying that they would not return it until Achilova left for Ashgabat. The car was returned two days after Achilova left." Overall, Turkmenistan must be condemned by countries and have consequences for their regime of terror which the Turkmen people are subjected to.