now known as the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, is the only one legally-permitted to operate out in the open. Political gatherings are deemed illegal unless government sanctioned. [edit] Human rights Main article: Human rights in Turkmenistan Human rights are generally not respected by many authorities in Turkmenistan, although some human rights are guaranteed in the Constitution of Turkmenistan, such as social equality, sex equality, freedom from cruel and unusual punishment, and freedom of movement. Other social and economic rights include the right to work, the right to rest, and the right to education. However, there are freedom of religion and freedom of sexuality issues. Any act of homosexuality in Turkmenistan is punishable by up to five years in prison. According to Forum 18, despite international pressure, the authorities keep a very close eye on all religious groups and the legal framework is so constrictive that many prefer to exist underground rather than to have to pass through all the official processes, which act as barriers.[citation needed] Protestant Christian adherents are affected[citation needed], in addition to groups such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Bahá'ís, and the followers of the Hare Krishna movement. The Hare Krishna followers are not allowed to seek donations at the country's main airport, Ashgabat. According to the 2007 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, Turkmenistan had the third-worst restrictions on the freedom of the press in the world. In addition, according to the BBC, the new president enforced a ban on satellite dishes, a measure often threatened under Niyazov, but never acted upon. [edit] Provinces and districts Main articles: Provinces of Turkmenistan and Districts of Turkmenistan Provinces of Turkmenistan Turkmenistan is divided into five provinces or welayatlar (singular - welayat) and one independent city: Division ISO 3166-2 Capital City Area (km²) Area (sq. mi) Pop (1995) Key Ashgabat Ashgabat 604,000 Ahal Province TM-A Annau 95,000 36,680 722,800 1 Balkan Province TM-B Balkanabat 138,000 53,280 424,700 2 Dasoguz Province TM-D Dasoguz 74,000 28,570 1,059,800 3 Lebap Province TM-L Turkmenabat 94,000 36,290 1,034,700 4 Mary Province TM-M Mary 87,000 33,590 1,146,800 5 [edit] Geography Map of Turkmenistan Main article: Geography of Turkmenistan At 188,457 mi² (488,100 km²), Turkmenistan is the world's 52nd-largest country. It is slightly smaller than Spain, and somewhat larger than the US state of California. The Caspian Sea at Türkmenbasy Over 80% of the country is covered by the Karakum Desert. The center of the country is dominated by the Turan Depression and the Karakum Desert. The Kopet Dag Range, along the southwestern border, reaches 2,912 meters (9,553 ft). The Turkmen Balkan Mountains in the far west and the Kugitang Range in the far east are the only other significant elevations. Rivers include the Amu Darya, the Murghab, and the Tejen. The climate mostly consists of an arid subtropical desert, with little rainfall. Winters are mild and dry, with most precipitation falling between January and May. The area of the country with the heaviest precipitation is the Kopet Dag range. The Turkmen shore along the Caspian Sea is 1768 km long. The Caspian Sea is entirely landlocked, with no access to the ocean. The major cities include Ashgabat, Türkmenbasy (formerly Krasnovodsk) and Dasoguz. [edit] Economy Main article: Economy of Turkmenistan Turkmenbashi Palace in Ashgabat Half of the country's irrigated land is planted with cotton, making the country the world's tenth-largest producer of it. It possesses the world's fifth-largest reserves of natural gas and substantial oil resources. In 1994, the Russian government's refusal to export Turkmen gas to hard currency markets and mounting debts of its major customers in the former Soviet Union for gas deliveries contributed to a sharp fall in industrial production and caused the budget to shift from a surplus to a slight deficit. Turkmenistan has taken a cautious approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to sustain its economy. In 2004, the unemployment rate was estimated to be 60%; the percentage of the population living below the poverty line was thought to be 58% a year earlier.[3] Privatization goals remain limited. Between 1998 and 2002, Turkmenistan suffered from the continued lack of adequate export routes for natural gas and from obligations on extensive short-term external debt. At the same time, however, the value of total exports has risen sharply because of increases in international oil and gas prices. Economic prospects in the near future are discouraging because of widespread internal poverty and the burden of foreign debt. A bazaar in Ashgabat President Niyazov spent much of the country's revenue on extensively renovating cities, Ashgabat in particular. Corruption watchdogs voiced particular concern over the management of Turkmenistan's currency reserves, most of which are held in off-budget funds such as the Foreign Exchange Reserve Fund in the Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt, according to a report released in April 2006 by London-based non-governmental organization Global Witness. According to the decree of the Peoples' Council of 14 August 2003,[4] electricity, natural gas, water and salt will be subsidized for citizens up to 2030; however, shortages are frequent. On September 5, 2006, after Turkmenistan threatened to cut off supplies, Russia agreed to raise the price it pays for Turkmen natural gas from $65 to $100 per 1,000 cubic meters. Two-thirds of Turkmen gas goes through the Russian state-owned Gazprom.[5] [edit] Demographics Main article: Demographics of Turkmenistan Further information: Islam in Turkmenistan Turkmen girl The majority of Turkmenistan's citizens are ethnic Turkmens who predominately adhere to Islam with sizeable minorities of Uzbeks and Russians. Smaller minorities include Kazakhs, Azeris, Persians, Balochis, Armenians, Koreans, and Tatars. A small number of Bukharian Jews used to live in Turkmenistan but almost none are left now. Turkmen is the official language of Turkmenistan, though Russian still is widely spoken in cities as a "language of inter-ethnic communication" (per the 1992 Constitution). [edit] Culture Main article: Culture of Turkmenistan Education is universal and mandatory through the secondary level, the total duration of which was earlier reduced from 10 to 9 years, with the new President it has been decreed that the 2007 - 2008 school year will be of 10 years as will all subsequent years.[citation needed] Akhal-Teke horse breed Yomut carpet Islam in Turkmenistan Merv Music of Turkmenistan [edit] Miscellaneous topics Central Asian Union Foreign relations of Turkmenistan Human rights in Turkmenistan List of Turkmen Military of Turkmenistan Scouting in Turkmenistan Transport in Turkmenistan Agriculture in Turkmenistan Geok-Tepe [edit] Further reading Bradt Travel Guide: Turkmenistan by Paul Brummell Historical Dictionary of Turkmenistan by Rafis Abazov Lonely Planet Guide: Central Asia by Paul Clammer, Michael Kohn and Bradley Mayhew The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia by Peter Hopkirk Tradition and Society in Turkmenistan: Gender, Oral Culture and Song by Carole Blackwell Tribal Nation: The Making of Soviet Turkmenistan by Adrienne Lynn Edgar Eastward to Tartary: Travels in the Balkans, the Middle East, and the Caucasus by Robert D. Kaplan Unknown Sands: Journeys Around the World's Most Isolated Country by John W. Kropf Rall, Ted. "Silk Road to Ruin: Is Central Asia the New Middle East?" New York: NBM Publishing, 2006. Theroux, Paul, "Letter from Turkmenistan, The Golden Man, Saparmyrat Nyyazow’s reign of insanity" New Yorker, May 28, 2007 [edit] References ^ Tribe, Class, and Nation in Turkmenistan, page 1 Tribal Nation: The Making of Soviet Turkmenistan ^ Turkmenistan Reduces Ties To ‘Associate Member' Radio Free Europe, August 29, 2005 ^ CIA World Factbook. U.S. government publication. Central Intelligence Agency (19 December 2006). Retrieved on December 21, 2006. ^ Resolution of Khalk Maslahati (Peoples' Council of Turkmenistan) N 35 (14.08.2003) ^ BBC NEWS | Business | Russia reaches Turkmen gas deal [edit] External links Find more about Turkmenistan on Wikipedia's sister projects: Dictionary definitions Textbooks Quotations Source texts Images and media News stories Learning resources Open Directory Project - Turkmenistan directory category Discover Turmenistan The Turkmenistan Project - weekly news and analysis in English and Russian CIA Factbook Official photo gallery from Turkmenistan and Ashgabat Largest Photo gallery of Turkmenistan and Ashgabat Photo Gallery from Turkmenistan (in German) Encyclopedia of the Nations All schools of Turkmenistan (Russian) BBC News country profile View Ashgabat, Dashoguz, and Mary on Google Earth Turkmenistan Music and Videos Turkmenistan-News Forum Chat. Search file Turkmenistan Turkmenistan Oil and Gas Information Turkmenistan Social Visit Turmenistan Turkmenistan Blogs Turkmen-English Dictionary Turkmenistan News   Geographic locale v • d • e Countries of Central Asia Afghanistan · Kazakhstan · Kyrgyzstan · Mongolia · Tajikistan · Turkmenistan · Uzbekistan v • d • e Countries of Asia Afghanistan · Armenia · Azerbaijan1 · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Bhutan · Brunei · Burma · Cambodia · China, People's Republic of · China, Republic of (Taiwan)2 · Cyprus · Egypt3 · Georgia1 · India · Indonesia4 · Iran · Iraq · Israel · Japan · Jordan · Kazakhstan1 · Korea, Democratic People's Republic of · Korea, Republic of · Kuwait · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Lebanon · Malaysia · Maldives · Mongolia · Nepal · Oman · Pakistan · Philippines · Qatar · Russia1 · Saudi Arabia · Singapore · Sri Lanka · Syria · Tajikistan · Thailand · Timor-Leste (East Timor)4 · Turkey1 · Turkmenistan · United Arab Emirates · Uzbekistan · Vietnam · Yemen3 For dependent and other territories, see Dependent territory. 1 Partly or significantly in Europe.  2 The Republic of China (Taiwan) is not officially recognized by the United Nations; see Political status of Taiwan. 3 Partly or significantly in Africa.  4 Partly or wholly reckoned in Oceania. v • d • e Countries bordering the Caspian Sea  Azerbaijan  ·    Iran  ·    Kazakhstan  ·    Russia  ·    Turkmenistan   International membership v • d • e Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Armenia  · Azerbaijan  · Belarus  · Georgia  · Kazakhstan  · Kyrgyzstan  · Moldova  · Russia  · Tajikistan  · Ukraine  · Uzbekistan Associate members: Turkmenistan v • d • e The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)  Members Afghanistan · Albania · Algeria · Azerbaijan · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Benin · Burkina Faso · Brunei · Cameroon · Chad · Comoros · Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Egypt · Gabon · Gambia · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Guyana · Indonesia · Iran · Iraq · Jordan · Kuwait · Kazakhstan · Kyrgyzstan · Lebanon · Libya · Maldives · Malaysia · Mali · Mauritania · Morocco · Mozambique · Niger · Nigeria · Oman · Pakistan · Palestine · Qatar · Saudi Arabia · Senegal · Sierra Leone · Somalia · Sudan · Suriname · Syria · Tajikistan · Turkey · Tunisia · Togo · Turkmenistan · Uganda · Uzbekistan · United Arab Emirates · Yemen Observers Countries and territories Bosnia and Herzegovina · Central African Republic · Russia · Thailand · Northern Cyprus (as Turkish Cypriot State) Muslim communities Moro National Liberation Front International organizations Economic Cooperation Organization · African Union · Arab League · Non-Aligned Movement · United Nations   Other associations v • d • e Turkic-speaking regions Federal subjects of Russia shown in italics Western Turkic  Azerbaijan1  Gagauzia (Moldova)  Kazakhstan  Iran Many localities/ counties/ provinces  Uzbekistan Eastern Turkic  Altai Republic  Tuva  Bashkortostan  Kabardino-Balkaria  Tatarstan  Xinjiang (China)  Khakassia  Chuvashia  Karachay-Cherkessia  Turkey  Kyrgyzstan  Northern Cyprus2  Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan)  Turkmenistan  Sakha Republic 1 Includes the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.    2 Recognized only by Turkey; see Cyprus dispute. v • d • e Modern Turkic states      Azerbaijan  Kazakhstan  Kyrgyzstan  Northern Cyprus1  Turkey  Turkmenistan  Uzbekistan 1 Recognized only by Turkey; see Cyprus dispute. v • d • e Turkmenistan in Turkic topics Turkic languages Afshar  · Äynu  · Altay  · Azerbaijani  · Baraba Tatar  · Bashkir  · Bulgar  · Chagatai  · Chulym  · Chuvash  · Crimean Tatar  · Cuman  · Dolgan  · Fuyü Gïrgïs  · Gagauz  · Hunnic  · Ili Turki  · Karachay-Balkar  · Karaim  · Karakalpak  · Kazakh  · Khakas  · Khalaj  · Khazar  · Khorasani Turkic  · Kipchak  · Krymchak  · Kyrgyz  · Kumyk  · Kypchak group  · Nogai  · Old Tatar  · Old Turkic  · Ottoman Turkish  · Pecheneg  · Qashqai  · Sakha  · Salar  · Shor  · Kazan Tatar  · Tofa  · Turkic Avar  · Turkish  · Turkmen  · Tuvan  · Urum  · Uyghur  · Uzbek Turkic peoples Altays  · Azerbaijanis  · Balkars  · Bashkirs  · Bulgars  · Chulyms  · Chuvashs  · Crimean Tatars  · Cumans  · Dolgans  · Gagauz  · Iraqi Turkmen  · Karachays  · Crimean Karaites  · Karakalpaks  · Karapapak  · Kazakhs  · Khakas  · Khazars  · Kimek  · Kipchaks  · Krymchaks  · Kumyks  · Kyrgyz · Meskhetian Turks  · Nagaybäk  · Nogais  · Oghuz Turks  · Qashqai  · Salar  · Syrian Turkmen  · Tatars  · Finnish Tatars  · Keräsen Tatars  · Lipka Tatars  · Siberian Tatars  · Volga Tatars  · Telengit  · Teleuts  · Tofalar  · Turkish Cypriots  · Turkish people  · Turkmens  · Tuvans  · Uyghur  · Uzbeks  · Yakuts  · Yörük  · Yugur Political issues History of the Turkic peoples  · Pan-Turkism  · Turanism  · Turkic languages Turkic states Azerbaijan · Kazakhstan  · Kyrgyzstan  · Northern Cyprus  · Turkey  · Turkmenistan  · Uzbekistan Auton. republics Altai Republic  · Bashkortostan  · Crimea  · Chuvashia  · Gagauzia  · Karakalpakstan  · Khakassia  · Nakhchivan  · Sakha Republic  · Tatarstan  · Tuva  · Xinjiang Turkic homeland Göktürks Turkic studies Old Turkic script  · Proto-Turkic language  · Turkic alphabets  · Turkology Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkmenistan" Categories: Caspian Sea countries | Turkmenistan | Modern Turkic states | Iranian Plateau | Russian-speaking countries and territoriesHidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | Articles with unsourced statements since November 2007 Views Article Discussion Edit this page History Personal tools Log in / create account if (window.isMSIE55) fixalpha(); 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