During the drilling, their equipment, including heavy machines fell into the crater, and natural gas began escaping. Newly issued Turkmenistani manat banknotes did not feature his portrait. Niyazov ordered that all mountains and places in Turkmenistan be named after Turkmen heroes, poets and leaders. Niyazov himself had short hair and was clean shaven. President of Turkmenistan - Wikipedia 7) Thou shalt not name thy children strangely. This one's true. The following is reprinted from Uncle John's Curiously Compelling Bathroom Reader. Thankfully, because it's one of the weirdest laws around the world, we're guessing it never really has to be enforced. 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. 5. [citation needed], Niyazov became president at the transition of Turkmenistan from a Soviet republic to an independent state. Niyazov was also once quoted as saying that God himself told him that anybody who will read the book will directly enter heaven. However, Saparmurat Niyazov has remained a celebrated figure in Turkmenistan. This Central Asian country between Kazakhstan, Iran, and a huge desert, has been ruled by a dictator for 15 years with some truly bizarre laws. In 2005 lip-syncing was banned at concerts. 15. President Berdymukhamedov is obsessed with Akhal-Teke horses. 20. Berdymuhamedov`s 100-foot tribute to cycling. 50 Craziest Laws in the United States - ContactSenators 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). Currently, there are following codes: Civil Code of Turkmenistan. 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. Drivers we spoke to from the Ice Cream Adventure Van said they were given only one piece of advice from the Mongol Rally organizers before they departed London for Ulaan Baatar: Do not leave your car in Turkmenistan. Young cant grow beards, no black cars, a record-breaking fascination for setting world records are some of the weirdfacts about Turkmenistan. Keep your passport separately in a safe place. To put this in perspective, 90 million visitors went to France, and 76 million visited the United States. The country stands as one of the most repressed countries of the world, with a one-party government and President Berdymukhamedov's dictatorship style of working. Some of his creations remain unchanged, including the celebration of Melon Day. There are no laws in Turkmenistan; There is only the will of the Fhrer. He banned the reporting and even mentioning of. One of the contentious laws outlaws gold teeth, opera, and spandex. John Oliver's deep dive into the president of Turkmenistan - Mashable Turkmenistan Weird Laws - inled.info For this reason, there are also a number of car washes on the outskirts of the city so that people can have their cars cleaned before entering the city. But one accidental point of sight-seeing, the Darwaza Crater or the Hells Gate makes Turkmenistan a centreof attraction (we will come to the tourists' part in a bit though). [64][65] Niyazov gave every citizen a watch with his portrait in its dial. On 13 January 1990, Niyazov became Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Turkmen SSR, the supreme legislative body in the republic. He banned news reporters and presenters from wearing makeup on television. Niyazov continued the old practice of demanding yearly quotas in agricultural output, and then blaming and/or sacking deputy ministers when quotas were not met. [citation needed], Niyazov became a substitute for the vacuum left by the downfall of the communist system, with his image replacing those of Marx and Lenin. Interesting Histories: Saparmurat Niyazov The Real General - Medium 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. As per the record, the city has 543 white marble buildings covering an area of 4.5 million square metres(with no one living in them, by the way). While Saudi Arabia has recently took down their curtains and huddled with the rest of the world, the country is still deeply rooted in laws that stemmed from religion and tradition. It was reopened in 2009 after his death, by his successor Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. 19. An unmarried woman cannot go skydiving on a Sunday. [58] Critics claim the government staged the attempt in order to crack down on mounting domestic and foreign political opposition. Last Updated on February 17, 2018 by Audrey Scott. In 2006 the European Commission and the international trade committee of the European Parliament voted to grant Turkmenistan "most favoured nation" trading status with the European Union, widely seen as motivated by interest in natural gas, after Niyazov announced he would enter a "human rights dialogue" with the EU. Although the crater looks like a natural feature, it is a result of drilling by Soviet geologists in the early 1970s. While these laws are certainly strange, they don`t detract from Turkmenistan`s interesting history as a historic stopover along the Silk Road nor from the hospitality and warmth of the people who live there. According to a law made in 1924, it is illegal for donkeys to sleep in bathtubs. 16. You are asked questions from the book. 15 Weird and Crazy Laws Around the World Under Niyazov, the Turkmen Communist Party had a reputation as one of the most hardline and unreformed party organizations in the Soviet Union. 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. It is illegal to sing while wearing a bathing suit. He then studied at the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute, where in 1967 he received a diploma as an electrical engineer. [94][95] Displaying and keeping the book alongside the Quran in mosques were also stopped, except in Trkmenbay Ruhy Mosque. Missionary is the only legal sexual position. For example: no opera, gold teeth or spandex. By Author Christian L. Posted on Published: December 22, 2021 - Last . Turkmenistan, since 1991, was ruled by President Saparmurat Niyazov until December 20, 2006, when he died of a heart attack. More than 100 countries later, we are still goingand still married. Berdimuhamedow also trimmed official references to Niyazov's biographical book, Ruhnama, in Spring 2007, and around 2009-10, television broadcasts of Ruhnama stopped. In his time, he was one of the world's most totalitarian, despotic and repressive dictators. That was more than 50 years ago and the fire is yet to be put out. You have rejected additional cookies. At any time,. Writer, speaker, storyteller and consultant. Turkmenistan's media constantly doted on the president and helped build his cult of personality. One of outgoing President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov`s most bizarre laws is that you can`t have black cars in the capital, Ashgabat. Ashgabat holds the Guinness World Record for the most public pools in a single place. It declared independence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. He gained this post after Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev had removed his predecessor, Muhammetnazar Gapurov, following a cotton-related scandal. Although it's been burning all this time, its future may be limited. Despite emphasizing a need to move from central planning to a market economy and to a full democracy during his reign, neither plan progressed. The Darwaza Crater or The Hell's gate. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Turkmenistan weird laws "Perhaps we have enough for a ring," he pondered, "or maybe earrings. ft.) which is also the Turkmenistan Broadcasting Center tower. 10 Unique And Interesting Facts About Turkmenistan It was formerly known as Turkmenia. The post was equivalent to that of president. Pilaf, the staple diet of Turkmenistan. Male homosexual activity is illegal, punishable by a custodial sentence. Strange weird snapshot photo wild hula dances wild beach holiday - eBay The president of Turkmenistan (Turkmen: Trkmenistany prezidenti), officially the president and chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, is the head of state and head of government of Turkmenistan.The president is also the supreme commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan and heads the State Security Council.. Serdar Berdimuhamedow is the current president of . Those of you whose teeth have fallen out did not chew on bones. Be nice, don't steal. It was not amended or repealed by Berdymukhamedov. Photo: Narendra Modi Youtube Channel. Someone, at some point, did something so nutty that people felt compelled to make it illegal. From dictators who make strange laws to fires that can`t be extinguished, Turkmenistan is a pretty bizarre place. Even the new job applicants in their interviews would be tested on the book. [10], Niyazov was born on 19 February 1940 in Gypjak (or Kipchak), just outside Ashgabat in the Turkmen SSR. THE ONLY NEUTRAL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, Indian PM Narendra Modi met Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov in July 2015. As usual when I can't decide, I choose both. The Karakum Desert, or Black Sand in the Turkic languages, occupies 70% of Turkmenistan, or 135,135 square miles (350,000 km). He was heavily critcised by the Muslim population, but none dared to do so openly. You can import up to a maximum of 1.5 litres of alcohol. In fact, taming of horses is one of the most respected jobs in the country. Yes, you read that correctly. A picture of the Hell's Gate or the Darwaza Crater. Melons of Turkmenistan are famous all throughout the region. No, that's "Leader of Turkmen" month. He made the book mandatory to be studied in schools, universities and government offices. ", OpenStreetMap Wiki:Districts in Turkmenistan, : " " - . Keep it Legal: China's 10 Strangest Rules and Laws - eChinacities.com 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. In the year 2002, Niyazov decided that every day of the month and week would be renamed after his family members. Who knows what opportunities may knock with the passing of Turkmenbashi. 40 Weird Laws in the U.S | Far & Wide - farandwide.com 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. The Darvaza Gas Craters, or Gates to Hell as the locals know it, is a 226 feet (60 m) wide and 98 feet (30 m) deep crater that has huge deposits of oil and natural gas. 50 Weird Laws in the US You Won't Believe Are Real To give you an idea of just how strange things get, the episode culminates in Oliver presenting a record-breaking marble . 20 Terrific Facts About Turkmenistan - The Fact Site Carpets hold such prominence in Turkmenistan that there is a Ministry of Carpet in the government. Students of all levels must adhere to a strict dress code. For foreign nationals this can result in a fine and deportation from the country. [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. The 47 Weirdest Laws from Around the World Best Life Nearly half a century later, the fire is still burning. Check the full list here. The Turkmen Supreme Soviet declared Turkmenistan independent and appointed Niyazov as the country's first president on 27 October 1991. Everything you need to know before traveling to Turkmenistan the strange country located in Central Asia. Saparmurat Niyazov was the President of Turkmenistan from 1991-2006. From 1925-1991, it was part of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. Top 15 Strangest Laws in the United States - Zippia 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. One of the many weird rules framed by Niyazov in 2004 was that young men were barred from having beard or long hair. The Turkmen Embassy in Moscow later confirmed this report. "Eavesdropping" on your own conversations is a Class 4 felony punishable by up to three years in state prison in Illinois. [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. When I mention Turkmenistan, often people look at me with a confused stare and then ask what it is a place, a city, what? Sofia, Bulgaria, Tel: 00359 32585000 Saparmyrat Ataewi Nyazow or Turkmenbashi [wiki] (1940 - 2006)After the USSR broke up in 1991, the Soviet Republic of Turkmenistan became an independent nation but had no identity of its own. However, as of 2019 it still hasn't been. Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan is often cited as one of the world's most deranged dictators. The President of Turkmenistan visited the site in 2010 and ordered it to be filled in. Seychelles, Sierra Leone . https://bit.ly/3Fsk0qoHave you ever heard of ASHGABAT, TURKMENIS. In March 2005, he ordered the closure of all hospitals outside Ashgabat, stating that the sick should go to the capital for treatment. Photo: Getty Images. In May 2000, the government revoked all Internet licenses except for the state-owned Turkmen Telecom and in June 2001 shut down all Internet cafs. This further meant that opposition to Niyazov was strictly forbidden and major opposition figures have been imprisoned, institutionalized, deported, or they have fled the country, and their family members are routinely harassed by the authorities. This is my advice[55]. However, the rule of no public smoking is enforced. 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. Only men over 70 years old could keep a beard. During the second Sunday of August every year, every person in the country is advised to eat melons grown in the country. The land of Turkmenistan is 80 per cent desert and the life of Turkmen(citizens of Turkmenistan) is mostly nomadic. What is strange is that the same rule as in Tajikistan still exists. [4], In 2005, Niyazov appointed Gurbanmyrat Ataew as Minister of Oil and Gas, succeeding Atamurad Berdyev.[19]. The largest architectural constructed star in the world, a glass construction, which has a total area of 3,240 sq. Friday was renamed after her, too. Now, these subsidies are only given to a certain group of government employees, such as those who work in the oil and gas industry. 3. President for Life, Saparmurat Niyazov implemented many laws throughout his reign, here are just a few: In February 2004 men were banned from having long hair or beards. Photo:Getty Images. 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. In January 2018, the president banned black vehicles in the city because he associates black with bad luck. ", "Turkmen Government Removes Ruhnama as Required Subject | Eurasianet", "Turkmenistan Is Finally Putting the 'Ruhnama' Behind Them", "Education in Turkmenistan Under the Second President: Genuine Reforms or Make Believe? Originally from the U.S. Daniel has lived abroad since 2001 and most recently has been on the road since 2006. Niyazov promoted a policy of strict neutrality in foreign affairs, refraining from seeking membership in NATO or GUAM and almost ignoring the CSTO. Gold Statue of Former Turkmenistan President Saparmurat Niyazov. Turkmenistan is a sovereign state in Central Asia. The 10 Most Unbelievable Laws in Turkmenistan - YouTube Dictatorships aren't exactly known for their reasonable laws. The 10 Most Unbelievable Laws in Turkmenistan - YouTube However, President Berdymukhamedov is now planning to close Hell's Gateciting negative effects on the environment. 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. About 70% of the state is covered by hot and dry climate including the expansive Karakum Desert. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming First Secretary of the Ashgabat City Committee,[15] and First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Turkmen SSR in 1985. It is made in compounds of rice with chunks of meat, carrot, and spices, fried in a large pan or a cauldron. [72] A silhouette of Niyazov was used as a logo on television broadcasts. 10 Countries With The Strictest Laws In The World Inside Central Asia. Why is he so memorable, you may ask? The following year, in 2014, the current president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, declared that all Turkmen universities would no longer test their students for their knowledge of Ruhnama.It that the strange laws in Turkmenistan would end. 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. As a result, even today, people are still not used to saving electricity, water or gas. He was first secretary of the Turkmen Communist Party from 1985 until 1991 and supported the 1991 . This ghastly looking grater covers an area of more than 5,000 km, and was intentionally set on fire back in the early '70s when the Soviet government thought that there was oil to be discovered underneath. In Turkmenbashi`s time, utility prices were so low that bills for these services arrived every year.
Panic Attack After Pfizer Vaccine,
Is Tammy Blanchard Deaf,
South Shore Plaza Shooting Today,
Baudelaire In Praise Of Cosmetics,
Articles T