Turkmenistan (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised Jan. 12, 2023 |
| Report Number |
IF10303 |
| Report Type |
In Focus |
| Authors |
Christopher T. Mann; Gabriel M. Nelson; Bolko J. Skorupski |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
Government: Turkmenistan defines itself as a secular
democracy and a presidential republic, but power is
concentrated in the hands of President Gurbanguly
Berdymukhamedov, who effectively rules by decree. The
legislature (the Mejlis) routinely supports presidential
decrees and rarely displays legislative independence.
History: Turkic language-speaking tribes (from which
modern Turkmen people are descended) have inhabited the
eastern Caspian region since at least the Middle Ages. In
the mid-1800s, the area was invaded by Russian armies and
later became a Soviet republic. The country gained
independence with the dissolution of the Soviet Union at
the end of 1991 and the former republic’s president and
head of the Turkmen Communist Party (Saparmurad
Niyazov) was elected president in an uncontested race in
1992. A referendum held in 1994 extended his term until
2002 and amendments to the constitution in 1999
proclaimed him president for life. Niyazov, known as “The
Father of Turkmens,” was an autocratic ruler who created a
cult of personality around himself, isolated the country, and
suppressed dissent.
Contemporary Period: Following Niyazov’s unexpected
death in December 2006, President Berdymukhamedov was
elected in early 2007. He was re-elected in 2012 to a second
five-year term, reportedly with 97.1% of the vote. At the
beginning of his presidency, Berdymukhamedov undertook
some modest reforms, such as allowing multiple political
parties and working to restore relations with neighboring
countries. However, Turkmenistan’s political environment
is still neither diverse nor competitive, and
Berdymukhamedov appears to be creating a cult of
personality as did Niyazov. In its 2015 Human Rights
Report, the Department of State cited ongoing problems
including arbitrary arrest, torture, and restricted freedom of
religion, speech, press, assembly, and movement.
