Turkmelia Escalates Mega-Egomania: New Heights of Autocratic Excess Reached
In Turkmenistan, the country's paramount leader, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, has established a towering public persona. Known for constructing golden monuments of himself in the capital Ashgabat, demanding subservience from his officials, and publicizing his exploits through videos, Berdymukhamedov has now reinforced this image with legal measures.
Starting from the beginning of the year, any attempt to deface or disrespect his image or that of his son, Serdar, who holds the nominal presidency, in printed matter published within Turkmenistan, has become a criminal act.
Given the tight state control on media in Turkmenistan, periodicals already struggle with readability due to the abundance of images glorifying Berdymukhamedov and his son. It is common for government employees and students to be required to subscribe to state-controlled newspapers and periodicals. Under the recent directive, which went into effect in January, anyone found using a newspaper for a purpose other than reading is susceptible to punishment.
However, newspapers seldom serve as reading material for many Turkmen citizens, who often find other practical uses for them, such as lining shoes or using them as toilet paper due to low income levels. Authorities are considering adding QR codes to each newspaper page to facilitate tracking potential offenders.
A Turkmen bureaucrat, fearing retribution and remaining anonymous, expressed concern about the new directive, stating, "We are afraid to let children touch newspapers at home. If a child accidentally tears or discards a picture of the president, it could cost us our job."
While Berdymukhamedov continues to solidify his and his son's images, Turkmen citizens are grappling with the consequences. A World Bank report published on January 27 indicated that Turkmenistan is currently the sole former Soviet country with a double-digit rate of Severe Food Insecurity. The tight control over the media and harsh penalties for dissent have significantly contributed to the overall repression and stifling of critical discourse in the country.
- In the realm of education and self-development, it might be challenging for individuals in Turkmenistan to access critical news, given the monopolized media environment.
- Despite the government's efforts to reinforce Berdymukhamedov's image through legal measures, the general population faces issues beyond political propaganda, such as severe food insecurity, as indicated by a recent World Bank report.
- As new policies and legislation stemming from political ambition take center stage, concerns about crime and justice remain unaddressed, with a significant portion of the population living in food insecurity.
- In the face of tight state control on media, learning about general news, including weather, war, and conflicts, can become a challenge in Turkmenistan.
- The recent directive in Turkmenistan, which criminalizes the misuse of newspapers containing images of Berdymukhamedov and his son, could potentially hinder career development opportunities for government employees and students who depend on the newspapers for alternative uses.
- The irony persists as Turkmen citizens struggle with food insecurity and other pressing issues while the political leadership focuses on reinforcing their image through aggressive policies and legislation.
