turkmenistan weird laws turkmenistan weird laws

However, next time you're trying to remember how to distinguish Turkmenistan, just think of these strange yet riveting facts about the country. This one's true. During his reign, which ended in 2006, he cultivated a cult of personality, and did many things in his time that were questionable to say the least. Transfixed in Turkmenistan: so fitting. Turkmenbashi inhaled. A Turkmen could easily leave the gas on so as not to waste a match in the light later! It's not like Turkmen women have a propensity to wear spandex anyway. Spandex ban Another ban in the vein of "it's un-Turkmen." Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. A year later he declared himself Trkmenbay, meaning "Leader of all Turkmen". The city is heavily surveilled by police and so this ban is strongly enacted. The locals were ordered to recite Ruhnama every day. The land of Turkmenistan is 80 per cent desert and the life of Turkmen(citizens of Turkmenistan) is mostly nomadic. Turkmen State University even had a "Department of the Holy Ruhnama of Turkmenbashy, the Great", and Ruhnama Studies were pursued as a major research agenda in the country, often at the cost of academic disciplines. [37] In 2006 Turkmenistan set free 10,056 prisoners, including 253 foreign nationals from 11 countries. He continued to rule Turkmenistan for 15 years after independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Cars that are not white are forbidden from the streets of Ashgabat, the non-white vehicles taken from the owners as hostages and forcibly painted white no matter what. The post was equivalent to that of president. In 2012, the country had an average of 8,900 visitors annually, which makes it one of the least explored countries in Central Asia. It serves as a meeting point between East and West. (9 May 2020). Niyazov himself had short hair and was clean shaven. Unfortunately for barbers, all Turkmens we spoke to indicated to us that this rule was myth. 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. During the drilling, their equipment, including heavy machines fell into the crater, and natural gas began escaping. 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. See our information and advice page for the LGBT community before you travel. 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. 19. Niyazov started quite early and joined the Communist Party in 1962. When I mention Turkmenistan, often people look at me with a confused stare and then ask what it is a place, a city, what? In late 2020, teachers in Turkmenabat, the country`s second largest city, were banned from dyeing their lighter hair. The current president, Berdimuhamedow, ordered the removal of the statue in 2010. Some of the first strange laws that were introduced occurred under Turkmenistan`s first president, Saparmurat Niyazov. Girls are required to wear national clothing and tie their hair into braids, as well as the takhya national headgear. In 2005, lip syncing was banned at concerts. The first, Niyazov, ruled for 15 years and called himself the "President for Life". Home Travel No Beards, No Spandex: Rules to Live By? As a result, even today, people are still not used to saving electricity, water or gas. From 1925-1991, it was part of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. At any time,. [94][95] Displaying and keeping the book alongside the Quran in mosques were also stopped, except in Trkmenbay Ruhy Mosque. He outlawed opera, ballet, circuses and philharmonic orchestras in 2001 for being "decidedly unturkmen-like". In 1970, the Soviet scientists were drilling for natural gas, but accidentally their equipments fell in the sinkhole, causing the escape of natural gas. A prayer took place before the burial, with the chief mufti reading Jyn Aza. THE PRESIDENT'SOBSESSION WITH HORSES, Turkmenistan's Akal-Teke horse. [35] On 19 March 2007 Turkmenistan's new president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow reversed Niyazov's decision by restoring pensions to more than 100,000 elderly citizens.[36]. In 2005 lip-syncing was banned at concerts. 60 Weird Laws Around the World By Lissa Poirot and Brittany Alexandra Sulc, updated on February 7, 2023 Getty Images Every country is different, and every country's laws are different. You can import up to a maximum of 1.5 litres of alcohol. Pensions received during the prior two years were ordered paid back to the state. Many of the ordinary citizens wept dramatically as they walked, some even clinging to the coffin and fainting. Friday was renamed after her, too. He banned news reporters and presenters from wearing makeup on television. We couldn't find any for purchase at the bazaar. You may be wondering if the Turkmen president is crazy? He was a member of the influential Teke tribe of the Turkmens. Social laws, which mostly apply to women, are stern. President for life Saparmurat Niyazov implemented many laws during his reign, here are some of them: In February 2004, men were banned from wearing long hair or beards. In an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper, Niyazov claimed that Turkmenistan was able to process 85% of its domestic output. Saparmurat Niyazov was the President of Turkmenistan from 1991-2006. Currently, the laws of Turkmenistan are in the process of being codified. Here are 20 such weird facts about Turkmenistan: A complex visa regimen makesTurkmenistan one of the least visited countries in the world. It is cheaper to let the gas burn than spend money on matchboxes. He renamed the town of Janga and city of Krasnovodsk after his nickname Trkmenbay, and renamed schools, airports, Ashgabat streets, and even a meteorite after himself and members of his family. The book is supposed to orbit earth for the next 150 years. For example, in 2005, 8,145 convicts were pardoned including 229 foreign nationals. Carpets hold such prominence in Turkmenistan that there is a Ministry of Carpet in the government. It is remarkable to imagine that millions of years ago the country was covered by a sea. This Central Asian country between Kazakhstan, Iran and a vast desert has been ruled for 15 years by a dictator with really bizarre laws. Saparmurat Niyazovs cult of personality and leadership was used as a base for the film, The Dictator.. When he's not writing for the blog you can keep up with his adventures on. It is against the law to smoke outside in Turkmenistan; this law extends to restaurants and other communal spaces (unless they contain a designated smoking area). Another ban in the vein of it's un-Turkmen. No one we spoke to seemed to know much about this rule. This was because it was decided that everyone should come to the capital for treatment. Apparently, lip syncing was not an activity held in high esteem by Niyazov. In 2014, adventurer George Kourounis became the first person to enter the "Door to Hell" and reach the bottom of the pit. Vistors to this city describe it as "strange" and "eerie". The autocratic ruler had declared himself as the President of Life and even wrote a book in 2001 called Ruhnama (The book of Soul). To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. [60][61], The summer of 2004 saw a leaflet campaign in the capital, Agabat, calling for the overthrow and trial of Niyazov. 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). Photo: Getty Images. [92] By 2011, Berdimuhamedow's government rescinded the requirement to pass a secondary-school examination on the book[93] and in 2014, it was finally declared that Turkmenistani universities would no longer test applicants on their knowledge of the book. Swearing in public in St. Kitts could get you in hot water. From the United States, based in Berlin, world-bound. This rule is supposed to help families avoid going broke when throwing weddings for their daughters. Within mosques, it was to be treated the same as the Quran. Turkmenistan has no ties with NATO or Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). This is also why there are a number of car-washing stations on the outskirts of the city, so that people can get their cars cleaned before entering the city. The crater burns continuously in the desert, creating the impression of the gates of hell. He also took part in creating new holidays with a specific Turkmen nature and introduced a new Latin-based Turkmen alphabet to replace Russian Cyrillic. But occasionally, we may get things wrong, or information becomes outdated. Photo:Getty Images. In Turkmenbashi`s time, utility prices were so low that bills for these services arrived every year. In the year 2002, Niyazov decided that every day of the month and week would be renamed after his family members. 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. The new names came into effect with the introduction of a new labor law which stated that "the dates of professional holidays are specified by decrees of the President of Turkmenistan". Turkmenistan, a land-locked country, is the least densely populated countryinCentral Asia. In 2005, Nizayov flew to Moscow to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the war's end, and just days prior, he awarded Turkmen veterans of the war as well as Russian veterans on behalf of Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian veterans on behalf of Viktor Yushchenko. . [73] The eccentric nature of some of his decrees, and the vast number of images of the president led to the perception, especially in western countries, of a despotic leader, rich on oil wealth glorifying himself whilst the population gained no benefit. The presidents passed other laws just because he had the power to do so; for example, he named the days of the week after his immediate family members. President Berdymukhamedov is obsessed with Akhal-Teke horses. It's not the only wackadoodle law that still exists in the States. Yearly plans set forth by the government and a centralised economy gave little indication of moving away from state-dominated economics, and the dictatorial nature of many of his decrees and his declaring himself "President for Life" gave little hope as to much progress in these two areas. However, the rule of no public smoking is enforced. Thanks! That's "Ruhnama", which is the title of Niyazov's book. It is nearly incomprehensible that a desert place can produce melon, but some of the best melons in the world are grown in Turkmenistan. And by 1985 he was already First . Turkmenistan has the second-largest oil reserves in the former Soviet Union, generating high revenue for the state. Since 1993, thanks to Niyazov`s initiatives, all Turkmen citizens have had free access to gas, water and electricity. In 2017, the World Press Freedom Index ranked 178th of 180 countries, just below Eritrea and North Korea. It is hard to get photos of the city because the photographing of public buildings is banned. However, as of 2019 it still hasn't been. Turkmenistan declared independence from the Soviet Union on October 27, 1991. Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov (Russian: ; Turkmen: Saparmyrat Ataewi Nyazow; 19 February 1940 - 21 December 2006), also known as Trkmenbay, was a Turkmen politician who ruled Turkmenistan as a dictator from 1985 until his death in 2006. However, if you have a legal issue with the video uploaded, please contact me first in order to resolve the problem quickly, swiftly and easily. 110,000 people died when a 7.3 magnitude earthquake rocked Ashgabat and the surrounding region. If the imam or the cleric of the mosque refused to obey his orders, the mosque would be demolished. Image: Stocksy #13. [79] As he was buried, the national anthem was played accompanied by a 21-gun salute, symbolizing the number of years during which he was in power.[81]. You can change your cookie settings at any time. 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. Turkmen laws now seem normal to the people who live there, but they are still a little strange to those of us who don`t. Nearly half a century later, the fire is still burning. He took the name for bread. Turkmenistan, the small Central Asian country, is perhaps the strangest country in the world when it comes to architecture and bizarre laws that locals have to follow under the firm control of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the country`s president. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Fact Site is the number one source for the most interesting & random facts about animals, celebrities, food, films, games & so much more. Somewhere, a bit of greasing of the palms of the license-givers. Email: info@inled.info. The story goes that while Turkmenbashi attended a televised ceremony, he caught sight of a woman with a set of gold teeth, found it inappropriate, and publicly told her so. 7) Thou shalt not name thy children strangely. 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. [28] By 2005, there were 36,000 Internet users in Turkmenistan, representing 0.7% of the population. THE ONLY NEUTRAL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, Indian PM Narendra Modi met Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov in July 2015. Do you think you have seen all the strange laws of Turkmenistan? This was part of a publicity stunt in response to death hoax rumors. [62] He accused the minister of incompetence and declared: "I cannot say that you had any great merits or did much to combat crime. Rapper 50 Cent found out the hard way this small Caribbean nation takes public swearing seriously. One foreigner we spoke to confirmed that she recently received a firm reprimand from a policeman in Ashgabat because her car was a bit dusty. Turkmenistan under Turkmen Presidents Niyazov and Berdymuhamadov has experienced some crazy laws, and these here are the top 10 most unbelievable laws from Turkmenistan.Thanks for watching! The highest of all honours. During his time in office, he banned the act of lip syncing at public concerts as well as at public celebrations. [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. Prior to being moved to the village, Niyazov's body lay in state in an open coffin in the presidential palace from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. That is, you could register for a mortgage and half of it would be covered by the state. After learning all these Turkmenistan facts its clear to see that this little unknown country deserves to be on anyones travel bucket list. These names were later abolished by his successor Berdymukhamedov in April 2008. The largest architectural constructed star in the world, a glass construction, which has a total area of 3,240 sq. On 28 December 1999, Parliament declared Niyazov President for Life; parliamentary elections had been held a few weeks earlier for which the president had hand-picked all candidates. All Rights Reserved, 80 per cent desert and the life of Turkmen, As per the record, the city has 543 white marble buildings covering an area of 4.5 million square metres. Ashgabat holds the Guinness World Record for the most public pools in a single place. It is a cultural sign of appreciation for a family to offer guests a plate of plov whenever they visit. The Turkmen Agricultural University is named after him, as is the Great Saparmurat Turkmenbashy Military Institute. Turkmenistan holds the Guinness World Record for the largest indoor Ferris wheel in an architectural structure. In 1948, one of the world's deadliest earthquakes struck Turkmenistan. The authorities were unable to stop the campaign and the President responded by firing his Interior Minister and director of the police academy on national television. Learn how your comment data is processed. It's no wonder why Turkmenistan had the lowest life expectancy in all of Central Asia at the time. 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 Turkmen Embassy in Moscow later confirmed this report. Let the entire world know that there has never been a place for evil and violence on the blessed Turkmen soil. One of the contentious laws outlaws gold teeth, opera, and spandex. However, this seems a bit beside the point when you realize that people got sick and couldn't access doctors. It has also destroyed the wildlife around it. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com, Unbelievable Facts About Turkmenistan, the Dystopian Dictatorship You Haven't Heard Of, Top 10 Unbelievable Places In The World That Anyone Can Visit, 10 Unique And Interesting Facts About Turkmenistan. [38], I watched young dogs when I was young. It is one of those dishes that you will see everywhere, from family picnics to wedding celebrations. The incumbent President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov was his successor and hasruled asthe dictator-President of Turkmenistan since then. Niyazov had two children, both of whom have maintained distance from politics after their father's death.[98]. You are here: His presidency was characterised by an initial crumbling of the centralised Soviet model that in many respects was unsuited for a transition to smaller, separate, states. Turkmenistan has not participated in any United Nations peacekeeping missions. The situation with real estate is quite acceptable, but not as pleasant as before. The month September was also named after his book Ruhnama. Possession and use of drugs is illegal. It is made in compounds of rice with chunks of meat, carrot, and spices, fried in a large pan or a cauldron. The good folks over at Olivet Nazarene University put together an infographic of some of the most outrageous, confusing and downright weird legislation instilled around our . You should carry a copy of the details page of your passport at all times. Photo: IGOR SASIN / AFP Nice contribution. [29], In March 2004, 15,000 public health workers were dismissed including nurses, midwives, school health visitors and orderlies. Photo: Getty Images. Case Study: Destination & Product Development, Ashgabat, The City of Love: A Scavenger Hunt, 20 Sustainable Travel Tips: How to be a Good Global Traveler, Our Offbeat Travel List: 11 Destinations Youre Not ConsideringBut Should, Trekking Around the World: 15 Best Offbeat Treks That Youre Not ConsideringBut Should, How Street Food is the Ultimate Travel Guide: 50 Favorite Street Food Dishes. [78], Foreign news reports also claimed that Niyazov also suffered from ischemic heart disease and kidney failure due to being overweight and overindulgence of alcohol. According to some reports, he felt presenters should "appear natural" on-screen. In 2018, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov had renamedHell's Gateas the 'Shining of Karakum', butfour years later, now, he wants it to be shut. In 2008, less than two years after Niyazov's death, the names of months and days of the week changed by Niyazov were restored,[90] and reference in the National Anthem of Turkmenistan to Niyazov was replaced with "the people". Turkmenistan News/ Archiv Saparmurat Niyazov's (in English), Ruhnama Book by Turkmenbashy (online in English), Transcript of 2004 profile on news program, 28th Politburo of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saparmurat_Niyazov&oldid=1152487197, Members of the Central Committee of the 27th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Members of the Central Committee of the 28th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Members of the Politburo of the 28th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, First secretaries of the Communist Party of Turkmenistan, Democratic Party of Turkmenistan politicians, Recipients of the Order of Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow, Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples, Recipients of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University alumni, Heads of government of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, Articles with dead external links from January 2023, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from June 2016, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Russian-language text, Articles containing Turkmen-language text, Articles needing additional references from April 2022, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2022, Articles needing additional references from December 2008, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2022, Articles with Turkmen-language sources (tk), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Niyazov declared Turkmenistan a "neutral state" and said that the country would not participate in any. Turkmenistan president Saparmurat Niyazov (1991-2006) passed unusual laws during his term in the pretext of preserving ancient Turkmen culture. Also, dirty cars are not allowed. Turkmenistan's media constantly doted on the president and helped build his cult of personality. Writer, speaker, storyteller and consultant. Turkmenistan president Saparmurat Niyazov (1991-2006) passed unusual laws during his term in the pretext of preserving ancient Turkmen culture. Turkmenistan was ruled by a dictator and President for Life, Saparmurat Niyazov between 1991 and 2006. [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. Here are some crazy Turkmen laws you probably don`t know about. The Bayou State has declared it illegal to send anything to a person's house . As preferences go, we can't argue. A remarkable fact about the country is that it was home to a giant sea 30 million years ago. : r/todayilearned Cigarette stands on every corner are a testment to that. This meant that anyone living in rural areas had to travel across the country to get medical care (which is vaguely the size of California). From a burning gas crater (Darvaza) known as the Gates of Hell, to the Abandoned Capital City of Ashgabat (which holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest marble city in the world), Turkmenistan is full of surprises. Why is he so memorable, you may ask? And remember: having a criminal record is definitely not cool if you're a man over 40. Oral sex is illegal. As the buyer, you should be aware of possible: . Seychelles, Sierra Leone . Because Niyazov named no successor prior to his death, according to the law of the Constitution of Turkmenistan, wezgeldi Ataew, the Chairman of the Assembly, would assume the presidency. The view is awe-inspiring at night as the flames light up against the pitch darkness of the desert. [24], His father Atamyrat Nyazow's Red Army service was used to shape how the country celebrates Victory Day (9 May). Gurbansoltan Eje was named in honor of Niyazov's mother, and Serdar ("leader" in Turkmen) referred to Niyazov himself. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Strange weird snapshot photo wild hula dances wild beach holiday bizarre +2314F at the best online prices at eBay! Carpets of Turkmenistan. Each university has its own color and texture of fabric for clothing, and it is strictly forbidden to deviate from this requirement, even from shade. Other laws were merely based on the whim of a president with full power and control. Turkmenistan declared independence from the Soviet Union on October 27, 1991, Turkmenistan was ruled by a dictator and President for Life, Saparmurat Niyazov between 1991 and 2006. For example, September was renamed Ruhnama in honour of the book written by Niyazov (which he finished writing on 19 September 2001). Good to know, right? 20. So much white marble was used in Ashgabat that it holds the Guinness World Record for having the highest density of marble buildings. The desert landscape is the prominent feature in Turkmenistan. The Latin Turkmen alphabet consists of: Aa, Bb, , Dd, Ee, , Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, , Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, , Oo, , Pp, Rr, Ss, , Tt, Uu, , Ww, Yy, , Zz.[17]. This unique country holds the Guinness World Record for the largest indoor Ferris wheel in an architectural structure. But that is irrelevant to his story as his weird political career is what interests us. Modern Turkmen continue to associate themselves with the five original clans. In 1998, President for Life Niyazov ordered the construction of a "monument to neutrality" at the cost of $12 million dollars. He made the book mandatory to be studied in schools, universities and government offices. My first ever encounter with Turkmenistan was a weird one. He also ordered that each broadcast begin with a pledge that the broadcaster's tongue would shrivel if he/she slanders the country, flag, and/or president. It is so hard to legally get to the county that smuggling cartels are a better option for many. 16. Some of these laws were rationalized under the premise of trying to preserve traditional Turkmen culture. People have a certain way of explaining almost every process in their lives. As a result, in 2005 Turkmenistan would downgrade its links with the Commonwealth of Independent States becoming only an associate member under article 8 of the CIS charter, as such it would not participate in any of the military structures of the CIS. The 10 Most Unbelievable Laws in Turkmenistan - YouTube Dictatorships aren't exactly known for their reasonable laws. [59] Ethnic Russians in Turkmenistan were disproportionately targeted in the aftermath. Its also one of the driest deserts in the world, with some areas recording only 0.005 inches (0.12mm) of precipitation annually. This bizarre law states that "Any person may possess any number of live frogs to use in frog-jumping contests, but if such a frog dies or is killed, it must be destroyed as soon as possible, and may not be eaten or otherwise used for any purpose." To be fair, this is another weird law that does make sense. In December 2020, the Ashgabat government adopted its National Gender Action Plan 2021-2025, which purportedly aims to improve standards at the national and local levels, including in the areas of health care, education, and the empowerment of women and girls. Surely he could have suggested that they translate it to . Thank you for sharing your adventures. In 2006, a 42-year-old postman from Saitama Prefecture was arrested for putting chocolate ice cream inside a mailbox. Here, if you want a driving license, your skills with the steering wheel don't matter as much as your rote-learning of the Ruhnama. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. . Niyazov also ordered the closure of all libraries outside the capital, stating that the reason was that ordinary Turkmens did not read anyway. Moreover, there is also a carpet on the national flag of Turkmenistan. If you have video suggestions, leave them in the comments. You have accepted additional cookies. He loves them so much that his office has only one prominent motif all over the furniture - yes, horses. Failure to do this would lead to the destruction of the mosque. Niyazov put the revival of Turkmen culture as one of the top priorities in Turkmenistan's development. Niyazov simultaneously cut funding to and partially disassembled the education system in the name of "reform", while injecting ideological indoctrination into it by requiring all schools to use his own book, the Ruhnama, as their primary text. 5. Photo: Drew Binsky Youtube video. Here are some that Saparmurat Niyazov has implemented. Niyazov promoted a policy of strict neutrality in foreign affairs, refraining from seeking membership in NATO or GUAM and almost ignoring the CSTO. 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 . He was heavily critcised by the Muslim population, but none dared to do so openly. Sellers declare the item's customs value and must comply with customs declaration laws. Some of his creations remain unchanged, including the celebration of Melon Day. 5. Mrs Tullieva, a 32-year-old laboratory technician, had been sent home from work because of her offending teeth, as universities, government departments and state-run companies humoured their . TIL that in Turkmenistan, colors themselves are considered state enemies. [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. and talks with Tajik opposition leader. 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.