Turkmenistan

Postponing what was supposed to become a regular forum for the leaders of Central Asia to gather together is not a good idea.

Vasila Bozichaeva and Emma Sabzalieva explain the development of Central Asia's education systems, and the current challenges faced.

The five leaders foregrounded a range of issues, from the pressing challenge of COVID-19 to vague promises of political reform.

The economic slowdown in China, a result of the coronavirus pandemic, has affected the gas trade. 

The Turkmen government’s inconsistent messaging about the nature and nearness of the COVID-19 pandemic threat has doomed its citizens to confusion and death.

The hottest air is coming from the Turkmen government, paranoid about admitting COVID-19 is in the country.

The format marks an expansion of China’s role in the region and a signal of its readiness to compete for influence.

An adviser to the Turkmen president and a Turkish diplomat have reportedly died from pneumonia this week.

But what will the WHO find? The WHO has been unwilling to criticize countries about their pandemic responses, but has been quick to praise them. 

Turkmen at home and abroad rarely protest, but botched responses to natural disasters and the pandemic have led to a surge of activism.

Turkmenistan’s denial of the virus’ presence in the country has inevitably cost lives. Not naming it doesn’t make it go away.

Turkmenistan says it is COVID-19 free, but the virus, analysts say, is impacting the country whether Ashgabat admits its presence or not.