All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com, 10 Unique And Interesting Facts About Turkmenistan, 8 Interesting And Unique Facts About Somalia, 10 Interesting And Unique Facts About Samoa, 10 Interesting And Unique Facts About Botswana, 10 Unique And Interesting Facts About Uzbekistan. 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. Turkmenistan under Turkmen Presidents Niyazov and Berdymuhamadov has. After learning all these Turkmenistan facts its clear to see that this little unknown country deserves to be on anyones travel bucket list. BACKGROUNDTurkmenistan had been under the control of Russia for more than a . Some of these laws were rationalized under the premise of trying to preserve traditional Turkmen culture. The President of Turkmenistan visited the site in 2010 and ordered it to be filled in. He was heavily critcised by the Muslim population, but none dared to do so openly. I love following your travels. During Niyazov's presidency, a textile industry was founded in Turkmenistan. In an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper, Niyazov claimed that Turkmenistan was able to process 85% of its domestic output. As a result, even today, people are still not used to saving electricity, water or gas. Turkmenistan, a land-locked country, is the least densely populated countryinCentral Asia. 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 . And by 1985 he was already First . The president of Turkmenistan (who called himself Turkmenbashi, leader of the Turkmen) is known for his strange YouTube videos and even stranger laws. [96] In November 2022, however, the cities of Niyazov, Gurbansoltan Eje, and Serdar were renamed. [12][13][14], After finishing school in 1959, he worked as an instructor in the Turkmen trade-union exploratory committee. The National Revival Movement, an organisation to promote Turkmen culture (Turkmen: "Galkynish"), was also founded. From 1925-1991, it was part of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. Local laws and customs - Turkmenistan travel advice - GOV.UK Turkmenistan is among the world's least visited destinations. An unmarried woman cannot go skydiving on a Sunday. Even dirty cars are not allowed. 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. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. Guinness World Records - Largest Indoor Ferris Wheel. Feb 06, 2014 1:28 PM. Lots of wacky laws have been written over the years, and they were all written for a reason. The Darvaza Gas Crater is among the popular tourist attraction sites in the country. m. (34,875 sq. Enjoy these Turkmenistan facts that don't seem true, but strangely, they are. 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. Mr Saparmurat Niyazov,the late President of Turkmenistan", "Soz to represent India at Niyazov's funeral", "Late President of Turkmenistan laid to rest", "Absolute leader's name dropped from anthem", "Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov: Illusion of a Khrushchevian Thaw? Through our stories, advisory, and speaking we are creating a movement of travelers and businesses who live at the intersection of adventure, meaningful travel, and caring for our planet and its people. He introduced a new Turkmen alphabet based on the Latin alphabet to replace Cyrillic. In November 2005, he ordered that doctors should swear an oath to him instead of the, In the same month, he ordered the country's oil minister to learn. Now, these subsidies are only given to a certain group of government employees, such as those who work in the oil and gas industry. Someone, at some point, did something so nutty that people felt compelled to make it illegal. It is a cultural sign of appreciation for a family to offer guests a plate of plov whenever they visit. One of the earliest acts of the president was to abolish the death penalty. ft.) which is also the Turkmenistan Broadcasting Center tower. [60][61], The summer of 2004 saw a leaflet campaign in the capital, Agabat, calling for the overthrow and trial of Niyazov. Besides the opera, he also banned ballet and, famously, the circus. Photo: Getty Images. 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 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. Rasizade, Alec. Dubbed as the North Korea of Central Asia, Turkmenistan is ranked as one of the hardest countries to enter, with strict visa applications requiring assistance from tour agencies and a guide. After graduating, he went to study in Russia, but was expelled a few years later for academic failure.[1]. Homosexuality is still very much disapproved of socially. One of the many strange rules established by Niyazov in 2004 was that young men were forbidden to have a beard or long hair. It is against the law to give tobacco products as a gift; if you are caught you could be fined. 17 Mind Blowing Facts About Mount Rushmore, 7 Conspiracies That Flat Earthers Believe Are True. Turkmenistan's Melons. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This Central Asian country between Kazakhstan, Iran and a vast desert has been ruled for 15 years by a dictator with really bizarre laws. In 1970, Soviet scientists drilled for natural gas, but their devices accidentally fell into the abyss, causing a natural gas leak. Pilaf, the staple diet of Turkmenistan. In the years following independence, Turkmenistan invested heavily in plants and machinery in an attempt to convert it from being primarily a supplier of petroleum to a more advanced economy; such investments included oil refineries and a polyethylene plant. The Turkmen can also be sensitive about pictures being taken in the Teke, Russian and Tolkuchka bazaars in Ashgabat.