Saparmurat Niyazov was the President of Turkmenistan from 1991-2006. Although reliable numbers are not readily available, it is estimated that less than 15,000 people visit the country annually. America's Strangest 15 Laws. In March 2014, 15,000 public health workers were dismissed from their roles. No, that's "Leader of Turkmen" month. Otherwise, we may never see you again, implying that prison or worse awaited perpetrators of orphaned vehicles. Niyazov ordered that all mountains and places in Turkmenistan be named after Turkmen heroes, poets and leaders. Another ban in the vein of it's un-Turkmen. No one we spoke to seemed to know much about this rule. Niyazov put the revival of Turkmen culture as one of the top priorities in Turkmenistan's development. 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. Well send you a link to a feedback form. A remarkable fact about the country is that it was home to a giant sea 30 million years ago. When he tried to quit, he instigated this ban so as to eliminate temptation from people smoking on the street. ", "Turkmen Government Removes Ruhnama as Required Subject | Eurasianet", "Turkmenistan Is Finally Putting the 'Ruhnama' Behind Them", "Education in Turkmenistan Under the Second President: Genuine Reforms or Make Believe? Up to 2014, this also included the vehicles. You must smile in public in Idaho. The autocratic ruler had declared himself as the President of Life and even wrote a book in 2001 called Ruhnama (The book of Soul). Speaking of cities, their capital city is bizarre and made out of marble Many buildings in Ashgabat are reminiscent of old Soviet blocks, except made of marble. One of the many weird rules framed by Niyazov in 2004 was that young men were barred from having beard or long hair. 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. "The Golden Man: Saparmurat Niyazov's Reign of Insanity". You have rejected additional cookies. 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. Image: Stocksy #13. In 2013,Turkmenistan'scapital city Ashgabat entered the Guinness Book of World Records for having the highest number of white marble buildings in the city. Prior to this achievement, it was in the Guinness Book for having the worlds tallest flagpole (133 m), the largest fountain complex, largest architectural image and largest Ferris wheel in an enclosed architectural design. 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. Turkmenistan, the small country in Central Asia, might be the world's strangest country when it comes to both architecture and the bizarre laws that the locals have to obey under the firm control of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the President of the country. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. However, the rule of no public smoking is enforced. There are no laws in Turkmenistan; There is only the will of the Fhrer. [38], I watched young dogs when I was young. Ashgabat holds the Guinness World Record for the world's largest collection of marble buildings. Photo: Getty Images. Niyazov supported the Soviet coup attempt of 1991. However, next time you're trying to remember how to distinguish Turkmenistan, just think of these strange yet riveting facts about the country. In January 2018, the president banned black vehicles in the city because he associates black with bad luck. In February 2004, he decreed that men should no longer wear long hair or beards because of the apparent association with, In March 2004, he fired doctors and gymnastics instructors and replaced them with military. 19. The Karakum Desert, or Black Sand in the Turkic languages, occupies 70% of Turkmenistan, or 135,135 square miles (350,000 km). Kids in Turkmenistan get to horse training centres at a young age to become horse trainers. [58] Critics claim the government staged the attempt in order to crack down on mounting domestic and foreign political opposition. [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. 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. Photo: Getty Images. Even dirty cars are not allowed. This was a rule brought by President Saparmurat Niyazov who introduced subsidies for the people. In 2013, seven years after Niyazovs death, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov ordered the removal of Ruhnama from all public schools. The Bayou State has declared it illegal to send anything to a person's house . To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. Telpek, a large sheepskin hat worn by men is one of the signs of the nomadic tradition. 2023 The Fact Network Ltd | All Rights Reserved. It is composed of rice, carrot, meat and lots of spices cooked in a large plan. What's true and what's Turkmenbashi urban myth? The highest number of fountains in public spaces and the highest concentration of white marble buildings with 543 in an area of 4.5m square meters. In late 2020, teachers in Turkmenabat, the country`s second largest city, were banned from dyeing their lighter hair. Niyazov believed that lip syncing was deterimental to the art of making music. Enter Turkmenbashi. The worlds biggest indoor Ferris wheel at 47,6m at the Alem entertainment center in the south of Ashgabat. While the buildings are very well-kept, they are often empty and give the impression of a ghost town. He also granted official human rights to the people, though they were not respected in practice with his government being criticised as one of the worst human rights violators in the world. He continued to rule Turkmenistan for 15 years after independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. His mother, Gurbansoltan Eje, was part of the cult of personality later. It is a public holiday. April? After graduating, he went to study in Russia, but was expelled a few years later for academic failure.[1]. Since achieving independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the country has only had two presidents. There isn't much more we can say about this. The following year, in 2014, the current president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, declared that all Turkmen universities would no longer test their students for their knowledge of Ruhnama.It that the strange laws in Turkmenistan would end. [30] In February 2005 all hospitals outside Ashgabat were ordered closed, with the reasoning that the sick should come to the capital for treatment. THE ONLY NEUTRAL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, Indian PM Narendra Modi met Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov in July 2015. Turkmenistan, the small country in Central Asia, might be the world's strangest country when it comes to both architecture and the bizarre laws that the locals have to obey under the firm control of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the President of the country. A Turkmen could easily leave the gas on so as not to waste a match in the light later! Google Maps. On 13 January 1990, Niyazov became Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Turkmen SSR, the supreme legislative body in the republic. Phone: +993 (12) 44-56-92; Fax: +993 (12) 44-58-12; Reception: +993 (12) 44-56-87; Press service: +993 (12) 44-56-04; 744000, Ashgabat, Archabil av., 108 At the same time, he closed all libraries outside the capital because people in the countryside could not read. In his spare time, he loves to explore the world, drink coffee & attend trivia nights. The National Revival Movement, an organisation to promote Turkmen culture (Turkmen: "Galkynish"), was also founded. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming First Secretary of the Ashgabat City Committee,[15] and First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Turkmen SSR in 1985. Inside Central Asia. [94][95] Displaying and keeping the book alongside the Quran in mosques were also stopped, except in Trkmenbay Ruhy Mosque. The Darwaza Crater or The Hell's gate. But Berdymuhamedov also passed bizarre laws. In May 2000, the government revoked all Internet licenses except for the state-owned Turkmen Telecom and in June 2001 shut down all Internet cafs. In the year 2002, Niyazov decided that every day of the month and week would be renamed after his family members. In kitapcy.com. It serves as a meeting point between East and West. Social laws, which mostly apply to women, are stern. In his time, he was one of the world's most totalitarian, despotic and repressive dictators. Every second Sunday in the month of August is celebrated as the National Melon Day by the people. 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. In 2017, the World Press Freedom Index ranked 178th of 180 countries, just below Eritrea and North Korea. Remember him, because we will be talking about him quite a bit. 3. July 1983 officially saw the hottest day in Turkmenistan and the Soviet Union it was recorded at the Repetek Reserve at 122 F. Turkmenistan has the 6th largest oil and natural gas reserves in the world. Here's the scoop on Turkmenistan's laws and rules based on our peek inside the country. It is against the law to give tobacco products as a gift; if you are caught you could be fined. Point to note: Turkmenistan has a record-setting inclination towards setting Guinness records and regularly invites folks from the record-keepers to make a note of the newest record set by the country. 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. . If the imam or the cleric of the mosque refused to obey his orders, the mosque would be demolished. 5. The Ringling Brothers and Cirque du Soleil may yet have their day in the Turkmen sun. [25] Individually, Niyazov's father was awarded the honorary title of Hero of Turkmenistan in 1994 and in 2004, a division of the Turkmen Ground Forces was renamed after Atamyrat Nyazow. 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! The statue stands till date and has not been removed by the incumbent President Berdymukhamedov. The Akhal-Teke horse also appears on the national emblem of Turkmenistan. [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. In many respects, Niyazov's cultural ideas and changes were most visible to external viewers. However, Saparmurat Niyazov has remained a celebrated figure in Turkmenistan. Someone, at some point, did something so nutty that people felt compelled to make it illegal. 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. Girls are required to wear national clothing and tie their hair into braids, as well as the takhya national headgear. 20. Thankfully, because it's one of the weirdest laws around the world, we're guessing it never really has to be enforced. So much white marble was used in Ashgabat that it holds the Guinness World Record for having the highest density of marble buildings. Missionary is the only legal sexual position. Niyazov said: Let this humane act on the part of the state serve strengthening truly moral values of the Turkmen society. Turkmenistan, since 1991, was ruled by President Saparmurat Niyazov until December 20, 2006, when he died of a heart attack. Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov (Russian: ; Turkmen: Saparmyrat Ataewi Nyazow[a]; 19 February 1940 21 December 2006), also known as Trkmenbay[b], was a Turkmen politician who ruled Turkmenistan as a dictator from 1985 until his death in 2006. You may be wondering if the Turkmen president is crazy? Dogs were banned from the capital due to their unappealing odor. Smoking was banned in all public places and for all government employees. His renaming of months, as well as most of the days of the week, to Turkmen heroes, poets, historical events,[22] family members and himself was an unexpected development. In 2005, he closed down all rural libraries and hospitals outside of the capital city Ashgabat, in a country where at that time more than half the population lived in rural areas,[8] once stating that, "If people are ill, they can come to Ashgabat. However, President Berdymukhamedov is now planning to close Hell's Gateciting negative effects on the environment. The first, Niyazov, ruled for 15 years and called himself the "President for Life". This unique country holds the Guinness World Record for the largest indoor Ferris wheel in an architectural structure. Thank you for sharing your adventures. Some historians believe that over one million people were killed. From 1925-1991, it was part of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. One of outgoing President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov`s most bizarre laws is that you can`t have black cars in the capital, Ashgabat. The crater burns continuously in the desert, creating the impression of the gates of hell. [56], In January 1996, Niyazov met with Sayid Abdulloh Nuri in Tehran to inform him that the attendees of a CIS summit in Moscow had agreed to renew the mandate of CIS peacekeepers in Tajikistan, which was going through a civil war at the time. The local horse breed of the Turkmenistan Akhal-Teke is also considered as one of the rarest and most beautiful in the world. Backpacking Through the Tikal ruins and Flores island in Guatemala, Why I spent 2 months in Rio Dulce despite scathing tourist reviews, Bom Caminho III: The Beauty of the Coastal Way, There's Always A Dog, Or Some Geese, Or Broken Glass, Bom Caminho II: The Rhythm of the Portuguese Way, Erongarcuaro: A Place of Waiting, Whipping, and Wandering, Bom Caminho I: Starting A Walk Across Portugal.

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