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1 1 (January 12, 2023)

handle is hein.crs/govekge0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congre sbinal Research Servtc infkrrning Vh eg iative debatL sinc. 1.14 Updated January 12, 2023 Turkmenistan Overview Turkmenistan is an authoritarian Central Asian country rich in hydrocarbons that borders the Caspian Sea and four other countries, including Afghanistan and Iran. Since becoming independent with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Turkmenistan's government has kept the country largely isolated from the outside world and maintained tight control over the economy, although Turkmenistan's natural gas resources have attracted foreign investment. While Turkmenistan's constitution establishes permanent neutrality as the core principle of the country's foreign policy, its history and geography underpin a difficult but important relationship with Russia, and increasing economic dependence is driving closer ties with China. In recent years, U.S. cooperation with Turkmenistan has focused primarily on border security issues, particularly with neighboring Afghanistan. Political Background Government. Turkmenistan's constitution defines the country as a secular, democratic presidential republic with a tripartite separation of powers between the executive, the judiciary, and the legislature. In practice, executive power is largely unchecked. The president has extensive powers that include presiding over the Cabinet of Ministers, as well as appointing and dismissing regional governors and mayors. Although the constitution stipulates the independence of the judiciary, the president also appoints and dismisses judges. In March 2022, Turkmenistan underwent its first presidential transition in 16 years, with Serdar Berdimuhamedov replacing his father, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, in an election widely seen as a carefully orchestrated succession. The legislature, termed a rubber-stamp body by many observers, became bicameral with the creation of an upper house in 2021, with Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as its chairman. Following 2012 legislation allowing for a multi- party system, Turkmenistan now has three officially recognized political parties: the Democratic Party (established in 1991 as the successor to the Soviet-era Communist Party), the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (registered in 2012), and the Agrarian Party (registered in 2014). The Organization for Security and Co- operation in Europe describes Turkmenistan's political environment as only nominally pluralist, as all three parties are aligned with the president and electoral procedures fail to meet international standards. Authoritarian Rule. Saparmurad Niyazov, a former first secretary of Turkmenistan's Communist Party, became the country's first elected president after an uncontested 1992 race. A 1994 referendum extended his term to 2002. In 1999, amendments to the constitution proclaimed him president for life. Niyazov, known as Turkmenbashi, or Leader of the Turkmen, was an autocratic ruler who created a cult of personality around himself and his family, isolated the country, and suppressed dissent. Following Niyazov's unexpected death in December 2006, former Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was elected in a 2007 election widely seen as fraudulent, then reelected in 2012 and 2017. Berdimuhamedov followed in his predecessor's authoritarian footsteps, replacing Niyazov's cult of personality with veneration of himself. He uses the title Arkadag (the Protector). Since he was succeeded by his son as president in March 2022, the elder Berdimuhamedov has maintained his position as chairman of the upper house of parliament, and analysts predict that he will retain significant political influence and that reforms are unlikely. Figure 1. Map of Turkmenistan Source: Graphic created by CRS. Human Rights. Turkmenistan faces regular criticism for human rights abuses from the U.S. State Department and from independent watchdogs. Freedom House, a nonpartisan nongovernmental organization (NGO), describes the country as a repressive authoritarian state where political rights and civil liberties are almost completely denied in practice. Citizens are subject to widespread surveillance, arbitrary arrest and detention, and torture. The government also imposes severe restrictions on freedom of movement. Because of its violations of religious freedom, Turkmenistan has been designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act since 2014. The State Department regularly waives the related sanctions, citing U.S. national interests. Turkmenistan has long faced international criticism for engaging in widespread use of state-orchestrated forced labor, particularly in the harvesting of cotton. Public sector employees are reportedly forced to pick cotton, and private businesses are allegedly also forced to contribute labor. In 2018, U.S. Customs and Border Protection responded to

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