When we think of isolated nations with oppressive regimes, North Korea often comes to mind first. However, a recent undercover investigation has revealed that another country, Turkmenistan in Central Asia, is giving North Korea stiff competition with its own set of bizarre and repressive rules.
A Journey into a Closed Nation
A team of journalists, operating under the guise of tourists, recently ventured into Turkmenistan. This was necessary because the country, which gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, strictly forbids open journalistic inquiry. Ruled by former dentist Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow and his son Serdar, the nation of seven million people has effectively cut itself off from the world, masking the silent suffering of its citizens.
The investigation, documented by the YouTube channel Java Discover, peeled back the layers of this secretive state. One of the first and most visible rules encountered was in the capital, Ashgabat. Authorities mandate that all cars in the city must be white, a policy designed to create a uniform and "impressive" aesthetic for visitors. This complements the city's identity as the 'white marble city', which holds a Guinness World Record for having 543 white marble buildings as of 2013.
Life Under Constant Control
The rules extend far beyond car colours. The journalists were immediately instructed to return to their hotel by 11 PM for their "own safety," a nationwide curfew that has been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic. Photography is heavily restricted, with drivers and guides warning tourists about where they can and cannot point their cameras.
Perhaps one of the most isolating measures is the complete shutdown of internet connectivity, severing any real-time link to the outside world. While the team met one man who claimed to have active Instagram and YouTube accounts, they later discovered he was a state-approved actor used to attack critics of the regime.
Other strange edicts include buildings having roofs painted only in green or red, reflecting the colours of the national flag. The leadership's obsession with grandeur is evident in Ashgabat's landmarks, which hold world records for the largest star-shaped building, a horse-shaped stadium, and the highest concentration of fountains. The capital also boasts the world's largest windwheel, standing at 47 meters tall.
Disparity and the Cult of Personality
Beyond the capital's marble facade, a different reality exists. People living outside Ashgabat reside in dilapidated homes and fear the camera's lens. The journalists visited a grocery store in Turkmenbashi where products were well past their expiry dates.
The cult of personality surrounding the leadership is overwhelming. The team visited a museum dedicated to Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, though the floors showcasing his "conquests" were off-limits. They also saw the prized Akhal-Teke horses at a breeding farm, animals highly valued by the leader.
The former president, who still holds the title of "Protector," is also obsessed with setting mass-participation records. These include a 2015 event where 4,000 people sang a song he composed, and a 2019 cycling event with 2,000 participants in a single file. His power is displayed through massive military parades described as 'worthy of North Korea', and he personally metes out justice in parliament sessions broadcast on national TV.
While North Korea maintains a tenuous connection with the global community, Turkmenistan survives on its loyalty to Russia and the pervasive fear it instills in its people. This investigation lifts the veil on a dictatorship whose strange rules and intense control have long remained in the shadows.
