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The Worst of the Worst 2009 - Turkmenistan

Country Scores

Political Rights: 7
Civil Liberties: 7
Status: Not Free
Population: 5,400,000
Capital: Ashgabat

2008 Key Developments: President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov oversaw the passage of a new constitution in 2008, but the political system was changed more in form than in substance. While the country continued to inch away from the bizarre and repressive legacy of long-ruling president Saparmurat Niyazov, who died in late 2006, progress toward a more free society remained minimal. New contacts with the outside world were generally limited to business and political leaders vying to secure access to Turkmenistan's massive natural gas reserves.

Political Rights: Turkmenistan is not an electoral democracy. The late Niyazov wielded virtually absolute power, serving as "president for life" until his death in 2006. None of the country's elections – including the February 2007 vote that gave Niyazov's successor, Berdymukhammedov, a five-year term in office – have been free or fair. The new constitution, approved by the National Assembly in August 2008, gives citizens the right to form political parties, although only one political party, the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, is officially registered at present. Corruption is widespread, with public officials often forced to bribe their way into their positions.

Civil Liberties: Freedoms of speech and the press are severely restricted by the government, which controls all broadcast and print media. The country's few internet cafes are prohibitively expensive, and a government-run service provider controls access and reportedly blocks undesirable websites. The government restricts freedom of religion, and independent groups face persecution. While Niyazov declared in 2004 that practicing an unregistered religion would no longer be a criminal offense, it remains illegal, with violators subject to fines. The government places significant restrictions on academic freedom, and the Rukhnama, a rambling collection of quasi-historical and philosophical musings attributed to Niyazov, is still used throughout the school system. The constitution guarantees peaceful assembly and association, but these rights are severely restricted in practice. While not technically illegal, nongovernmental organizations are tightly controlled, and Turkmenistan has no civil society sector to speak of. The judicial system is subservient to the president, who appoints and removes judges without legislative review. The authorities frequently deny rights of due process, including public trials and access to defense attorneys. Prisons suffer from overcrowding and inadequate nutrition and medical care, and international organizations are not permitted to visit. Employment and educational opportunities for ethnic minorities are limited by the government's promotion of Turkmen national identity, although some of the more onerous Niyazov-era restrictions on the educational and cultural institutions of ethnic minorities were eased in 2007-08. Freedom of movement is restricted, with a reported blacklist preventing some individuals from leaving the country. Traditional social and religious norms and a lack of employment prospects limit professional opportunities for women, and anecdotal reports suggest that domestic violence is common.