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ASHGABAT — Professional-Russian propaganda efforts are underneath approach in Turkmenistan, with officers within the authoritarian state vilifying the West for supporting Kyiv and whitewashing Moscow’s picture amid its unprovoked assault on Ukraine.
Schooling officers together with police and intelligence officers have held a number of conferences with college students and staff within the Balkan and Lebap provinces in latest days, urging folks to shun Western media and tradition that they are saying brainwash younger Turkmen.
In one among such assembly in Balkan Province on December 8, officers warned in opposition to the “toxic” affect of the West on the youth of Turkmenistan, a participant advised RFE/RL.
“The officers mentioned {that a} conflict such because the one in Ukraine can occur in Turkmenistan too, tomorrow, if we do not hold our youth away from the Western media and tradition,” mentioned the individual, who spoke on situation of anonymity fearing repercussion within the strictly managed state.
“They added that American and European media data — which [they claimed] poisons the minds of younger folks — is the primary motive the conflict broke out in Ukraine.”
Officers urged folks to not learn Western media protection of the conflict, in keeping with a number of individuals of gatherings held in colleges, authorities companies, and different firms.
They mentioned the officers additionally warned the audiences in opposition to “international brokers” who allegedly search to destabilize Turkmenistan.
“Officers mentioned there are Western brokers amongst us who attempt to instigate conflict in our nation by reporting for the Western press about any issues in Turkmenistan, and scary the Turkmen folks,” mentioned a person who works for an area firm within the port metropolis of Turkmenbashi.
“[Officials said] our impartial, impartial nation — wealthy in oil and pure gasoline — is strengthening its pleasant and brotherly ties with Russia,” the person added, talking on situation of anonymity.
An official from the state cybersecurity company was among the many authorities representatives who took half in latest conferences in Turkmenbashi, RFE/RL correspondents reported. The official spoke about how some college students have criticized Russia of their on-line feedback in regards to the Ukraine conflict.
“It will have been alright if [the Turkmen students] had criticized Ukraine, however clearly it reveals that [the Western media] has poisoned the minds of the youth,” the safety official was quoted as saying.
The federal government in Ashgabat has by no means publicly acknowledged its place on Russia’s devastating invasion of Ukraine that started on February 24. But it surely has maintained shut ties with the Kremlin in the course of the conflict.
Turkmen President Serdar Berdymukhammedov visited Moscow to fulfill Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in June. Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, Serdar’s father and his predecessor as president, went to Moscow in November to fulfill with Putin within the Kremlin.
Turkmenistan’s consultant to the Group for Safety and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Hemra Amannazarov, walked out throughout a speech by Ukrainian Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba throughout an OSCE Ministerial Council on December 1.
Amannazarov returned to the assembly corridor after Kuleba completed talking. The gathering in Lodz, Poland, centered on the regional safety challenges and ramifications created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Sources near the Turkmen authorities advised RFE/RL that officers have been cautious of rising discontent amongst odd folks combating widespread poverty and meals shortages regardless of the nation’s huge pure assets. The nation can be stricken by power unemployment and corruption.
The federal government has brutally suppressed dissent at house, banning all impartial press, blocking entry to social media and the impartial press, and arresting critics or forcing them into exile.
However activists have been more and more vocal among the many Turkmen migrants overseas, utilizing social media and impartial press shops to unfold their message.
One supply mentioned Ashgabat’s reluctance to totally resume worldwide flights after a pandemic-era ban is related to the authorities’ concern that activists would possibly return to Turkmenistan and destabilize the nation.
Written by Farangis Najibullah in Prague primarily based on reporting by RFE/RL’s Turkmen Service
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