IWPR

PM Orders End to Baghdad Checkpoints

London-based Azzaman is issued daily by Saad al-Bazaz.

Most of Iraqi Police 'Infiltrated' by Militia

London-based Asharq al-Awsat, is a pro-Saudi independent paper, issued daily.

Darfur Stereotyping Fraught with Danger

Widespread dissemination of misperceptions may impede peace negotiations.

UK Gold Firm Runs into Trouble

Turkmen Teachers Sweep the Streets

The Soviet “subbotnik” and “voskresnik” – weekend days when people had to turn out for voluntary work – are alive and well in Turkmenistan. Nowadays, though, the practice has evolved into an absurd system where everyone seems to be doing someone else’s jo

Local Elections Fail to Impress

Turkmenistan’s central election commission reported a high turnout in all 1,153 constituencies in the July 28 local elections, and declared the outcome a victory for pluralism and transparency. The ballot showed that President Saparmurat Niazov’s constitu

Population Held Down by Total Surveillance

In Turkmenistan, anyone who uses the internet, travels abroad or does anything else that could be construed as suspicious is subject to surveillance by the ever-watchful National Security Ministry.

Classical Music Training Slashed

Although a decision to cut the number of musical schools and academies in Turkmenistan by more than half has been justified by talk of a funding shortfall, the move is being seen as part of an official policy of eradicating the Soviet past, in which young

Pensions with Strings Attached

The local authorities in Turkmenabat have found an unusual way to show that the private sector is booming: they are forcing pensioners to sign up as small businessmen and making them pay for a license to operate.

Turkmenistan's Unloved Legal Profession

A recent survey showing that very few law students in Turkmenistan plan to work as lawyers has only underlined the difficult situation facing the profession.