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.
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
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.
Behind the scenes there is talk of plots to split the opposition and curb the media, but on the surface the campaign is muted.
