Turkmenistan (/tɜːrkˈmɛnɪstæn/ (listen) or /ˌtɜːrkmɛnɪˈstɑːn/ (listen); Turkmen:

Türkmenistan, pronounced [tʏɾkmønʏˈθːɑːn][13]) is a country located in Central

Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and
northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the
Caspian Sea to the west.[14] Ashgabat is the capital and largest city. It's one of
the 7 independent Turkic states. The population is about 6 million, the lowest of
the Central Asian republics, and Turkmenistan is one of the most sparsely populated
nations in Asia.[5][15][6]

Turkmenistan has long served as a thoroughfare for several empires and cultures.
[16] Merv is one of the oldest oasis-cities in Central Asia,[17] and was once among
the biggest cities in the world.[18] It was also one of the great cities of the
Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road. Annexed by the Russian Empire
in 1881, Turkmenistan figured prominently in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Central
Asia. In 1925, Turkmenistan became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the
Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic (Turkmen SSR); it became independent after the
dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.[5]

The country is widely criticized for its poor human rights,[19][20] its treatment
of minorities, and its lack of press and religious freedoms. Since gaining
independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Turkmenistan has been ruled by
repressive totalitarian regimes: that of President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov
(also known as Türkmenbaşy or "Head of the Turkmens") until his death in 2006;
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, who became president in 2007 after winning a non-
democratic election (he had been vice-president and then acting president
previously); and his son Serdar, who won a subsequent 2022 presidential election
described by international observers as neither free nor fair, and now shares power
with his father.[21][22][8]

Turkmenistan possesses the world's fifth largest reserves of natural gas.[23] Most
of the country is covered by the Karakum Desert. From 1993 to 2017, citizens
received government-provided electricity, water and natural gas free of charge.[24]
Turkmenistan is an observer state in the Organisation of Turkic States, the Türksoy
community and a member of the United Nations.[25] It is also the only permanent
neutral country recognized by the UN General Assembly in Asia.[26]Turkmenistan
(/tɜːrkˈmɛnɪstæn/ (listen) or /ˌtɜːrkmɛnɪˈstɑːn/ (listen); Turkmen: Türkmenistan,
pronounced [tʏɾkmønʏˈθːɑːn][13]) is a country located in Central Asia, bordered by
Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast,
Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea
to the west.[14] Ashgabat is the capital and largest city. It's one of the 7
independent Turkic states. The population is about 6 million, the lowest of the
Central Asian republics, and Turkmenistan is one of the most sparsely populated
nations in Asia.[5][15][6]

Turkmenistan has long served as a thoroughfare for several empires and cultures.
[16] Merv is one of the oldest oasis-cities in Central Asia,[17] and was once among
the biggest cities in the world.[18] It was also one of the great cities of the
Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road. Annexed by the Russian Empire
in 1881, Turkmenistan figured prominently in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Central
Asia. In 1925, Turkmenistan became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the
Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic (Turkmen SSR); it became independent after the
dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.[5]

The country is widely criticized for its poor human rights,[19][20] its treatment
of minorities, and its lack of press and religious freedoms. Since gaining
independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Turkmenistan has been ruled by
repressive totalitarian regimes: that of President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov
(also known as Türkmenbaşy or "Head of the Turkmens") until his death in 2006;
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, who became president in 2007 after winning a non-
democratic election (he had been vice-president and then acting president
previously); and his son Serdar, who won a subsequent 2022 presidential election
described by international observers as neither free nor fair, and now shares power
with his father.[21][22][8]

Turkmenistan possesses the world's fifth largest reserves of natural gas.[23] Most
of the country is covered by the Karakum Desert. From 1993 to 2017, citizens
received government-provided electricity, water and natural gas free of charge.[24]
Turkmenistan is an observer state in the Organisation of Turkic States, the Türksoy
community and a member of the United Nations.[25] It is also the only permanent
neutral country recognized by the UN General Assembly in Asia.[26]