TURKMENISTAN

MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2018 Tracking Development of Sustainable Independent Media Around the World AT A GLANCE GENERAL MEDIA-SPECIFIC ▶▶Population: 5,351,277 (July 2017 est. CIA ▶▶GNI (2016 - Atlas): $36.18 billion (World Bank ▶▶Number of active print outlets, radio ▶▶Newspaper circulation statistics: There are World Factbook) Development Indicators, 2016) stations, television stations, Internet no clear statistics. According to anecdotal ▶▶Capital city: ▶▶GNI per capita (2016 - PPP): $6,670 (World news portals: The exact numbers are data, the three main print publications by unknown, but there are believed to be circulation may be Neutralny Turkmenistan ▶▶Ethnic groups (% of population): Turkmen Bank Development Indicators, 2016) seven state-owned television stations; at (Russian- and English-language state-owned 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (CIA ▶▶Literacy rate: 99.7% (male 99.8%, female World Factbook, 2003 est.) 99.6%) (CIA World Factbook, 2015 est.) least one state-owned radio station; as daily), Turkmenistan (Turkmen-language many as 28 national and local newspapers state-owned daily), and Rysgal ▶▶Religions (% of population): Muslim 89%, ▶▶President or top authority: President and magazines, including two “private” (Turkmen-language, published irregularly, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2% (CIA Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow (since print outlets, at least one of which is widely owned by the Union of Industrialists and World Factbook) February 14, 2007) considered implicitly state-controlled; and Entrepreneurs). ▶ Turkmen ▶ Languages (% of population): an undetermined number of Internet-based ▶▶Broadcast ratings: N/A (official) 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other news entities, several of which are 7% (CIA World Factbook) ▶▶News agencies: Turkmen Dowlet Habarlary state-controlled. (CIA World Factbook, (Turkmen State News Agency, state-owned) International Telecommunication Union, NewEurasia Citizen Media, SalamTurkmen, ▶▶Annual advertising revenue in media World Telecommunication/ICT Development, sector: N/A World Bank) ▶▶Internet usage: 785,000 users (15% of population) (2015 est., CIA World Factbook)

MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX: TURKMENISTAN SCORE KEY Unsustainable, Anti-Free Press (0–1): Country does not meet or only minimally meets objectives. Government and laws actively hinder free media development, professionalism

SUSTAINABLE is low, and media-industry activity is minimal.

Unsustainable Mixed System (1–2): Country minimally meets objectives, with segments of the legal system and

NEAR government opposed to a free media system. Evident progress in free-press advocacy, increased professionalism, and new SUSTAINABILITY media businesses may be too recent to judge sustainability.

Near Sustainability (2–3): Country has progressed in meeting multiple objectives, with legal norms, professionalism, and the

SUSTAINABILITY business environment supportive of independent media. Advances MIXED SYSTEM

UNSUSTAINABLE have survived changes in government and have been codified in law and practice. However, more time may be needed to ensure 0.76 0.70 that change is enduring and that increased professionalism 0.52 0.49 0.14 0.49 0.11 0.13 0.10 0.12 0.43 0.41

0.40 and the media business environment are sustainable. 0.38 0.34 0.31 0.26 0.28 0.26 0.29 0.26 0.19 0.23 0.23 0.24 0.22 0.19 0.18 0.20 0.19 2014 2015 2017 2015 2016 Sustainable (3–4): Country has media that are considered 13 14 17 2 018 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2013 14 15 16 17 2018 13 16 17 18 2013 14 15 16 18 UNSUSTAINABLE ANTI-FREE PRESS generally professional, free, and sustainable, or to be approaching FREE PROFESSIONAL PLURALITY OF BUSINESS SUPPORTING SPEECH JOURNALISM NEWS SOURCES MANAGEMENT INSTITUTIONS these objectives. Systems supporting independent media OBJECTIVES have survived multiple governments, economic fluctuations, and changes in public opinion or social conventions.

Scores for all years may be found online at https://www.irex.org/msi he desert of the real” is Jean Baudrillard’s notorious a monopoly over key goods and services, relied upon OVERALL description of contemporary media and the quality of natural gas as its sole strategic revenue source, invested in SCORE psychology it engenders. Although written in 1981, it grandiose prestige construction projects, and operated a vast could very well be a description of Turkmenistan today. social-welfare system to keep the population relatively inured A level of information control that could fairly be called from hardship. However, an ongoing dispute with neighboring 0.39 totalitarian has resulted in a media landscape utterly Iran over gas prices, the loss of the Russian export market, Tdetached from reality, even as this desert republic of 5.6 and gross inefficiencies in the construction industry (long million people undergoes an economic meltdown that some suspected of really serving as a massive money-laundering Turkmenistan’s dire situation is observers fear could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe. machine for the ruling elite) have combined with a persistent reflected in the MSI scores for downward trend in gas prices to disturb the mirage. Citizen Turkmenistan’s authorities dominate every level of media, 2018. The overall score of 0.39 journalists on the inside and news agencies on the outside from telecommunications satellites all the way down to the exceeds Turkmenistan’s average describe an economic collapse: mass layoffs, unemployment smartphones of Ashgabat’s wealthy socialites and even and median since surveying of the topping 50 percent, cessation of fuel subsidies, rationing of the gossip of pensioners in remote rural villages. Television country started in 2008—0.34 and basic goods and services, long food queues. 0.33, respectively—but remains satellite dishes—the population’s only true lifeline to outside deep in the “unsustainable/ information—are being systematically destroyed under the State media are effectively the only media in Turkmenistan, anti‒free press” category. On the pretext of “urban beautification.” Fear and self-censorship rule and they acknowledge none of these problems. The official one hand, the panelists noted a the nascent “Turkmenet” (Turkmen-language websites and press glories in a “Golden Age” (the words appear in the modicum of general improvement Internet services). Authorities have been slowly mastering name of the official government news service), shepherded continuing from last year. On the sophisticated Internet surveillance technology believed to by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, who was other, they confirmed the perverse have been imported from the West in recent years, according re-elected in a February 2017 vote universally viewed as a condition of media in the country. to the watchdog group Privacy International. The country’s sham (he defeated eight government-chosen challengers As one said, “The weakness and few Web users exhibit behaviors that indicate a sense of with 98 percent of the vote). “Even if a deadly earthquake failures of the government are being watched by an omnipresent eye. strikes, it won’t be in the media,” one panelist said. “Nor will it be mentioned tomorrow or even a year from now, as this is being portrayed as its success. Meanwhile, a macroeconomic sandstorm has hit ‘negative news.’” The less information, the better, Turkmenistan. For years, the government has maintained so as to keep the people asleep.”

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OBJECTIVE 1: ayallary novosti) takes the place of real information 2017 and given three-year suspended sentences. FREEDOM OF 0.34 and is duly compiled by police and security forces There has been no news about Allashov and his SPEECH into extensive dossiers. Citizen journalists report that mother since their release; presumably, they have everyday citizens can receive rewards for spying on since been living under police surveillance and are From an all-time low of 0.10 in 2016, Turkmenistan their friends and neighbors on behalf of authorities banned from using any communication tools. continues to see marginal improvement in this and for purposefully feeding false information into Turkmenistan’s laws do not explicitly deny objective, from 0.18 last year to 0.34. The uptick the rumor mill. citizens the right to access and comment upon reflects improved, if wholly cosmetic, legislation Professional journalists’ freedom of speech, and information from foreign news sources, and the on freedom of expression and the tentative their personal rights in general, are more openly country is not as hermetically sealed from external advent of (necessarily anonymous) citizen transgressed. According to one panelist, the state has media as government critics and opponents journalism. However, it hardly masks the reality at times tolerated independent reporting, provided sometimes portray. One panelist said that, per a of the government’s total control over information it does not touch on domestic political issues, special presidential decree, ministries and state and absolute suppression of free speech. The especially corruption in government. Even critical media are permitted to consume select foreign news consequence for society, as one panelist put it, is content could be published, especially by young that “self-censorship is an everyday practice.” citizen journalists, “so long as it was from a ‘Turkmen perspective’ and not seen as foreign interference and Legal and social norms protect and promote The main legislation pertaining to freedom of speech subversion,” this panelist said. For instance, it was free speech and access to public information. and, more broadly, the flow of information is the possible in 2014 for Soltan Achilova—a contributor FREE-SPEECH INDICATORS Law on Mass Media, passed in 2013. The measure to Azatlyk Radiosy, the Turkmen-language service ▶▶Legal and social ▶▶Libel is a civil law issue; is in line with international standards in word but of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)—to protections of free public officials are held ignored in practice—openly by law-enforcement and report on long lines for bus and train tickets. This speech exist and to higher standards, security agencies and quietly through untraceable tolerance, already vague and erratic, appears to have are enforced. and offended parties must prove falsity and unprovable acts of intimidation against everyday disappeared along with Turkmenistan’s natural-gas ▶▶Licensing of broadcast and malice. people and journalists alike. Amid seemingly profits. When Achilova attempted to report in 2016 media is fair, competitive, omnipresent censorship, “people rely on what their about similar problems at state-operated stores, she and apolitical. ▶▶Public information is easily accessible; relatives, friends, or neighbors say is happening,” one was detained. Since being released later that year, ▶▶Market entry and tax right of access to panelist said. “There is no real media, so lies and fake she has been assaulted numerous times by unknown structure for media are information is equally fair and comparable enforced for all media news are making the rounds among the population.” assailants, most recently last summer. No one has to other industries. Citizen journalists and civic activists have been ever been charged. and journalists. able to provide the outside world with glimpses of Attacks by strangers who promptly escape, ▶▶Crimes against ▶▶Media outlets have journalists or media what this disjunction is like. Using a pseudonym never to be apprehended and prosecuted, is unrestricted access outlets are prosecuted to information; this is to express opinions online, even positive ones, a favorite intimidation tactic of Turkmenistan’s vigorously, but equally enforced for all is ubiquitous. Citizen journalists have recounted authorities. The danger extends to journalists’ occurrences of such media and journalists. crimes are rare. numerous anecdotes about young male practi- families. When another RFE/RL contributor, ▶▶Entry into the tioners of Islam being pulled aside or detained Khudayberdy Allashov, was arrested in December ▶▶State or public media do journalism profession by authorities and having their phones examined, 2016 for allegedly possessing chewing tobacco, not receive preferential is free, and government legal treatment, and often on no other basis than having discussed their which is illegal in the country, his mother was taken imposes no licensing, law guarantees editorial restrictions, or special religious beliefs online. Gossip and rumor spread into custody as well. They served two-and-a-half independence. rights for journalists. by the so-called village women’s newswire (obanyn months in prison before being convicted in February

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publications, typically from . State journalists by citizen journalists, provoking intensified efforts migrants living, studying, and working abroad. “The have limited permission to browse external news by authorities in what might very well be a slowly social-media environment is considerably smaller websites, but only for content that is both related to growing vicious circle. and more cloistered” than its counterparts in other Turkmenistan and positive in nature. Meanwhile, a small but increasing number of Central Asian societies, according to the report, and For the rest of the population, the rules of the Turkmenetizens are finding ways around technical the prevalence of elites renders the Turkmenet “a game are clear: There is effectively a ban on the bans imposed upon VPN and proxy servers. This particularly limited representation of public opinion import of newsletters, journals (even scientific ones), holds some promise for gouging chinks out of the in one of the world’s most isolated societies.” magazines, and newspapers produced abroad. country’s armor of media control, but care must be There appears to be a rise in use of Suitcases, computers, phones, and flash drives are taken in attempting to assess the long-term prospects Internet-based chat services and mobile messaging checked at the airport, and the trunks, cabs, and of the Internet for cracking open this society. apps, such as WhatsApp and Line, to spread cargos of cars and trucks are checked at highway The underlying infrastructure of the Turkmenet information about events or aspects of Turkmenistani border crossings. If a person is caught importing any is unknown, but various clues over the years create law and bureaucracy. But, as one panelist noted, such material, he or she faces punishment. an interesting, if still daunting, picture. It is believed “chat rooms between people cannot replace the that by ITU that 18% of individual Turkmenistani job that the press does. The information is not very The consequence for society, as one panelist citizens and 13.6 percent of Turkmenistani reliable, and the secret police are regularly checking households have some form of Internet access. chat rooms, trying to track and identify the people put it, is that “self-censorship is an everyday Anecdotally speaking, most of those with access are who are active there.” Indeed, in 2016, airport practice.” either living abroad or clustered around Ashgabat, authorities prevented a young Twitter user from the country’s capital and telecommunications hub. boarding a plane. The individual was never provided For many years, Turkmenistanis have relied Internet access is extremely expensive. an explanation but, according to one panel member, upon a workaround for the foreign-media barrier: Chronicles of Turkmenistan, a multilingual news site had likely been the victim of one of the regime’s television receive-only satellite dishes (TVROs), operated by the Vienna-based Turkmen Initiative for many secret blacklists related to online activity. which beam external content—principally from Human Rights, reported that Turkmentelecom, the Russia, but also from Europe and Iran—directly sole provider, charges TMT 950 ($264) a month for into their homes. Exactly how many TVROs are unlimited Internet service with a connection speed Even critical content could be published, in use in Turkmenistan has long been debated, of 1 Mbit/s. For those priced out of regular access, especially by young citizen journalists, “so but observers have regularly used terms like surfing the Web can still be done at Internet cafés, long as it was from a ‘Turkmen perspective’ “ubiquitous” and “everywhere.” but these, unsurprisingly, are heavily controlled by It is unclear how technology that poses such the state. Users must register with a valid official and not seen as foreign interference and an obvious and direct challenge to the regime’s ID, and the authorities track every online move they subversion,” this panelist said. absolute control over information has been entering make, from visiting websites to writing emails. the country; it is an issue badly in need of study by The demographics of the Turkmenet are Internet surveillance is readily facilitated by the analysts. What is clearer is that citizens are deeply similarly fuzzy, though a rough sketch does exist. Telecommunications Ministry’s effective monopoly protective of their dishes. As TVROs tend to be large According to a 2016 analysis by George Washington over all forms of communications, maintained and must be placed in prominent locations, they University’s Program, the online through formal and informal structures, including have proven to be an easy target for government community, such as it is, appears to be made various state-owned enterprises and a shadowy 2012 raids in the name of “urban beautification.” These up largely of well-to-do youth in urban areas, agreement with Russian mobile-service provider raids have been met with scuffles and even including children of the ruling elite, although there MTS, the dominant force in the Turkmenistani organized protests, according to numerous reports is a significant component of students and labor mobile market. Even that dominance comes with

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the tolerance of the all-powerful ministry, with which a few daring ‘underground’ writers for exile media.” Journalism meets professional MTS has had a fraught relationship. The company Nevertheless, the score rose to 0.70, more in line standards of quality. entered the Turkmenistani market in 2005, had its with Turkmenistan’s median performance in this operations suspended in 2010, resumed operations area. There is some more insight this year into PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM INDICATORS in 2012, and was cut off again in September 2017. exactly how authorities monitor and exert what is ▶▶Reporting is fair, ▶▶Entertainment This last move came as a blow to MTS, as just often a tacit form of control over state journalists, objective, and programming does one month earlier it had expanded its 3G network as well as a sense of just how orchestrated well sourced. not eclipse news and information throughout the country. According to the telecom- Turkmenistan’s entire public sphere has become. ▶▶Journalists follow programming. munications research company Telecompaper, as of As with higher past ratings for this objective, recognized and accepted ethical standards. ▶▶Technical facilities January 2018, MTS Turkmenistan was in the process the score for this year is inflated by the quality of and equipment for of refunding its former subscribers. technical facilities and equipment for gathering, ▶▶Journalists and editors gathering, producing, do not practice and distributing The cash-strapped regime seems to be sparing producing, and distributing news. This reflects the self-censorship. no expense in its pursuit of total control over the quality of the technology as such, not whether news are modern and efficient. Turkmenet. Alternative Turkmenistan News (ATN) media professionals use it optimally—and they do ▶▶Journalists cover key events and issues. reported that in 2016, capping a years-long effort, not. Video and screen captures provided by citizen ▶▶Quality niche reporting and programming the regime successfully launched a telecommuni- journalists demonstrate the inconsistent and often ▶▶Pay levels for journalists and other media exists (investigative, cations satellite into orbit, with the sole purpose of poor aesthetic quality of media content—from image professionals are economics/business, monitoring mobile-phone activity in the country. resolution to the typography of newspapers—and sufficiently high to local, political). belie the regime’s ostensible efforts at technological discourage corruption. modernization. Berdymukhammedov himself has OBJECTIVE 2: often and openly criticized the low aesthetic quality PROFESSIONAL 0.70 of media products, but there is no genuine political authorities? As a panelist summed up last year, JOURNALISM will for change. the Turkmenistani government does not consider As for the content itself, the story remains journalism a tool of socialization, as do many author- The 2017 MSI’s historically low mark of 0.43 the same as in previous years. Screens, pages, itarian states, or a tool of education and oversight, for Objective 2 was the result of a deeper and airwaves are dominated by the president’s as in democratic countries. Rather, it is considered a reassessment of what Turkmenistan’s stagnation exploits in all sectors of life and governance; means to ensure a malleable population. in all aspects of media sustainability signified entertainment, especially traditional music; and The government formally accredits only its about the mentality of the country’s state grossly exaggerated economic statistics. In general, own state-media employees, who do not dare journalists themselves. The diagnosis was not the tone of reporting is emotionally ecstatic and question the government in their reporting. These positive. Whether state journalists do have some very nationalist. State media are wildly inaccurate, state journalists are not wholly ignorant of interna- grasp of what their craft really should be like, to an extent that their reporting “borders on pure tional standards and forms of professional reporting. and have made their peace with the situation as fabrication,” as one panelist put it. Events warranting Some have taken part in state-organized visits it is, are matters of speculation. Regardless, the coverage are tightly orchestrated. “Nothing is left with counterparts abroad in the name of media structure is too formidable for them to oppose it. to chance,” another panelist said. “When you see development, and many are able legally to access people attending a parade, they have been trained external news as part of their content-gathering This year our panelists remain pessimistic. “It is how to dress and what to say, and everything is routines. They could be considered complacent--or difficult to talk about ‘journalism’ in Turkmenistan,” according to a protocol.” even complicit--in the deplorable condition of media one said. “Fundamentally, there isn’t any, except for What, then, is the goal of journalism for the in Turkmenistan, but that is a tough charge to make

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stick, given the conditions under which they work. Turkmenistan (some analysts believe them to be as foreign policy of “positive neutrality”); Altyn Asyr Newsroom protocols are set by high-level officials low as $150) or cost-of-living expenses. Whereas (Golden Age, the main website, named for the state’s according to the whims, real or perceived, of the last year’s panel said pay levels were sufficient to official slogan); Turkmenistan (a large-scale national president. Editors—who, like all other key state discourage corruption, this year one member said newspaper); Nebit-Gaz (official publication and officials, are appointed by Berdymukhammedov— corruption among journalists is “widespread” and website of the state-run oil and natural-gas industry); actively avoid topics that might attract negative “often endorsed by state officials as a ‘thank you’ for Bneshnyaya Politika i Diplomatiya Turkmenistana attention from above. a good story.” (Foreign Policy and Diplomacy of Turkmenistan, One panelist noted the ubiquitous presence mouthpiece of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). of the authorities in the form of “supervisors” The state also publishes Diyar (Home), a from national-security bodies who are physically OBJECTIVE 3: lifestyle journal, and a number of English-language stationed inside media offices. These are essentially PLURALITY 0.38 _ circulars, including World Literature, Standard, OF NEWS government minders akin to the Soviet-era Quality and Security, Democracy and Law, and commissar, and according to this panelist, they Culture and Tourism. “literally check every single word before it is Turkmenistan’s score for Objective 3 is 0.38, There are several news websites believed to published or aired. That’s why there is hardly any following several years in the 0.25 range. One be run or otherwise affiliated with the government, live streaming, live talk shows.” The state is even explanation for this fluctuation is the challenge including Turkmenistan.ru (oddly, a Russian believed to exercise control over journalists’ social panelists face in weighing the quality of “internal” government‒owned site), Turkmenportal.com, benefits and housing. (i.e., state) media vs. “external” (nonstate) Turkmeninform.com, Ashgabad.net, Infoabad.com, media. Nonstate media are subdivided into Arzuw.tm, and Gundogar-news.com (not to be “It is difficult to talk about ‘journalism’ in “exile media” (operated by dissidents or former confused with the exile-media website Gundogar. Turkmenistan,” one said. “Fundamentally, political insiders), “surrogate media” (such as org). The default language of several of these RFE/RL’s Azatlyk Radiosy), and a scant few outlets is Russian, not Turkmen. Before recently there isn’t any, except for a few daring genuinely independent entities (such as ATN; the going defunct, websites such as Murgap.net and ‘underground’ writers for exile media.” now-defunct, social-media-based SalamTurkmen; Krasnovodsk.net were also suspected of being and NewEurasia Citizen Media, which is also government-affiliated. There remains uncertainty about the pay levels dormant at present). It should be noted that the preceding is not of state journalists. Some panelists said it is low; a full taxonomy of all the print publications and others considered it adequate for living standards in The main external media are Azatlyk Radiosy, websites, as the full extent of the state’s rather Turkmenistan. “Reporters earn higher than teachers Chronicles of Turkmenistan, ATN, EurasiaNet.org, prodigious output remains unknown. In this respect, but lower than the police,” one asserted. In 2015, and Global Voices Online. The Diplomat, an online the words of the panelist who compiled this list are a panelist said salaries for journalists had been magazine covering the Asia-Pacific region, is also especially apt: “Such a visible abundance of media increasing by 10 percent annually for at least four important, and there are several Twitter feeds and nevertheless does not lead to an improvement in the years, but it is impossible to verify this, much less blogs by experts and journalists from Turkmen, reliability and versatile delivery of information.” All confirm whether the practice has continued during Russian, and Western backgrounds. media outlets in Turkmenistan continue to present the economic downturn. The following are confirmed internal or state only one point of view—quite literally. As revealed to Even if hard numbers on media salaries media outlets in Russian, Turkmen, and English: the outside world in a 2007 blog post by American were accessible, it would be difficult to compare Major print publications and websites include journalist Joshua Kucera, content produced by the them to compensation in other fields, as there are Neutralny Turkmenistan (Neutral Turkmenistan, the Turkmen Dowlet Habarlary (Turkmen State News no reliable data on average monthly salaries in main newspaper, named for the state’s official Agency) is recycled and repeated with conveyor

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belt-like monotony across multiple platforms. the Turkmenistani intelligentsia: Dayanch (Support), president’s relatives runs the business,” one panelist It remains unclear whether this peculiarity is a Russian- and Turkmen-language magazine, said of putatively private enterprises. “It is very a product of formal policy, especially considering and the newspaper Turkmen Ili (Turkmen Nation). obvious, even if not transparent.” Berdymukhammedov’s complaints about this very Unfortunately, these publications proved to be The Turkmen-language Zaman Turkmenistan phenomenon. Some critics of the regime try to canaries in a coal mine. Muhammetmurat Salamatov, is obscure. According to a 2009 article by RFE/ cast it as a relic from the Soviet era, but this is the publisher of Dayanch, was beaten by unknown RL’s Central Newsroom—one of the only online debatable. According to a 2010 article on the Central assailants and then charged with using money from references to it in English and the only to mention Asian citizen-journalism network NewEurasia, the criminal activities to fund the magazine. Print runs its ownership—it is “Turkish-owned.” One panelist media landscape may have been more diverse of both publications were routinely confiscated, and specified that it may have been owned by Zaman, in 1991, at the dawn of independence—in part their editors were constantly harassed. Eventually, a widely read Turkish newspaper that was affiliated because, like the rest of the former Soviet republics, they quietly faded away. with Hizmet, the Muslim spiritual movement led Turkmenistan came into nationhood fresh off the There are no laws in Turkmenistan that perestroika and glasnost era. At the time, NewEurasia prohibit private, nonstate media. However, creating “If there is a question about ownership, it reported, there were at least two independent print and operating a conventional outlet requires is always safe to say one of the president’s publications owned and managed by members of overcoming numerous bureaucratic and logistical relatives runs the business,” one panelist obstacles that authorities exploit to stop anything but state media in its tracks. The very attempt said of putatively private enterprises. “It is Multiple news sources provide citizens to establish and register a private entity could with reliable and objective news. very obvious, even if not transparent.” invite suspicion and intimidation. In a surprising PLURALITY OF NEWS SOURCES INDICATORS sign of potential progress, one panelist said an by Fethullah Gülen, but was seized by the Turkish ▶▶A plurality of affordable ▶▶Independent broadcast Ashgabat-based businessman managed in 2017 to government in March 2016 and shut down four public and private media produce their secure a media license. However, the authorities months later. Whether Zaman Turkmenistan has news sources (e.g., own news programs. have apparently prevented him from doing anything ever been affiliated with Hizmet is unknown (and print, broadcast, with it. (The identity of this individual, much less it should be noted that the Gülen movement, Internet) exists. ▶▶Transparency of media ownership allows the conditions of his successful application, have especially its schools, was subject to crackdowns by ▶▶Citizens’ access consumers to judge not been shared with IREX.) Turkmenistani authorities in 2011 and 2017). Weirdly, to domestic or objectivity of news; international media media ownership is There are only two ostensibly private according to Zaman Turkmenistan’s website, the is not restricted. not concentrated in a newspapers: Rysgal (Welfare, supposedly newspaper is headquartered in the same building as few conglomerates. a publication for businessmen) and Zaman the country’s postal service, Türkmenpoçta. ▶▶State or public media reflect the views of ▶▶A broad spectrum of Turkmenistan (Times of Turkmenistan, purportedly a Tracking down the history of Zaman Turkmenistan the entire political social interests are general newspaper). Rysgal is the more questionable is like sifting clues in a detective story. It appears to spectrum, are reflected and represented of the two. It was launched in 2010 on instruction have been registered with the Library of Congress as nonpartisan, and serve in the media, including the public interest. minority-language from Berdymukhammedov himself and trumpeted far back as 2000, with a physical description added information sources. by the Turkmen State News Agency (in English, in 2015. One would expect a Turkmen-language ▶▶Independent news no less). It is officially owned by the Union of circular with a once-powerful Turkish pedigree to agencies gather and ▶▶Broadcast ratings, distribute news for print circulation figures, Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, a pro-government figure prominently within the Turkmenet, yet as of and broadcast media. and Internet statistics business association that is widely seen as another this writing a chronological Google query unearths a are reliable. tool of the regime. “If there is a question about single 2011 reference in an online social forum post ownership, it is always safe to say one of the about jobs. Since the 2009 RFE/RL article, only one

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other English reference turns up: In 2013, AzerTas, the The story is not entirely woeful. One promising Independent media are well-managed state news agency of , reported that Zaman development reported last year seems to be holding businesses, allowing editorial independence. Turkmenistan had posted an article on Azerbaijani steady: State journalists appear to still be permitted President Ilham Aliyev’s re-election. A Whois query by the regime to blog as a kind of hobby or exercise. BUSINESS MANAGEMENT INDICATORS reveals that Zaman Turkmenistan created its website They must stick to apolitical topics, such as music, ▶▶Media outlets and ▶▶Independent media in April 2016, a month after the Turkish Zaman football, cooking, recreational activities, or official supporting firms operate do not receive as efficient, professional, government subsidies. was nationalized. In late 2016, the website became news. State media have remained responsive to, and and profit-generating password-protected, but in early 2017 it became seem to share, grassroots interest in news regarding businesses. ▶▶Market research is accessible again to the public. the Ahal-Teke, the famed Turkmen horse breed, and used to formulate ▶▶Media receive revenue strategic plans, Publishing general content, Zaman Turkmenistan the government’s attempts to promote it abroad. from a multitude enhance advertising claims to be a subscription-based print and It also bears repeating that there may be some of sources. revenue, and tailor products to the online newspaper. However, the whole notion of hope in the Turkmenet, highly policed as it is. There ▶▶Advertising agencies and subscriptions in Turkmenistan is a perverse one, as is an encouraging amount of volunteerism among needs and interests related industries support of audiences. the government continues to enforce a genuinely Turkmenetizens to gather and share information— an advertising market. Soviet-era practice of producing newspapers for whether about the weather, bureaucratic procedures, ▶▶Broadcast ratings ▶▶Advertising revenue as and circulation specific ministries and industries and requiring their or how to go abroad for medical care—and a percentage of total figures are reliably respective employees to purchase this content. indications that a growing number of everyday revenue is in line with and independently accepted standards at produced. For instance, those who work in the Ministry of citizens working in low-skilled jobs abroad may also commercial outlets. Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Defense are be feeding information back to their compatriots required to subscribe to Adalat (Justice) and Esger inside Turkmenistan. A wide gamut of internally (Military), respectively, while those in the medical suppressed content—such as Western and Russian profession must purchase Saglyk (Health). If a field films, user-generated news and commentary, television, of private advertisements for nonstate does not have its own publication, those working in and hip-hop music videos (the genre is officially goods and services. This year’s bright spot is the it must subscribe to one from another sector. In all considered “immoral” by Turkmenistani authorities)— existence of journalism degree programs, thanks cases, workers are required to pay the full cost of is trickling into the country. to the incremental growth of training opportu- subscriptions out of pocket. nities for state journalists under the auspices of Russian is frequently the language of written the Organization for Security and Co-operation news, often edging out Turkmen. Examples abound, OBJECTIVE 4: in Europe (OSCE). The rest of the indicators that including silly ones, such as Turkmeninform.com, BUSINESS 0.26 contribute to business management, as in previous MANAGEMENT which publishes in Russian and English but not years, dangle close to zero. Simply put, there is Turkmen, despite having a Turkmen-language not much of a story to tell about management in icon. When content is published in the Turkmen The history of bottom-of-the-barrel scores for this Turkmenistani media beyond the Orwellian picture language, it is written in either the Soviet-era Cyrillic objective reflects the massively corrosive effects of journalists minded by commissars who vet or independence-era Latin alphabets, but never in of absolute state control upon management every word of content. the Arabic alphabet used by Turkmen in Afghanistan, culture. The smidgens of hope in 2015 for the barest Iraq, and Iran. Although nearly 10 percent of the degree of liberalization—including a market for country’s population are ethnic Uzbeks, since the Last year, the existing advertising market was the advertisements and classifieds and the possibility of late 1990s there has been no confirmed official press best factor for business management due to the foreign investment—became mirage-like in 2016 and in their language. rare appearance on some websites, and even on may have been proven entirely illusory in 2017. There

7 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2018 TURKMENISTAN

is no independent financing of media. Whispers of continue their subscriptions. distorts every aspect of Objective 5. foreign financial interest in the ad industry went silent. Turkmenistani academic and media institutions Civil society simply does not exist in “All media in Turkmenistan would not be able do not offer classes to help strengthen research Turkmenistan. The freedom of assembly crucial for to sustain themselves should the state decide it no skills or even provide instruction in proper use of the the formation of trade associations and other NGOs longer is going to finance them and if there were no news-gathering and production equipment, some is not illegal, but the government restricts this right more forced subscriptions,” one panelist explained. of it state-of-the-art, provided by the state. Training, in practice. The law requires of a would-be NGO that Several said that without compulsory subscriptions, such as it is, is provided entirely by outsiders, its founder be a citizen and that it register with the no one would willingly consume the state’s whether Westerners or fellow post-Soviets. Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Economics monotonous media products. and Development. To do so, the organization must With respect to management practices, there prove, by way of a list of names and addresses, are none. State media do not appear to recognize OBJECTIVE 5: that it has 500 members, a bar no group is likely to the existence of, let alone engage in, common SUPPORTING 0.26 reach in a surveillance state. Even if an organization INSTITUTIONS practices like developing business plans, conducting secures registration, its leaders are legally bound to market research, or establishing personnel policies. notify the government of all planned activities and Editors are appointed or dismissed by the president, Turkmenistan’s score for Objective 5 is 0.26, regularly to permit Justice Ministry representatives who rewards loyalty over skill. The broadcasting up from 2017’s all-time low of 0.13 and roughly to “attend” events and meetings. Any activity by an sector has no ratings system, and there are no matching the median and average in this unregistered NGO is punishable by fines, short-term data on websites’ traffic. Newspapers proudly tout category. Scores for most indicators in this detention, and confiscation of property. The scant circulation assessments that are nothing more than objective dropped; the overall number was pulled few efforts by Turkmenistani citizens to jump these the number of copies printed. up by sizable (for Turkmenistan) improvements hurdles and register NGOs have been rebuffed by in measuring formal opportunities for journalism authorities, often using subjective criteria. “All media in Turkmenistan would not be education and technology. Still, giving credit for There are some pro forma structures able to sustain themselves should the or credence to such specific changes misses the established by the government for various industries, forest for the trees on a grand scale. but apparently none that specifically represent state decide it no longer is going to finance media interests. There is no need for an association them and if there were no more forced Objective 5 concerns two key and often little-un- of media owners; the government is the only media subscriptions,” one panelist explained. derstood aspects of media development: the owner. Two labor unions for journalists are known extent to which nongovernmental organizations to have once operated, but it is unclear if they still Interestingly, one panelist noticed a decline (NGOs)—trade associations, activist and advocacy do so. One, the Soviet-era Union of Journalists of in stated circulation—that is, print run—for major groups--either help or hinder journalists; and the Turkmenistan, was established in 1958 and re-reg- publications. Figures reported by Neutralny resources available to any given media outlet— istered in 1992 with a charter that included “the Turkmenistan, arguably the flagship publication of equipment, paper, printing facilities, physical and protection of journalists’ interests against state and state media, dropped from 49,140 copies in April virtual distribution channels. This objective also public organizations, founders, and publishers of the 2012 to 38,642 in June 2017. Another significant covers the enormous role played by telecommuni- media.” The other was the Shamshyrag Association publication, the monthly magazine Diyar, has seen cations infrastructure at all levels, from the country of Journalists of Turkmenistan; its last known circulation drop from 8,650 copies in 2014 to 7,430 as a whole down through the newsroom and activities (two US-funded seminars for journalists copies in 2017. The panelist speculated that this into citizens’ computers, televisions, and phones. and a public presentation about its membership’s could indicate the extent of layoffs, as the state As with the other four objectives, the problem activities) were held in in 2001. does not compel those no longer employed by it to in Turkmenistan is that total government control Journalism training was reintroduced into

8 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2018 TURKMENISTAN

Supporting institutions function in the preparations for the celebration of Independence infrastructure is antiquated, crumbling, and concen- professional interests of independent media. Day. Rare foreign lecturers talk about Western trated in a few pockets of development, such as standards of journalism, but the students cannot Ashgabat. “Channels of distribution are outdated,” SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS INDICATORS: apply these skills in practice.” one panelist said. “Kiosks are plentiful throughout ▶▶Trade associations ▶▶Quality journalism One positive development noted by panelists the country, but modern ways of distribution, such represent the interests degree programs is the state’s occasional willingness to permit as via mobile platforms or social media, even of private media that provide owners and provide substantial practical students, instructors, and professionals to pursue websites, do not exist.” member services. experience exist. training abroad, although the selection and vetting process for participants is unknown. In recent ▶▶Professional ▶▶Printing facilities “Kiosks are plentiful throughout the country, associations are in private years, Turkmenistani representatives have taken but modern ways of distribution, such as work to protect hands, apolitical, part in at least two OSCE-sponsored media-training journalists’ rights. and unrestricted. events in other post-Soviet states: a 2016 seminar via mobile platforms or social media, even ▶▶Short-term training ▶▶Channels of media in Belarus with Western and Russian experts, websites, do not exist.” and in-service distribution (kiosks, attended by faculty members from the International training programs transmitters, Internet) University and other institutions of higher learning; Observers say this may be exactly what the allow journalists to are private, apolitical, upgrade skills or and unrestricted. and a four-day “study visit” to Lithuania in 2014, regime wants. Limited modernization, or none acquire new skills. where Turkmenistani state journalists met with at all, strengthens rather than weakens control, ▶▶Information and ▶▶Sources of newsprint communication Baltic counterparts. According to Chronicles of precisely because it reinforces dependence upon NGOs support technology­ infra- Turkmenistan, this latter trip was especially notable the state and discourages the independent pursuit free speech and structure sufficiently because it included a training in how to conduct live of information. independent media. meets the needs of broadcasts and a lively debate about the difference media and citizens. between propaganda and journalism. Rita Milute, a Lithuanian broadcast journalist who conducted List of Panel Participants one of the training sessions, said the Turkmenistani university curricula in 2008 after a long prohibition. participants agreed that propaganda and journalism IREX did not conduct an in-country panel discussion In 2014, Berdymukhammedov opened a new are not the same but insisted that propaganda is a because of Turkmenistan’s repressive environment. International University of the Humanities and key feature of every media system. This chapter represents desk research, interviews, and Development in Ashgabat. Little is known about The acquisition and operation of equipment for the result of questionnaires filled out by several people this institution beyond official Turkmenistani press media is tightly controlled, and all known distribution familiar with the state of media in the country. releases. In the 2015-2016 academic year, it hosted tools are owned by the state. When the government two Fulbright Scholars from the , and wants to get its message out, the sheer power with in 2016 it sought to establish a relationship with which it can do so is breathtaking. Turkmenistan South Korea’s prestigious Sungkyunkwan University is immense but largely empty (70 percent of the (whether such a relationship was ever formally country is desert); radio transmitters reach all its established has yet to be confirmed). Courses are far-flung inhabited areas, while a vast kiosk network believed to be taught in English and a journalism is on constant standby to disseminate whatever degree is offered, but according to one panelist, material the government desires. the quality of the program is low: “Students spend Still, by nearly all accounts, Turkmenistan’s most of their time at mandatory state events, like telecommunications and information distribution

9 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2018