53Referring to Turkmenistan’s recent hosting of the 2017 Asian Indoor and Mar-
tial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Nishanov says, “Their economy is in tatters. The
games cost them five billion US dollars and with natural gas prices in a downward
spiral they had to cut everything in order to pay for this.” The authorities even
banned their own citizens from entering Ashgabat during the games, several news
agencies have discovered. Nishanov fears that the economic mismanagement has
become so severe that a humanitarian crisis may be imminent. He envisions star-
vation and a collapse of basic services, beginning in
rural areas before emerging in larger urban areas,
including the capital.
Luca Anceschi, a lecturer in Central Asian Studies
at the University of Glasgow, agrees with Nishanov’s
dire assessment. “The most pressing issue faced by the
regime – and indirectly the population – is represented
by identifying a viable solution for the revenue crisis
that is severely hitting Turkmenistan’s natural gas industry, the most important
production sector across the wider economy.” Yet the regime persists in its “preda-
tory use of gas revenues,” Anceschi notes.
Something rotten in the state of TurkmenistanFaced with potential calamity, why is the regime seemingly either unwilling or
unable to change course? The answer, to paraphrase William Shakespeare, there
is something rotten in the state of Turkmenistan. Grandiose projects “with little
public utility [are nonetheless] crucial to the regime’s corruption agenda and its
ambition of international legitimacy,” Anceschi explains. Turkmenistan’s immense
construction projects are typically financed by Turkish and Arab businessmen.
Many observers believe they provide ideal cover for money laundering.
Grandiosity, however, is not only a highly lucrative business; it is also a danger-
ous game. Earlier this year, Batyr Ereshov, the deputy chairperson of Turkmeni-
stan’s Cabinet of Ministers – the government’s highest echelon – died suddenly at
the age of 51. Seemingly healthy, no official cause of death has been given by the
government, leading many to suspect foul play, as it had not escaped notice that
prior to his role as deputy chairperson, Ereshov had been in charge of construc-
tion in the country.
Grandiosity – and the illicit profits it brings – takes priority over everything
else, even the need of the citizens to eat. For example, in March during the lead-up
to the games, the salaries of state workers were reduced by 50 per cent, according
Economic
mismanagement has
become so severe that
a humanitarian crisis
may be imminent.A looming humanitarian crisis in the land Orwell forgot, Christopher Schwartz Opinion & Analysis