The authorities in Turkmenistan held meetings with civil servants in the city of Turkmenbashi and urged citizens not to read news from foreign media on the internet or provide information about socio-economic problems in the country to Radio Azatlyk, the Turkmen service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
During the meetings, which involved officials from the Ministry of National Security, representatives from the city administration, and various public organizations, attendees were admonished not to disclose any information. The organizers of the gatherings claimed that reporting issues to Radio Azatlyk would contradict Turkmen values.
These calls by the authorities for citizens to exercise patience are linked to ongoing long-standing socio-economic problems and a stifling policy of state control over the population, accompanied by stringent restrictions and suppression of freedom of speech, as highlighted by the Turkmen edition of Radio Azatlyk.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
28 июля 2023 года