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Turkmenistan
Capital: Ashgabat Population: 4,952,081 (July 2005 est.)
Environmental Issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, water-logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification
The Republic of Turkmenistan is presently governed by President Saparmurat Niyazov. The Niyazov regime does not conduct democratic and fair elections, nor is any form of public opposition tolerated.
Due to the safety concerns to Turkmen citizens and the travel restrictions placed on visitors, efforts to obtain memoirs for this nation were abandoned. It was felt by the interviewers that collecting individual stories may place at risk the livelihoods of local citizens. It was also believed that accepting government assistance in collecting the memoirs would not result in an accurate account of people's memories and emotions.
For further information on the Niyazov regime visit:
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