Farid Tukhbatullin: “It is hardly Talibs will go directly through border …”

There is still few information about what occurs in Turkmenistan. The Chronicles of Turkmenistan editor Farid Tukhbatullin told our portal how the two-party system appeared in the country and why they wait for coalition withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan with alarm:

- And were the elections actually elections?

- Two political parties were formally presented so it was possible to choose from their representatives. And even it was declared that there are independent candidates — I mean those candidates who were proposed by labor unions and various public organizations. By the way, in Turkmenistan there is no law on labor unions, so the legal labor unions aren’t present. There is a rudiment of the Soviet era — the union of labor unions. If it is possible to say it is almost the government institution.

There were observers for the CIS: they told that everything passed by rules, there are no questions. As a result in parliament which totals 120 deputies, now there are 14 representatives of new party — Parties of Industrialists and Businessmen.

-Was the quota defined?

- I won’t tell that everything was defined up to units, but, probably, so decided that let they will have 10−15%. The matter is that the president Berdimuhamedov appeared in a dual position. He after all just was the leader of Democratic Party — the only party since the time of Niyazov. But, when he left it, there was a danger that many will vote per lot businessmen that would look not really beautifully … Here also decided to leave them some percent.

— After all, what is that party?

- The new party, really, includes small and mediocre businessmen. They are actually exhausted there. At first the association of businessmen — the Union of industrialists and businessmen of Turkmenistan which was headed by the friend of the president was created and this structure actually receives all types of the state help. Then they decided to make the party. And in this non-governmental association — I take this word in quotes, forced all to write declarations of accession to party. Now, to obtain even any small credit for business, you will be demanded that you entered these structures.

— What is thesense of creation of the second party? Is it so important to president Berdimuhamedov to create multi-party system illusion?

- Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov reacts to criticism very much if it goes from OSCE and other international organizations. After all everyone says that the one-party system already assumes totalitarianism in itself. Here the president also decided to go on the way of the neighbor — Uzbekistan. There, in general, there are four political parties, but as you know, all of them vote unanimously there! Now the formal multi-party system is created in Turkmenistan.

- Probably, still parties will appear?

- Yes, there were such conversations. It was supposed that also the Peasants Party will appear. But while, probably, decided that it will be search, and left two parties. Another is interesting: elections only just passed, but already re-elections are appointed on three districts. What could happen to the elected deputies in two months?!

- Tell, the new party has chances of occurrence of the representatives in the government?

- While they aren’t present in the government of the republic, but it is necessary to tell that the most important person in party — Alexander Dadayev — constantly participates in enlarged meetings of Council of Ministers though he isn’t present at official versions of reporting: he simply sits, listens … What occurs actually is a question … But already the fact that he is mentioned, means much.

- Now about other: was any official reaction to events in Ukraine?

- There is no official reaction. Turkmenistan didn’t vote in the UN at all when the question was considered there. But, as far as I know, the Turkmen authorities after all enough watchfully treated the events. The matter is that many Russian citizens live in Turkmenistan — not simply Russian-speaking, but the people having the Russian nationality. They were to 100 thousand people earlier, now they are about 30 thousand. That is, potentially the authorities are frightened by a situation that Russia suddenly will take and come to protect the rights of these people …

— The problem of the second nationality still remains actual?

- This question still is in a hover. Partially it was resolved: it is authorized to give passports to those who obtained nationality after 2003. Also have its rather large number of citizens. But besides the Turkmen authorities try not to recognize it. In Russia it is recognized — so everything rests against this moment.

— After events in Ukraine the political scientists in the different republics reflect, whether something can be at them similar to the Euromaidan? What is it possible to tell about Turkmenistan in this respect?

- Now it is impossible in Turkmenistan in principle. Here they speak not about Maidan, but about how coalition withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan can affect a situation in the country. And it is clear, after all already there was a firefight on the Afghan-Turkmen border. According to one version, it was with Talibs, on another — with drug dealers. But anyway, it is clear that the situation can strongly become aggravated. And our authorities this possible destabilization of a situation disturbs first of all exactly here from Afghanistan.

Though personally it seems to me that the bigger risk is born by economic and social situation in the republic which worsens. If something occurs, not under the influence of external factors, but that occurs within the country. Because the unemployment among adult population reaches 60%. And many, especially man’s part of the population, are compelled to leave in job searches abroad: to Turkey, to Arab Emirates. There it is simpler to Turkmens to leave for work because it isn’t necessary to make out the visa as to Russia. And this money gives rather big percent in the republican budget. Let recently the chairman of committee on work told that this year 26 thousand workplaces will be created, actually all understand that it is required them much more!

Officially the gross domestic product grows every year for 20% a year. So it is told to people for all years of independence. Of course, these figures are exaggerated — they reflect nothing.

- Probably, it is much told about involvement of foreign investors?

- There are no investors in Turkmenistan, but there are many foreign firms, first of all, the Turkish and French civil engineering firms which come to master budget money of Turkmenistan. Here they put nothing — only build Marble Palaces, five-stars hotels and so forth. Then these objects actually don’t pay off: their only mission is to decorate with itself.

- And what is it possible to tell about new luxurious resorts on the Caspian Sea?

- Avaza is on the bank of the Caspian Sea; there it is already constructed about ten cool hotels which stand empty the most part of time because of climatic conditions. On the sea it is possible to have a rest at most two months. And what to do in the rest of the time? There also send to have a rest almost violently.

- In summary, one more question which we raised — about Afghanistan a little. The authorities, it turns out, are afraid, that Talibs can cross the border and will intrude in borders of Turkmenistan?

- It is unlikely Talibs will go directly through border — this is my opinion. Rather we have to speak about other here: in 20 years quite large number of the Turkmen men went to study to Turkey and Pakistan. They picked up different ideas from doctrines there which belong to nonconventional Islam. In many villages these ideas already enjoy today wide popularity. For example, because the struggle with addicts already began by own efforts — by means of methods of the discipline of the rod. And the authorities are afraid of a religious factor which disturbs them more than the possible armed invasion.

I don’t think that Talibs will intrude in Turkmenistan, I think that much bigger danger to the power is constituted by growth of their possible influence within the country.