Pledges made by the government during the electoral campaign have “apparently” been maintained: new Internet Cafes are opened in Ashgabat. But under what conditions? Unstable connections, payments for entry and the “company” of armed soldiers.

Ashgabat (AsiaNews) –The initial enthusiasm which greeted the opening of internet cafe’s in Turkmenistan is on the wane. They had been promoted by President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov who had concentrated his campaign promises on increasing internet access. It was hoped that these Cafes would represent a positive step ahead compared to the repressive policies of the late President Saparmurat Niyazov, who died in December 2006. Since it’s inception in 1990, Niyazov’s regime suffocated freedom of religion and press, crushed political and civil liberties and favoured corruption. His dictatorship was based on cult propaganda: in schools the study of his book “Ruhnama” (“Saint”) was obligatory, public propaganda referred to him as a prophet and he took pride of place in prefaces to prayers. He changed the names of months and weeks and even his own to Turkmenbashi (Father and guide of Turkmen people), and insisted that his rule be remembered as the “golden era”.