This year, Turkmenistan celebrates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Turkmen SSR, the first Turkmen state within the Soviet Union. This date could have been an important historical moment for the nation, showcasing the legacy of the struggle for cultural and political unity of the Turkmen people. However, instead of a sincere celebration, the event is tinged with propaganda aimed at glorifying the ruling elite and cultivating loyalty to the state.
Historical Context and the Creation of the Turkmen SSR
The Soviet government founded the Turkmen SSR in 1924, carving it out of the Transcaspian region, previously part of the Russian Empire. In 1925, the Turkmen SSR officially became part of the USSR at the All-Turkmen Congress of Soviets in Ashgabat. This period was marked by an active policy of eradicating illiteracy, building schools, hospitals and factories.
Despite the achievements it brought, the Soviet system was also repressive, imposing collectivization and carrying out mass arrests, which left a traumatic mark on the fate of the people.
However, the modern state, in fact, departs from much of this historical fact, which could emphasize the multi-layered national identity. Instead, the 100th anniversary of independence is focused on creating a “successful image” of the country, rather than on a critical understanding of its historical path and the realities that Turkmen society faces today.
After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Turkmenistan declared independence, choosing the path of isolation and self-sufficiency, as the current government claims. However, in three decades of independence, the country has found itself in a deep economic crisis, despite its vast reserves of natural gas and other resources. Much of the income from resource exports is concentrated in the hands of the ruling elite, and is not redistributed to the needs of society. Unemployment rates, health services and social security remain in a state of crisis.
Opposition critics point out that no significant reforms have been carried out by the 100th anniversary, and state funds are spent not on social development, but on pompous events that cultivate the personality cult of the president and the illusory idea of a prosperous state.
State propaganda intensifies every year, limiting citizens’ access to independent information. Media control systems and strict laws suppress the slightest manifestation of opposition and public criticism. As a result, Turkmen society has found itself in a closed information space, where the authorities manipulate history and create an image of a progressive and stable state for the outside world.
Thus, the state’s centenary is being used by the authorities to strengthen the authoritarian regime. Economic resources are directed to show projects and grandiose monuments in the capital, while the regions continue to suffer from a shortage of basic products and services. Turkmenistan’s historical legacy, its first steps toward self-identification and independence, are overshadowed by political interests focused on enriching and strengthening the power of a narrow circle of people. Turkmenistan’s 100th anniversary could have become a moment of deep reflection on the past and a chance for the authorities to improve the economic and social situation in the country. However, the celebrations of this anniversary only highlight the gap between the needs of the people and the interests of the ruling elite. In the context of a repressive political system and restrictions on freedom of expression, public opinion remains suppressed, and history itself is distorted.
