“A Peaceful Sky Without a Future”: Murad Kurbanov Harshly Criticizes Turkmenistan’s Authorities
Turkmen public figure and leader of the “Democratic Choice of Turkmenistan” organization, Murad Kurbanov, delivered a policy speech titled “On the Peaceful Sky and a Stolen Life,” in which he sharply criticized the policies of the current authorities and the very concept of so-called “stability” actively promoted by official propaganda.
According to Kurbanov, the absence of war and bombings cannot serve as a justification for the systemic impoverishment of the population, total control, and the loss of basic rights and freedoms.
“We are constantly told: ‘Rejoice, you have a peaceful sky.’ But is the mere absence of bombs a happy life? People do not live by the sky alone, but by work, income, freedom, and the future,” he declared.
“Court Artists” as a Propaganda Tool
A separate section of the speech was dedicated to the role of cultural figures and public personalities who, in Kurbanov’s opinion, have turned into a service tool for the authorities. He labeled them “sycophantic court artists” who thank ex-president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov (Arkadag) from screens and stages for “peace and stability,” while remaining silent about the real state of affairs in the country.
Kurbanov listed the key results of more than 20 years of rule by the elder Berdimuhamedov:
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The country’s economy has been driven into a systemic crisis;
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Civil rights have been effectively destroyed;
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Freedom of movement is restricted;
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The population lives in fear of the security services;
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Nearly half of the citizens are forced to become labor migrants;
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Corruption has become total in nature.
“These artists are not just liars. They are an instrument used to lull the people to sleep with songs while their future is picked from their pockets,” he emphasized.
A Silent Social Catastrophe
Kurbanov paid special attention to socio-economic indicators, which, he claims, completely refute the thesis of a “prosperous and peaceful life.” He noted that pensions and social benefits in Turkmenistan amount to approximately $30 per month, while the unemployment rate, according to independent estimates, exceeds 45%.
“People are not fleeing from war; people are fleeing from poverty and hopelessness. This is not a peaceful life; this is a silent social catastrophe,” he stated.
In his speech, Kurbanov also conducted a comparative analysis with neighboring countries and the Baltic states. He noted that even in Central Asian countries, despite their problems, private business, competition, elections, and relative freedom of movement exist. Specifically, the minimum pension in Uzbekistan is about $100.
As a contrast, he cited Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, which started with equal footing to Turkmenistan after the collapse of the USSR, but today possess:
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An average pension exceeding 600 euros;
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Open borders;
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Functioning economies;
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Transfer of power and respect for the citizen.
“The difference is not in the people. The difference is in the system,” Kurbanov emphasized.
Family Rule Instead of a State
Concluding his speech, the opposition politician characterized the current model of governance as a “family business,” where power is passed down by inheritance, and state institutions have been replaced by a clan system.
“When power is passed from father to son, when relatives fill the state apparatus, and corruption becomes the norm, this is no longer a state. It is a private corporation where the people are silent service staff,” he declared.
According to Kurbanov, the “peaceful sky” has become a cover for the loss of the ground beneath people’s feet—economic security, rights, and prospects. He expressed confidence that the longer society agrees to silence in exchange for the illusion of stability, the deeper the crisis will become.
“Songs do not save one from poverty, and silence is not equal to peace,” he summarized.
