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Turkmenistan's Peculiar Laws: Why it Proves it's the "City of White Marble"
Imagine a nation where the flow of information is so tightly controlled that its citizens are virtually cut off from the rest of the world. This description might bring to mind North Korea, known for its stringent regulations and limited external communication.
However, there exists another country with even more peculiar laws and restrictions, especially when it comes to driving and internet access. This country is none other than Turkmenistan, a Central Asian nation with a rich history and unique contemporary laws.
Turkmenistan, which gained independence after the Soviet Union's dissolution in 1991, is bordered by Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan. With a population exceeding 6 million, it remains largely isolated from the global community.
Once a crucial part of the Silk Road that connected China with the Middle East, Turkmenistan has gradually faded from international consciousness, now primarily known for its unusual legislation and the capital city of Ashgabat.
Visitors to Ashgabat might be taken aback by an unusual sight: roads dominated by vehicles in shades of white and silver. This is due to a law introduced in 2018 by the country's former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, which bans cars of any other color.
Owners of vehicles in different colors were compelled to repaint them white or silver to avoid hefty fines. This regulation underscores Turkmenistan's obsession with maintaining a specific aesthetic in its capital.
But the peculiarities don't end with car colors. In Turkmenistan, not only must your car be white or silver, but it also has to be impeccably clean. The authorities impose significant fines on anyone caught driving a dirty vehicle on the streets of Ashgabat.
This rule aligns with the city's nickname as the "City of White Marble," recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for having the highest concentration of white marble buildings globally. The government's insistence on everything being white extends beyond buildings to include vehicles as well.
In addition to its unique vehicular laws, Turkmenistan imposes severe restrictions on internet access and social media usage. The country's residents are barred from using popular communication platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram, leaving them with minimal exposure to global developments and external perspectives.
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The combination of bizarre driving regulations and stringent control over information flow makes Turkmenistan an intriguing case study in national isolationism. While these laws might seem eccentric to outsiders, they are a part of daily life for the citizens of this Central Asian country.
Turkmenistan stands out not just for its historical significance along the Silk Road but also for its contemporary legal oddities. From its all-white vehicle mandate to its prohibition on internet access and social media, this nation takes measures that surpass even those of North Korea in terms of restrictiveness.
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