Global Journalist

Turkmenistan

New Comment Feature Removed

On October 10, the Turkmen government instituted a feature on its government website, Altyn Asyr (or Golden Age), allowing readers to post comments.
However, two days later, the feature disappeared without explanation. This feature potentially symbolized a big change for Turkmenistan, which strictly controls the media, and came about during a visit by two EU officials, said Reporters Without Borders.

Of the 15 comments posted, some criticized the former president, and one pled for the release of political prisoners, reported Radio Free Europe. The two-year-old Golden Age website, which provides content in Russian, Turkmen and English, contains stories about the government, events and President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov.

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