Eli Cohen became this week the first Israeli foreign minister to visit Turkmenistan in nearly three decades.
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One of the most closed-off countries in the world, Turkmenistan does not have credit cards or any foreign currency. A tourist wishing to visit the Central Asian country will be required to get a pricey visa and put up with a tour guide who will follow his every step as well as take a coronavirus test both when arriving and leaving the country.
Video: Ariel Kahana
The exact population of Turkmenistan remains unclear. According to the government, the number stands at six million, although no official data is available. Some claim the country is losing citizens who choose a life abroad and the actual number of the population stands around three million.
The country has the world's fourth largest gas reserves and the largest on-shore gas reserve, although that wealth does not trickle down to the population.
The capital Ashgabat, full of magnificent buildings, fountains, mosques, and monuments is nevertheless empty. Everything has been built in the last three decades, from the time Turkmenistan gained independence from the Soviet Union.
The airport, the hotel, and the roads are also mostly empty. Interestingly, vehicles are only allowed to be one of three colors: white, silver, and gold.
All television channels are controlled by the state. In the World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, Turkmenistan ranked 177th (out of 180), just ahead of Iran, Eritrea, and North Korea.
The internet is highly supervised. Turkmenis who do have internet are only able to access government publications within Turkmenistan, with all foreign content being blocked. Members of a diplomatic mission can access the internet, provided they submit a special request first.
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