The Truth About Turkmenbashi, The Happy Dictator (Waldemar Januszczak Documentary)
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- Опубліковано 2 лют 2025
- Deep in the heart of Central Asia lies one of the world’s most secretive countries - Turkmenistan. Run until recently by a crazy dictator whose megalomania spawned a personality cult to rival that of Chairman Mao, this unlikely desert republic has earned itself a grim reputation as ‘the North Korea of Central Asia’. But since no one is usually allowed in or out, the truth about Turkmenistan is impossible to separate from the rumours and the legends. Until now.
In this quirky and highly entertaining documentary, well-known critic Waldemar Januszczak journeys to Turkmenistan to investigate the myth of the now deceased Turkmenbashi the Great who retained absolute control over the country, forbidding photography, reporters, dogs, cinemas, circuses, car radios and ballet!
Posing as a tourist who goes to Turkmenistan for a stag weekend, Januszczak goes undercover in this bizarre country to separate the facts from the fiction. And he’s taken his camera with him…
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From The Happy Dictator
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World is a better place for people like Waldemar Januszczak. He is the best teacher of art history I could ever have! Can't find enough words to express how much I appreciate you, Mr. Januszczak! Thank you for all you do!
Waldy scores again! Love his docs. He can talk to me about anything - art, culture, politics, sandwiches. His choice, I'll listen because he is always insightful and entertaining. Thank you, Perspective.
Pj00
Definitely sandwiches! 😉
So true!
Especially in his underwear!
@@tammywilks8782 but this was 7 yrs ago. Is this the same now in 2022
I say his successor Gurbanguly gives him a run for his money. He's a dentist who is obsessed with world records, horses (ESPECIALLY horses...to the point he'd probably sleep with one), and thinks he's talented at music by rapping (horribly) and pretending to play instruments...it sounds like a nightmare, and you'd be right. While people love to criticize our nation, at least we're not weird like they are
Ok Kim, regen was actor/pornstar.
Husband/wife Clintons caught with pedophilia.
Father/son bushes warmongering.
Western Europe ruled by monarchy (kings and queens) including united condom.
As democracy booming, 5 mass shooting occurred in usa, World's 50% mass shooting only occoning in usa.
And owns earth's 70% homeless people.
What is your thoughts about it?
AS ANTI TURKMEN PROPAGANDIST THEY CAN'T CONTROLL OWN WIFE AND DOUGHTERS, AND EITHER THEIR WIFE CHEATS WITH NIGERIA OR PROSTITUTION.
KIM DO YOU NEED CAPITALLESS CAPITALISM IN YOUR COUNTRY?
Come on....it's literally never been funny. It's been done a billion times...why even do it anymore? Just make a channel if you need attention that badly. Weirdo
Really? I can think of weird leaders here…
@@sharonkaczorowski8690 they are sprinkled liberally all over the world
@@Stormlucy111 absolutely…I sometimes think a prerequisite!
What the RUHNAMA says about the light on the women's faces is wonderful.
Their rugs are so lovely, I have two!! Thanks for sharing!
😂😂😂😂 dumb
The dictator oppress women but You support that 😂😂😂... He decide for these women what Is ok for them , Is like your President in your country don't Let women drive or wear make up ...😂😂😂
But You love how women are oppressed in other countries , thats creepy ...
That book says women are half brained and dumb too two womens brain make one mens brain ... You support that 🤷🏽♂️...
Niyazov didn't name any of the months after buildings he built, they're just there in the book to represent said month. Garaşsyzlyk for example (the month he renamed from October) means Independence because it was the month Turkmenistan declared independence from the Soviet Union, and thus the Independence Monument in Ashgabat was pictured next to it at 13:08. While Bitaraplyk (December) means neutrality because December was the month in 1995 that the UN adopted a resolution that recognized Turkmenistan as neutral. And thus the Arch of Neutrality in Ashgabat is pictured. After Niyazov died in 2006, the government decided to restore the original month names in July 2008.
And the Soviets didn't light it on fire by accident, it was done on purpose because they didn't want dangerous releases of gases into the nearby towns. The gases still seeped out, causing health problems to those residents and wildlife alike, and thus the government now wants to seal it for good. Yes, Turkmenistan would be sealing their number one tourist attraction and as cool as that crater is, nothing lasts forever
Nice try
In any other country where people are free to express their thoughts without fear of arrest, any politician who tried to change the name of months would be publicly ridiculed for the insane narcissist they obviously are, and removed from office at the first available elections.
I mean, seriously? Comedians would have a field day.
That's why we have elections. It's why democratic countries are better than the piss poor shit hole you call home.
Democracy. It might not be perfect but at least It stops mental cases from permanently taking over and doing the crazy shit shown in this video.
I wouldn't stay a night in a hotel without wifi, never mind spending a lifetime in a country where 'the internet doesn't work'.
Cuba and its people just does not Interest me at all.
I'm a simple man. I see Waldemar, I click play. It's never let me down yet...
This was truly a beautiful thing of comic (or cosmic) absurdity.
Hungover Walemar drinking camel milk in a yurt is truly a chef's kiss.
Just what we need in these troubling times.
The end title card was a masterpiece.
Bravo.
One of the most fascinating documentaries I've ever seen. The ending was so unexpected. Who knew a dictator could be so enlightened?
Extremely interesting documentary. I lived in Ashgabat for four years and it was wonderful. There are nasty things going on behind the scenes, but isn't that true of many countries? Bravo Waldemar for what is a realistic look at a truly eccentric country.
How did you get a permit?
@@NorceCodine We were posted to the US Embassy for two years then extended for a second tour.
@@michaelfotheringham4940 Oh I see. Are there average Americans living there, or there's no point trying?
@@NorceCodine A few working in the oil industry, a couple of teachers at the International School, and a few Peace Corps volunteers, but virtually no tourism or 'normal' folks working on the economy. You could always contact the Embassy if you would like more info.
Love your programs
I would watch anything Valdemar makes, this is a fantastic documentary.
I didn’t know this place existed! Thank you for showing the REAL you and not a polished presenter. This was the best documentary I’ve seen in a very long time.
He IS a polished presenter, just velvet rather than high gloss. 😀He speaks clearly, good timing, well modulated, not a word wasted, no gimmicks, and (bonus!) no affected verbal quirks and very few ums and ahs or hesitations. And of course his scripts are great!
A fascinating film about an obscure country, proving there are more things in this old world that remain out of the annals of human history. Thouroughly enjoyable, thank you, Waldemar J.
Waldemar is a genius. To hit the perfect note of tongue in cheek over and over is just brilliant.
The caviar story (17:45 in) on its own was worth the price of admission. Thank you.
I can't believe this is the first time I am seeing this channel; his videos are pure gold.
An authentic emotional roller-coaster🙏 Thank you, Waldemar Januszczak, for exploring where we might not dare to go.
I know the documentary was meant to call out a tyrant as like a cautionary "don't go here". But your documentary only made me really want to go to Turkmenistan.
Wow - you completely missed the point of this documentary! I didn't get the sense at any time that this was cautionary. Maybe it was your own prejudice that coloured your perception.
Btw - the "happy dictator" in the title of the video doesn't suggest tyrant to me. And at all times he was open minded and noticing good stuff with little or no emphasis on bad stuff. "the truth about Turkmenistan" is also a bit of a give-away given it's other reputation....
@@danguee1 OMG WOW BTW OMG YOU DIDN'T GET IT? WOW.
@@connerdavidson7087 Well argued and thoughtful response.
Yikes...
@@znk0r yeeesh
Best thing I have seen in a long time. I would love to see more of Waldemar's wacky world adventures in the future.
Oh, I so agree with you Mr. P. !!!
@@clairestaffieri4398 zijn wij tenminste daarover eens 😅
How on earth did they manage to make Italian marble look like the cheap foam facades of big box stores?
Lol nice one
Looks a lot like the Dream cities that Hitler had planned. Yeah....clueless Kitsch. All these despots are the same.
Skilled craftsmanship in the Soviet style. My question is why use marble at all, it's completely inappropriate to the history of the place.
@@johnsmith1474 the sarcasm was lost on you there I'm afraid
@@johnsmith1474 Incongruous? Surely. Inappropriate is me saying, Oh well! Or other such insults!
Waldemar, I appreciate how you took the time to understand a nation, keeping an open mind, & showing both positives and negatives, rather than mocking the nation and its people as most western journos/vloggers do.
What positives did u see in this film? Poor people with no means to exist? Who are prisoners in their country? I was horrified
@@bambinaforever5720 I think people just get defensive and lock down if your too hard on them.
You don't understand sarcasm, do you? 🤣
The blind men and the elephant story is ancient. It goes back before 500 BC in Buddhist India. It was not invented by the dictator of Turkmenistan.
Exactly! But a good story is a good story, no matter when it is told.
Thank you for sharing the truth about the story is originally from India...
There is even a reverse version of it. ...Six blind elephants were discussing what men were like. After arguing they decided to find one and determine what it was like by direct experience. The first blind elephant felt the man and declared, 'Men are flat.' After the other blind elephants felt the man, they agreed.
I read it before in the Pali scripts.
But just how UK/US form a narrative when they want to interfering with suveren country! And because of them free world now screaming : GO Russia GO..
Watching this while recovering from covid in my wee home in the Scottish highlands. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the humour definitely cheered me up! I’d love to visit these weird and wonderful places but I’m 44, a mum of three grown up kids and I have the time but unfortunately I have a problem with my spine that I have to take controlled medication for and I wouldn’t be allowed entry. Bit of a pisser but such is life!
Wish you good health. From South Africa
I love Waldemar's documentaries but this one is exceptionally interesting. The team traveling with him should be highly commended for doing such a great job during the trip. Its also interesting to occasionally see Dr. James Fox amongst the crew haha! Two great documentary presenters on the same trip!
I am also a fan of Waldemar! He's got kahunas for sure; location ... location.
I couldn't believe it when he went to war torn Ukraine, but he did, for art.
Kudos to him and his team!
@@franlamb409 schrik 😬 ik ja ik schrik 15 km van de Poolse grens heeft hij Fam ,hopelijk gaat alles goed het is een zorgelijke ontwikkeling 🙏 🤔
Really? Where is Dr Fox?
@@frenchartantiquesparis424 He's on the crew photographs at the start of the film (the one on the left) . And in the segment when they are asking Waldemar if he is a journalist. But, most notably, on 25:41 he is clearly recognizable.
@@joserobertorodriguez6015 Wow, you have a good eye
Dziękuję Panie Waldemarze za bardzo ciekawy film. Pozdrawiam serdecznie.
The first Perspective documentary which YT has suggested or had caught my eye. I love the narrators’ tongue in cheek style which this countries’ larger than life or paradoxical nature demands. Very interesting and entertaining stuff - and given the restrictions regarding filming you fellas must be as cool as ice or have balls of steel . Many thanks Perspective and everyone concerned with bringing this work to us all from near Bournemouth ( 2 Reading 0 ) 😁🏴❤️
An excellent video about a place I'll never go near.
Not going to war and joining others into going to war is something that needs to in every countries constitution I like that and if Australian governments had invested the wealth generated by Australia’s natural resources into the country instead of overseas companies, Australia would be a far better place.
This is one very interesting video 👍👍
Yes , and this , its a danger for occidental countrys who make war to get money . The occidental midia its working to put this country in the ridiculus country of love .
100% agree. Sure he is a self obsessed dictator but at least he seems to be taking care of his people. If a country like Turkmenistan with perhaps less than abundant natural resources of some types can make a decent go of it imagine what Australia could do for itself!
australian politicians are as corrupt as they come....check out fiona barnett on yt...you have been sold to the WHO also this month...they can lock you down, if they think its appropriate...
@@justingriffin2546 🎶 for we are young and free! 🙄
It is not always that simple, some countries attack first and then can't deal with the retaliation and then ask for help and there are a lot of things to fight over don't be the attacking country is generally good but not every attack is with evil intent or just to gain some worthless land there are a lot of reasons.
This is the best documentary I've seen in ages, thank you!
That says more about you than the documentary.
@@johnsmith1474 Hi John, what exactly does your comment imply?
Nothing really, apart from letting everyone know you are a bit of a tosser.
The Polish song at 27:05, sung passionately by Waldy, was taught to my class of 9 year olds at Sydenham Primary School, Christchurch, New Zealand in 1962 by our teacher Richard Sulima-Rowgachevski (approx.)
Timely and fascinating. One of a kind storyteller and production. I’m hooked. Thanks all.
"The only tourists here are us, and we're pretending." I'm gonna break a rib if I keep laughing
Brilliant documentary Waldemar. Keep going strong!
I am living for this new Waldemar content. Thank you
Turkmanbashi imitates August Caesar, re-writes the books of Bahà'u'llah, rebuilds Isphahan and is loved by the people like Emperor Adrian.... a piece of art in himself !
Sorry, I was not comparing the Turkmens with the Romans, I was comparing the adulation of Emperor to the adulation of Turkmenbashi.
@@1964_AMU don't apologize
Dear god almighty thank you thank you thank you i live in European Union - Finland in summer and France the rest of the year. I really hit a jackpot
Thank you for this great report. It is almost unbelievable that such a country exists today. If a dictator wants to go to war and destroy, that is effectively done because of the 'unanimous decisions by one set of thoughts' of one person. If a dictator truly wants a happy country without war intentions, that is equally effective for the same reasons.
I’ve been to Ashgabat airport, passing through to Amritsar Punjab In India, on Turkmenistan airlines & the whole place is clean & white marble everywhere, everybody is slim, I didn’t see one overweight person & the locals are friendly, nice to experience a small part of the nation that most people will never see
Fascinating video, Waldemar, as usual. There have actually been 2 Turkmenbashis. The original died in 2007 and the present one just resigned and his son has taken over.; that may account for the differences in appearance in the images.
Well from the the end text you could tell this was filmed before 2007
I've never seen Berdimuhamedow (or "ov" at the end, both spellings are around) called "Turkmenbashi" except in this film, which came out after Niyazov's death at 66, so perhaps they'd just slapped new photos on the old posters? Serdar B's already made a few changes, seeming to favor people from one province, promotes militarism more than Niyazov, but it's early days.
Waldemar's Perspective... our days best valuable documentaries ! Keep them.coming: art, music, history, dictators et al...
Not sure what I like more, the fact you had the guts to say all these things there, or that you sang "One Turkmenbashi" to the tune of Guantanamera at 11:24 😂
See those satellite dishes at 14:03? His successor Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov got rid of them. Why? The official government reason is to make houses look nicer. But reality is he got rid of them so the Turkmen wouldn't have access to channels outside Turkmenistan. And like Niyazov, Gurbanguly also like writing books. In fact when Niyazov died, he replaced the Ruhnama and made students do coursework based on his books instead. Did I mention his books are all about HORSES, like to an addictive, romantic decree?
Berdimuhamedov (sometimes spelt with the "w" at the end) ended the free/near free services, and appointed his son Serdar successor in March 22, after he won the election easily. He's made a few changes, as expected from a new leader, some movement of security services leaders. He did national service 2001-3 yet appeared with military insignia in 2021, and was referred to as "Colonel". We'll see.
I'm a little confused. Who is this documentary about exactly? He makes it sound if Turkmenistan has had the same ruler since independence... or was this filmed around 2006??
@@dmark1922 Yes it was filmed about 2006. When filmed it had had one ruler, Niyazov, and the film is based on him.
@@pynn1000 Thanks for clearing that up. It seems it was just posted recently so while watching I kept wondering if I had remembered things
wrong! I wonder if Turkmenistan is still the Disneyland he claims it to be...
@@dmark1922 There are some recent "traveller" videos on UA-cam which I "watched" at 2X speed. Yes, still looks like Disneyland. John Oliver did a good video on Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov about 2 years ago.
Waldemar, you are the whackiest and loveliest genius producer of interesting content. Thank you so very much for this fabulously insightful look into another world. I suppose the answer to the riddle is, if you're going to be a dictator, be a "Happy" one! Even here, there is something to be learned. Even a seemingly impoverished country, quietly living its existence without war, can be a happy country. The remnants of Soviet Russia still permeate the atmosphere with its pictures of "Happy Smiling Peasants", may be a bit dated, but if the people are content with their simple, uncluttered lives, then I say let them have it, let them enjoy it and let them live it. Perhaps it is we who have been convinced, that we cannot live without everything that our overly abundant world has imposed on us? Perhaps a lesson is here for us to learn, that less is more?
I agree with you. But where there are so many personal restrictions: no dancing, no make-up, no this and not that, you can betcha there are people who feel a little repressed. And Waldemar will never see the prisons or torture chambers for those who might want to think for themselves. But they are probably decorated nicely with the dictator’s picture.
@@wandakowalski7063 Absolutely right Wanda. I completely agree with you. We may never know the "whole truth". Even in the West, do we really know all there is to know? You know what they say every time someone mentions UFO's, "We mustn't tell the general public, it'd upset them too much". In recent times (last two weeks), they're having second thoughts. So, in an openly visible "Happy Dictatorship" (oxymoron?), who can say? THX
Oh my goodness! I am so glad I found “The Truth About Turkmenbash”. But, I am only 5 minutes into it and I am already afraid for you and your crew! Back to the film...!
It seems Turkemanbushi is so in love with himself that you only see his pictures and status everywhere. A true example of narcissism and dictatorship.
If Trump becomes president expect to see this same thing.
Very interesting documentary. So glad you didn't get into trouble over it! Just a little anecdote...about 15 years ago, a friend of mine who was an art expert and worked in a museum in Florence examining works of art using physics and maths etc. (I never understood how it worked although he tried to explain) was invited to Turkmenistan to examine a n archaeological find - a small statuette, about 30 cm high, of a female figure that looked as though it had come out of a museun in Athens, a Greek looking figure. No doubt it dated back to the movements of the ubiquitous Alexander the great. What he did notice at the time, besides the cult of the president, who was younger, slimmer and vaguely looked like Dean Martin and was usually photographed against the pattern of those famous dark red carpets known to carpet experts as "bokhara", was the strong U.S. influence there. They haad aet up IT institutes and many students were offered scholarships for U.S. colleges. This was at a time when Americans were still in Afghanistan. Out of curiosity, we looked at a map and noticed that Turkmenistan closed the "doughnut" with Iran in the middle. At the time it seemed an interesting observation, but of course things have changed a little now. One thing my friebd would have agreed with you about was the care and courtesy offered to visitors and the comfrort of the hotels, ecen 15 years ago.
Absolutely love your programs! Please keep them coming and take care, best wishes!
Seems like a pretty cool place to visit.
Thanks Waldemar.
Waldemar I am your biggest fan! I wait impatiently for a new film. So entertaining! So much knowledge! I truly love your work! Amazing 🤩
Maybe a better choice of word would be “another” film rather than new. Turkmenbashy’s beendead since 2006
This video report dates back to before the death of Saparmurat Niyazov on 21st December 2006. In the intervening 16 years, much has changed in Turkmenistan.
Excellent, very thought provoking, and surprisingly even-handed in its conclusions.
Waldemar is the best! 🙌🏼
I have been to Turkmenistan twice, at the invitation of turkmenbashi (Saparmurat Niyazov) who died December 21, 2006 (age 66), succeeded by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow until 2022 and he in turn by his son Serdar Berdimuhamedow. A family affair.
Too bad that nothing was said in this documentary about his passion/hobby, and when this documentary was made. His passion was horses, the Akhal Teke horse is the pride of the Turkmen and is also the satay symbol on the Turkmenistan flag, he had his own racecourse, and bridleways in the mountains, it was a very special and extraordinary experience. And the Turkmen people are super, hospitable and friendly.
So is the lesson that if the citizens are genuinely happy, healthy, and without an expectation of ever having to go to war, then maybe we can let the dictator's ego slide a little bit?
No nation can be sure that they will not go to war unless they are resigned to submit to whoever comes to conquer them.
If people are genuinely happy, healthy and able to live in peace, does it matter if The King wants to build a palace? I think history tells us that the King who kept his people healthy and happy was never overthrown.
Did you miss the part where dissidents disappear?
Waldemar also doesn't mention his closing down of all hospitals and libraries outside the capital city, the billions of dollars in stolen funds he keeps in bank accounts abroad, his staging of a fake assassination attempt as an excuse to crack down on opposition, and plenty of other facts.
@@yohei72 actually the film does mention disappearing dissidents
This was amazing. I don't know the logistics of how much work you guys put into this documetary, but 73k views seems absolutely CRIMINALLY underrated. I learned more about Turkmenistan in this 48 minutes than I have in my previous 33 years. RIP Turkmenbashi, for a dictator, he seemed like a chill guy.
Very interesting video. I learned something entirely new to me; and in an insightful way. Now I'd have liked to visit the country, if it wasn't for the repressive regime they still have.😊Thanks Waldemar!
How insecure can one dictator be!? My goodness...??
Same in Egypt, Turkey... the huge posters of the male leaders all over
I’m not extreme left but the other day it occurred to me how all the wars on tv news appear to be the work of leaders whom are males . I wonder how meany weapons sales are headed up by women or teams of women ? 🏴🐢
You guys got some clanging brass balls, doing this one! Well done!! Waldemar always gets his story. This one is fascinating.
There's a LOT of ways I'd try to describe this particular style of Dictator-Fabulous Urban Architecture, but... "one of the silliest places on earth. How many white elephants can you get into a capital city? This many!" is absolutely spot-on.
If u really sympathies for people plz help Libya restore some order support them lead a decent life which thy use to.
Atleast Turkmenistan is not lik Libya, plz let them liv in peace democracy or not who cares .
There aren't many people who could have carried this off. Nice work.
This video is more than 16 years old...but...was well done given the anxiety the trip must have produced...
The funniest film about Turkmenistan I've ever seen. I've become addicted to Perspective channel.
I've lived here through all three presidents. The Turkmenbashi years were definitely weird.
Did he build own statue or turkmens build for honor of him?
If golden statue or anything made of gold stays without stolen in your country?
Yes, WJ, I agree! The people living in Turkmenistan at that time on the film here do not seem to be in as horrific a situation as say, families who worked in the mills and down the mines of England in 1820.
A delightful documentary full of tongue-in-cheek and comedic moments. Felicitous!
Taking over where Anthony Bourdain left off... no comparisons, just an analogy...
Great!
Fantastic! I'll watch anything Waldemar makes.
34:00 that statue is the best one shown,by far. So his father was one of the 27M killed by the Nazis.
Nice work Waldy. My theory is the bigger the silly military hats are, the crazier the place is. Check out the military hats in North Korea if you are not convinced my theory carries weight 🤠
Thank you, Sir, for creating all your outstanding documentaries. Friendly greetings!
Sarcasm is a dying art!! Vlad being unashamedly sarcastic. If you don't get it, then Oh well!!
I love this man, for his unabridged criticism of art and life.
Don’t Name him Turkmenbashi, name him by his real name. Which is Saparmurat Atajevitsj Nijazov. He was a poor orphan, raised in a soviet childrens home himself, but still he closed all the librarys in the rural areas because he was convinced that the people in the rural areas of Turkmenistan couldn’t read. And all librarys that are open has almost no other books than the Ruhmana and other books by Nijazov, bacuse all books written during the soviet-era are forbidden. And almost all western literature are also forbidden.
All in all I think this is a pretty impressive place - no war, low prices on essentials, positive ideology
Yeah, no salaries, no pension, u re born a slave and u die a slave. They can not travel, can not build a house, can not buy a car.
You've misspelled "group-think" as positive ideology!
@@macemeeker1475 so i guess we're all supposed to say it's a horrible place according to you right??? 🤣🤣🤣🤣
In Turkmenistan, homosexuality between men is punishable by years in prison. Although this law is selectively enforced, homophobia is rampant. According to ILGA World (an international LGBTQ rights organization), "In October 2019, a 24-year-old gay doctor disappeared for several days after being summoned to a police station in Ashgabat, having shared with a local media outlet his experience of being entrapped by an undercover police officer, arrested, humiliated, and tortured the previous year. The doctor reappeared a few days later and retracted all of his previous statements. The Turkmen authorities then demanded all medical personnel to get tested for STIs, after deeming the doctor as immoral and a dishonour to the medical profession." Not everyone in Turkmenistan is smiling and happy.
Less than a third into the video, I wished I could visit there, to learn about the people and their culture. At least I want to get my hands on the book as a window to an otherwise virtually unknown country.
Please keep up with the excellent work!
Great Doco and fascinating insight into the country, Waldemar and team. Been watching your work for years now. Amazing to see how young you look, and look at James! Practically out of preschool 😂👍❤️
Thank you! That was highly entertaining 😂😂😂
Turkmenbashi died in 2006.
I had to check and you are right.
@@pauleohl Did your checks also show that this documentary was also made in 2006 and released in 2007?
@@Frank_Nemo I figured it out from the postscript at the end of the documentary.
Child labor was banned in 2004, so the material was made in 2005.
Remeber that back then to edit this kind of Production it was years for television.
What a lovely wee film! Fascinating. But Waldemar, please make some more art films, I have watched all yours 4 or 5 times now. More more more x
This guy literally risks his life in the pursuit of Knowledge.... RESPECT💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾
Does the Turkmenis kill him?
If you can answer the question. Does any golden statue stays without stolen in your country?
@@youknowmyfirstlastname3206 Knowledge my good friend....Knowledge will help us rebuild the stolen statues in our countries instead of waiting for them to be returned....You and I know they will never be returned...We must make our own.. we will all pass away just like our ancestors....who knows our statues won't be stolen 👌🏾
@@eamonr7151 if they built small golden statue of Jesus and it will be stolen in its own country.
If Turkmens let those Facebook free westerners old pedophiles would hunt young Turkmen girls.
This youtuber old single and can't handle own wife and daughters, DOG BARKS CARAVAN PASSES. and his dog.
When comes 4 freedom he can't drive own car without paying tax. What kind of freedom westerners have?
You have followed me tor weeks. I will watch this later.
Thank you🙏
Braaaaaavoooooooo! A splendid snapshot of the country. I've learned a lot.
Altijd mooi om te lezen zoiets ☺️ learned A lot
I have absolutely no clue as to what this may be about, or why it might be interesting - but it's presented by Waldy J. So I'm choosing to watch. Thank you!
5:16 No, the correct conclusion is that Turkmenistan is ruled by Wayne Newton.
Bravo Sir, one of your finest! Delightful watching all the pre conceived notions & prejudice collapsing! 👏👏👏
The leader had long died, the recently deceased is the last of his look-alike doubles. The bashi is dead, long live the bashi!
The whole thing is like a TV show that keeps running long after it should have ended, and the producers just keep changing out the actors, but nobody notices because nobody watches the show anymore.
Waldemar is THE BEST presenter on UA-cam.
The closing remarks regarding Turkmenistan as a trainset was classic.
You should say when these shows originally aired. This one has to be at least 15 years old because he mentions Jade Goody being all over the tv and she died of cancer 14 years ago in 2009. (Jade Goody's claim to fame was being on the UK Big Brother in 2002 and she used that fame for all it was worth). Anyway, let viewers know if a documentary is several decades old because a lot can happen in that time. (or in the case of Turkmenistan, weirdly and notably maybe nothing changes at all.)
I spent 2019-2021 living in Beijing. I can honestly say everyone I met loved their country and how it was run. Lovely people and beautiful cities. I know they are not that way below the surface but I didn't see it.
Bejing is not in Turkmenistan
Then Covid lockdown hit hard
Right. Hear no evil. Speak no evil. Hear no evil. Happy. Happy. Happy.
And now how do Uyghurs and residents of Shanghai feel?
@@yidiandianpang they feel better than the bombed Kabul , Libya
Thanks for a fascinating documentary 👍 bit heavy on the ad's though...brian 😀
If one cannot sleep ,
Try counting Turkmenbashies
Peaceful dreaming sure to follow 👌
Hehe
Hey man you blew my mind! And I like it.
Can't thank you enough!
Have you covered Bhutan yet?
This is the kind of place that falls apart when the leader dies, like with Yugoslavia when Tito died. Amazing documentary...great job! Edit: I hope I'm wrong about that!
It didnt fall apart, just business as usual, this leader - featured in the documentary - Saparmurat Niyazov, died in 2006. His successor, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow just recently resigned and his son has taken over after winning a highly suspicious election in March 2022.
It's so much easier to be a beneficial dictator if you have mountains of petrodollars at hand that make Kathar look like the poorest uncle.
If you then share the smallest fraction of this wealth with a tiny populace like this, those people who'd otherwise sit in sandy dugouts in the desert hoping to somehow survive the next winter, will of course be relatively happy. They probably all remember what they had to endure under Russia's rule.
Somehow, the most memorable part is the pledge to never go to war - it sets Turkmenbashi apart from all other dictators.
I sure hope Russia doesn't need more natural gas any time soon...
Well, it could be worse. Neocons in Washington D.C., concentration camps in Xinjiang, Gaza, etc., etc., etc. And free electricity and gas and water doesn't sound bad either. And the people all seem well fed, light hearted and happy. Warm and welcoming. No war sounds like a good idea. Nobody seemed stressed about mortgages and interest rates and body image, etc., etc., etc.
So so true!
The only bad thing is that one day they'll ran out of gas and oil - or the commodity will severely devaluate - and they will discover that their resources have been squandered and they didn't reinvest in anything to assure their future.
Love to visit but only for a day or two
I mean, he very much implied that at the very end.
If guys doing documentaries really care about central Asia plz leave it alone , let them live in peace.
If west sooo sympathies and adament for people rights and living standards plz help Libya restore som sort of order , help them lead a decent life which once thy had , before west ruined it .
I don't support authoritarian but it's far better than living lik shit thn som sort a fair better deal.
Totally enjoyed this.From wickedest remarks,to absurd observations..I was hooked!
😂😂'we can conclude the president has dyed his hair!'...
This documentary is old... so old. Turkmenbashi died in 2006. Everyone commenting as though this is current LOL...
I know, right? People are complete 🤪. (Sorry, I can’t write any derogatory term in plain English or UA-cam keeps censoring my comment.)
So many 🤪 think that whoever posts a video on UA-cam is the one who’s made the video (for one), and also they think any video’s been made right before it was posted. Again, complete 🤪🤪🤪.
cool video 👍
Thank you, one of the weirdest things I have seen, even in 2022! Glad you got home safe.
Waldemar unexpectedly has triggered a Ruhnama fad in the West. Good Job!
snake in the ancient world is the symbol of health my friend. it is not meaningless that the building of the health department looks like a cobra's head!