Corruption in Turkmenistan’s Tejen prison

Just one and a half years ago, the “fine” for being found in possession of a cell phone was 300 manats. Another 100 manats on top of that fee and the guards would give the phone back. Today, however, the violation alone would cost an inmate 1,300 manats.

Turkmenistan Forces State Workers into New Cotton-picking Campaign

In Mary province, employees of the local state sewing factory each had to pay around $1.5 on August 27 to lease city buses in order to send workers to the cotton fields. The sum would cover a 10-day lease of the public buses, after which another local government institution will cover the transport costs, and the factory staff will go to pick cotton.