1. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov dismissed the head of the Ministry of National Security, Colonel Gurbanmyrat Annayev, in connection with his transfer to another job. Colonel Nazar Atagarayev, who previously served as chairman of the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, has been appointed as the new Minister of National Security of Turkmenistan.
2. The President of Turkmenistan made personnel changes in the leadership of the Supreme Court. In connection with the transfer to another job, Serdar Berdimuhamedov dismissed Guvanchmyrat Ussanepesov from the post of Chairman of the Supreme Court of Turkmenistan. Begench Hojamgulyev, who previously held the post of chairman of the Ashgabat city court, has been appointed the new head of the Supreme Court.
3. Colonel Batyr Volsahatov has been appointed as the new chairman of the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan. The relevant Decree was signed by the President of Turkmenistan during the visiting session of the State Security Council.
4. On Friday, the first regular flight between Moscow and Ashgabat was after a long break. The Boeing 737-800 of “Turkmenistan” Airlines took off from Domodedovo at 10:55 Moscow time and landed in Ashgabat 3 hours and 20 minutes later. Direct air communication between Moscow and Ashgabat was interrupted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. The cost of gasoline in Turkmenistan is one of the lowest in the world. Relevant data are provided in the world ranking of automotive fuel prices compiled by the GlobalPetrolPrices portal. Turkmenistan is in 8th place on the list with a price of 0,42 USD per liter, according to the latest published data as of January 30. The cheapest fuel in Venezuela is 0,01 USD per liter. The top three also included Libya and Iran – 0,03 USD and 0,05 USD respectively.
6. The State Olympiad in foreign languages will be organized in Turkmenistan among students of short-term language courses. The first stage of the Olympiad will be held on February 12. Students of training centers who performed successfully in the first round will continue to compete in the second round. The second stage of the state competition is scheduled for February 26 and will be held at the Dovletmammet Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages. The final stage of the competition will be held on March 19.
7. Uzbekistan will receive a batch of liquefied gas as friendly and fraternal assistance from Turkmenistan. The corresponding Order “in order to further strengthen good neighborly relations of friendship and brotherhood between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan and provide friendly and fraternal support to the neighboring country” was signed on Friday by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The document instructs the State Concern “Turkmengas” “to transfer the corresponding volume of liquefied gas to the Republic of Uzbekistan free of charge as a friendly and fraternal assistance”.
8. The 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan was celebrated on February 3 in Ashgabat. Members of the Turkmen Government, heads of the diplomatic corps accredited in Turkmenistan, public organizations, representatives of the creative intelligentsia and the public took part in the solemn event, which took place in the capital's park “Tashkent”.
9. Construction of a new hydroelectric power plant on the Naryn River will start in Kyrgyzstan in the spring of 2023. The new HPP will be named “Kulanakskaya”, after the name of the village of Kulanak, near which it will be built. The massive 118 million USD energy project will be financed by the Eurasian Development Bank and the Russian-Kyrgyz Fund.
10. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia announced the joint release of the program “Your ticket is a visa” with Saudia and Flynas airlines. Within its framework, foreigners booking seats on the liners of these air carriers will be permitted to enter the kingdom for four days, that is, 96 hours. Travelers will be able to see the sights or make the Hajj during this period.
11. “Manchester United” defender Raphael Varane has announced his retirement from France. He noted that he had been considering this decision for several months. Varane made his debut for the French national team in 2013, in which he became the world champion, the winner of the League of Nations, the silver medalist of Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup.
12. Tajik midfielder Salam Ashurmamadov has signed a contract with the “Dumiense” club, which plays in the fourth division of Portugal. In the championship of Tajikistan, Ashurmamadov played in the clubs “Istiklol” and “Istaravshan”. The last team of the 19 years old football player was the “Broke Boys” team, which played in the Russian Media League.