Things you learn from the radio
According to BBC reports, last year the president of Turkmenistan sacked thousands of healthcare workers and replaced them with military conscripts! Elsewhere, we learn that driving test candidates have to pass an exam in President Niyazov’s spiritual writings, which are contained in a book named the Ruhnama.
Isn’t it the mark of a truly deranged dictatorship, to think up things so mind-bogglingly perverse. What genius woke up one morning believing that was a great idea? Maybe it was this guy? How glad I am I don’t live in Turkmenistan and need a doctor, or a taxi.
Here’s the CIA fact book entry on Turkmenistan.