All along the way: Russia connects Turkmenistan to logistics projects

Russia is interested in Turkmenistan's involvement in major logistics projects. The most promising is the North–South corridor. In addition, the parties will determine the date of the next meeting of the intergovernmental commission in the near future. The countries are also working to increase trade turnover, and concrete results have already been achieved here. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who arrived in Ashgabat, discussed these issues with the leadership of the Central Asian republic. About how the capital of Turkmenistan differs from other cities and whose memory Lavrov honored during his visit — in the material of Izvestia.

Ashgabat's participation in the North–South project

Sergey Lavrov held talks with President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov.

— There are a number of issues on the agenda that require substantive attention. This includes a number of projects within the framework of the North–South International Transport Corridor (ITC) being created. Russia and Turkmenistan will play an important role in the implementation of this truly promising initiative, which will significantly strengthen the position of our entire region in terms of logistics and the development of the Eurasian continent, ensuring connectivity between the north and south seas," the Russian diplomat said.

The parties noted the need to determine the dates of the next meeting of the intergovernmental commission of the two countries in the near future. Sergey Lavrov and Rashid Meredov signed a program of cooperation between the foreign ministries for 2025-2026.

"We highly value friendly and trusting relations with fraternal Turkmenistan, our partner and close friend, regardless of the international situation," the Russian Foreign Minister said.

Moscow is now ready to involve the republic in various projects based on how much Ashgabat itself is ready for this, despite the policy of isolationism, Stanislav Pritchin, head of the Central Asia sector at the IMEMO RAS, tells Izvestia. Turkmenistan is not a member of most international organizations, including, for example, the EAEU or the CSTO. And even in the CIS, the republic is an associate member.

"There are no serious prerequisites for Turkmenistan to change its domestic and foreign policy strategy, but the country, in principle, ensures a certain stability due to its neutrality," the expert added.

Turkmenistan is building the necessary ties, primarily focusing on bilateral cooperation. Nevertheless, the geography of the country's foreign economic relations now covers more than 110 countries, and intergovernmental trade and economic agreements have been concluded with three dozen states. As an observer country, Turkmenistan has joined a number of new international formats: the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia, the WTO, and the Organization of Turkic States, said Maria Mokhovikova, Associate Professor of the Department of Foreign Regional Studies at the Institute of International Relations and Socio-Political Sciences at MGLU. According to her, Russia takes into account that in recent years, against the background of traditionally strong ties with China, Turkmenistan's relations with Turkey, Iran and the countries of the Central Asian region have intensified.

At the moment, one of the most promising areas of cooperation between the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan is energy and the development of the ITC, says Daria Saprynskaya, a researcher at the Laboratory of Modern Central Asia and the Caucasus Studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

— These areas will receive a new rethink. A dialogue is also underway on Turkmenistan's more active participation in the North–South project," she told Izvestia.

According to Sergey Lavrov, Russia and Turkmenistan will play an important role in the implementation of this transport corridor. The republic's location between the countries of Central Asia and the Persian Gulf makes Turkmenistan a key transit hub for cargo transportation between Russia and Iran, as well as other countries in the region.

Moscow and Ashgabat are currently exploring the creation of new routes, including through Turkmenistan to China and other countries. Among the initiatives are the Volga—Caspian Canal with access to the port of Turkmenbashi, as well as the Eastern Bypass of the Caspian Sea route within the North–South corridor.

— Among the infrastructure and transport projects that are interesting for both countries, it is worth highlighting the logistics chains of Greater Eurasia, for example, the Russia–Caspian Sea– Turkmenistan–Uzbekistan–Kyrgyzstan transport corridor, — said Maria Mokhovikova.

Trade between Russia and Turkmenistan

The Russian Federation as a whole is one of Turkmenistan's main trading partners. Our countries have a solid base of bilateral cooperation, and the strategic Partnership agreement entered into force in 2018. The annual trade turnover between the parties exceeds $1.6 billion, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic Khojamurad Geldymuradov said earlier. The volume of trade turnover in January –March 2025 increased by 21.4%, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said on the sidelines of the SPIEF. Turkmenistan is currently strengthening cooperation with the EAEU. The trade turnover between the republic and the association increased by 40% in the first six months of 2024. The EAEU had previously expressed interest in developing cooperation with Ashgabat.

To boost mutual trade, the countries are developing an intergovernmental action plan for 2025-2027. They also have many projects related to the oil and gas industry. Turkmenistan is a major exporter of natural gas, and the Russian Federation has a well—developed infrastructure for the transportation and processing of hydrocarbons. Cooperation between Moscow and Ashgabat implies the supply of Turkmen gas to Russia, as well as cooperation in the field of energy production and transportation.

"Turkmenistan is currently trying to use not only its gas potential, but also to attract foreign investment in the development of deposits of bromine, iodine, sulfur, lead and other minerals, of which there are more than 200 on the territory of the republic," explained Maria Mokhovikova.

The parties previously signed an agreement on military‑technical and security cooperation (countering terrorism, organized crime, and protecting transport infrastructure), which was ratified by Russia in 2020. One of the areas for joint activities is environmental safety. Moscow and Ashgabat are working to preserve the ecosystem in the Caspian region.

Of course, the humanitarian component is not left out, in particular, we are talking about the field of education.

During his visit, Sergey Lavrov laid flowers at the memorial complex "National Memory" in Ashgabat. It is dedicated to the fallen soldiers of Turkmenistan at different times. We are talking about those who died during the Great Patriotic War, as well as the participants of the battle of Gokdepinsk in 1881. The monument is also dedicated to the victims of the devastating Ashgabat earthquake of 1948.

— Russia and Turkmenistan have deep historical ties. Among other things, this is a story related to the evacuation during the Great Patriotic War. At that time, a number of industries, scientific and cultural institutions were moved, including to Turkmenistan. Moscow State University was evacuated there," says Daria Saprynskaya.

How to travel to Turkmenistan as a tourist

Turkmenistan is officially trying to develop tourism. Local media reports that the number of travel packages for foreigners issued by the republic's operators has increased by almost 50%. Ashgabat is currently implementing an electronic visa system, which will simplify the entry procedure for foreign citizens. However, it is difficult to come here alone without an escort, but tourism in groups is becoming quite popular.

Turkmenistan is considered one of the most closed countries in the world — it is one of the five most inaccessible countries.

The republic is known for its snow-white marble houses, virtuoso monuments and monuments. Ashgabat is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the city with the largest number of white marble buildings. And even the cars here are almost all white, matching the color of the building facades. The media wrote that since 2018, the authorities have, in fact, banned the movement of vehicles in black or other colors.

Turkmenistan does not often make the covers of the world's media, but if it does, it is often in a negative context. And all this is related to the laws and regulations that supposedly apply in the country. In particular, it was reported that women were forbidden to walk alone on the street in the evenings, drive a car or do some cosmetic procedures. However, local residents, in a conversation with Izvestia, claim that "all the materials about the restrictions in the country are too exaggerated."

Girls who, without exception, are dressed in national clothes, actually meet on the streets unaccompanied by men, even late at night. But in general, the streets of Ashgabat are quite empty, and the windows, with rare exceptions, are dark. Locals explain that there are many more people in residential areas where there are ordinary five-storey buildings, not just elite buildings and university faculties.