News on one of the world's most closed countries: the state's TDH and Turkmen Portal, with independent reporting from exile via the Chronicles of Turkmenistan, Gundogar and RFE/RL's Azatlyk service.
State Media
Independent and Exile Media
Most trusted independent Turkmenistan news, exile-based
Russian-Language Media
Business and Finance
Sports
Turkmenistan Football Federation, national team official
News Agencies
Frequently asked questions
- What are the main news sources in Turkmenistan?
- Domestic media is entirely state-controlled — TDH is the state agency; independent coverage comes from exile outlets such as Chronicles of Turkmenistan and RFE/RL's Azatlyk.
- Is there independent media in Turkmenistan?
- Not domestically — Turkmenistan ranks among the world's most restricted media environments; independent reporting operates from abroad.
- What is Turkmenistan's official news agency?
- TDH (the State News Agency of Turkmenistan) is the official agency.
Turkmenistan has one of the world's most restricted media environments, serving 6 million people in a Central Asian nation blessed with vast natural gas reserves — the world's fourth largest — yet operating under one of the most tightly controlled information systems on Earth. Since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Turkmenistan has maintained a closed political system, with all major media state-controlled and operating from the remarkable marble city of Ashgabat.
For independent news, Chronicles of Turkmenistan and Gundogar are exile-based outlets widely trusted internationally. Azathabar (RFE/RL) is the most trusted Turkmen-language independent service. VOA Turkmen provides international coverage. State media is led by TDH. The economy is dominated by Turkmengaz — the state gas company. The national football team is covered by the Football Federation TM.
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