“Chronicles of Turkmenistan” have previously reported that starting from 2 January 2018 a ban on the use of black (dark) cars was introduced in Turkmenistan.
As of today, road police are stopping not only black and dark-grey vehicles, but also cars of other colours as well.
According to Turkmenistan-based correspondents, as well as readers of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan”, without providing any explanations the police demand that cars of blue, red, green and other colours be towed to a car pound.
Since no written regulations or decrees have been issued with regard to the use of black vehicles, the Road Patrol Service staff interpret the instruction at their own discretion and make arbitrary decisions as to which colours are permitted and which are not.
Some drivers can be released but the majority of car owners are ordered to re-paint their car or to refrain from using the vehicle.
Moreover, according to ANT, females are now forbidden to drive in Turkmenistan.
It should be highlighted that the editorial office of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” has repeatedly received complaints from females who claim that it is far more challenging for them to obtain a driving license because they are either coerced to pay bribes or are deliberately made to fail the driving test.
On 5 January one of the Turkmen television channels showed a broadcast featuring the procedure of obtaining a driving license. Interestingly enough, there was not a single female among those who took the driving test.