Turkmenistan is rated regularly as one of the world's three worst countries in terms of free speech and human rights.
At the same time it is one of the most important gas and oil producers in the world.
Last night the Dnepr carrier rocket sent special container with the sacred symbols of Turkmenistan:
the flag, and the unique philosophical work by Saparmurat Niyazov, Ruhnama
to the near earth orbit from the Baikonur Space Center.
Ruhnama is a messenger of peace and good.
It delivers clandestine, interesting facts from the past to the present.
Ruhnama is a ship
Welcome to Turkmenistan, the crown jewel of Central Asia.
Our country has deserts and oases, history and culture,
and we are rich in gas and oil and rare earth metals.
Our leader, the great Turkmenbashi, the head of all the Turkmen people,
President Saparmurat Niyazov welcomes you
to the land of many opportunities.
SHADOW OF THE HOLY BOOK
Arto Halonen Film Director
Saparmurat Niyazov President for life of Turkmenistan
Saparmurat Niyazov was a bizarre dictator,
who treated Turkmenistan as his own private Disneyland.
He ran one of the world's most oppressive governments
yet leading countries cooperated with him.
Human rights were ignored and Internet use was forbidden.
But these problems were seldom discussed in the West.
Most of Turkmenistan’s five million people are Muslims,
but despite the nation's gas and oil wealth, most live in poverty.
The unemployment rate is 60%.
Helsinki, Finland April 2005
My friend Kevin Frazier, a lawyer, shared my interest in Turkmenistan.
Kevin Frazier Journalist and Lawyer
we had questions about Turkmenistan.
Who cooperated with the country?
Didn't the human-rights violations mean anything to them?
Journalist dies in Turkmen jail
Finnish diplomat Markku Visapaa and journalist Kaius Niemi,
helped us and gave us more material on Turkmenistan.
They were among the few who had actually been to Turkmenistan.
They also showed us the Ruhnama, -
The Book of Soul written by Saparmurat Niyazov.
It was central to the dictatorship,
even more so than Mao's Little Red Book in China.
The Ruhnama is more or less replacing even the Koran.
It's more holy than the Koran.
The Ruhnama is an absurd mix of Turkmenistan's history,
rules of behavior, poetry,
and florid phrases praising the Ruhnama.
It links Niyazov's family tree to the roots of world history,
making his ancestors and the Turkmen people,
the forefathers of us all.
The Ruhnama changed our knowledge, filled us with joy!
It changed our consciousness!
We praise the one who has read every line of the book!
The generation of Ruhnama is grateful to you, my father!
One homeland, one leader, the Great Ruhnama!
We went to Moscow,
because Turkmenistan and Russia are old friends.
Moscow, Russia
Russian energy giant Gazprom
transport Turkmen gas to Europe through Russia.
The pipeline enriches both countries.
Human rights are ignored.
Many Turkmen political refugees live in Russia.
For them, the Ruhnama symbolizes the dictatorship.
If you remember the meaning of Ruhnama as a gate way to the ocean of the Turkmen soul,
the circumstances of trying to understand this book shall emerge in your heart.
Avdy Kuliev Niyazov's earliest minister of Foreign Affairs
Niyazov had a dream.
He wanted to be the world's 13th prophet.
Not only for the Muslim world.
With his book he wanted to subordinate his people,
to his thoughts and ideology.
I sacrifice my life and my flesh to you.
If I do the slightest harm to you, let my arm dry like a leaf.
After I quit as minister Niyazov asked me to his office.
I told him I was going to fight him in politics.
He said: "How are you going to fight against me?
A brick will fall on your head."
He threatened my family but I didn't change my opinion.
The dictator gave me three lessons because of my work for democracy.
This is the stamp of the dictator. I carry it with me always.
Holmurad Sojunov Exiled former member of parliament
The second time was in Moscow,
when they sent an assassin to throw me off a moving train.
The third time,
they sent me some Turkmen cognac, which was poisoned.
I was beaten in 2003,
and I lost the sight in my right eye.
My eye was so damaged that I can no longer read or write.
Murad Aliev fled Turkmenistan to save his life.
Murad Aliev Film director
They had wanted him to make a movie praising Niyazov.
We understood
that if we wanted to make a movie about the whole city's tragedy
it had to present his story.
It is a good, human story in itself.
A massive earthquake destroyed Ashgabat in 1948,
killing 100,000 people.
It left 8-year-old Niyazov an orphan.
Excerpts from the film CHILDREN OF THE EARTHQUAKE
Murad Aliev wanted to make a movie about the tragedy,
using Niyazov's story.
We were told the president would watch it.
After 20-30 minutes he realized
there was nothing God-like about the film.
There was just a boy, a good boy, but not God.
I wasn't the only one who got fired.
All cinemas and studios were shut down in the next two years.
Now everything in Turkmenistan is like this...
Important Turkmen human rights activist Farid Tuhbatullin
lives in Austria.
He tours the world campaigning to bring democracy to Turkmenistan.
Vienna, Austria
Farid Tuhbatullin Deported Turkmen Human rights activist in Vienna
It is a mixture of legends and fairy tales.
Some of the texts are completely made up.
And it's no coincidence the book has no list of sources.
The Ruhnama is the worst of Niyazov's achievements.
Greetings to the great leader!
Greetings to my beloved father and to his Golden Century.
Niyazov published the Ruhnama in 2001
and named himself Turkmenbashi, the Head of All Turkmen.
Since then the Ruhnama has been central in Turkmen education.
The dictator's words must be learned by heart.
If I say the slightest word against you,
let my tongue become dry as a leaf.
If I ever betray my homeland,
and its great leader Saparmurat Turkmenbashi,
let my life be reduced to ashes!
The Ruhnama is taught in math class and all the other classes.
The result is total degradation of the educational system.
Ruslan Tuhbatullin Farid's son
Even teachers who had to teach us about Ruhnama, she didn't know what to tell,
she didn't know what we should speak about.
Read Ruhnama as if you are saying your prays.
Read it after you reach spiritual solitude.
Attach great importance to Ruhnama.
Do not ever let it lay in an improper place.
And people have to read this.
They have exams in schools and universities
and even to get a driving license you have to know this.
It's impossible!
Today is the Ruhnama day. Thank you for your congratulations.
I also congratulate you from the bottom of my heart.
The Ruhnama has great value for us all,
for the future and the present of the Turkmen.
If we walk, live and work by the Ruhnama,
everything will he all right, if Allah pleases.
Ruhnama reading circle
Ruhnama should he a source of power,
that will keep hearts alert. Of intellect and...
Surprisingly, the Ruhnama had been translated into many languages.
Not by friends of literature, but by large corporations.
The name of the big Turkish firm, Chalik Holding, kept coming up.
Its owner, Ahmet Chalik, is one of Turkey's richest and most powerful people.
Yesterday president saparmurat niyazov
conducted an extended sitting of the cabinet of ministers of Turkmenistan.
The well known in Turkmenistan Turkish businessman Ahmet Chalik
asked for the floor and presented a well designed second book of Ruhnama
published in Turkish to the head of the state.
Saparmurat Niyazov cordially thanked Ahmet Chalik for the contribution of the Chalik Holding Company
to the economic development of Turkmenistan.
We wanted to interview companies that had translated the Ruhnama
and ask them about their motives.
Why did they support a dictatorship
and translate a book that helps oppress people?
Does business always outweigh human rights?
- My name is Kevin Frazier, and I'm calling from Helsinki, Finland.
Phone call to Chalik Holding
One of the strongest Turkish companies in the international arena Net sales $ 1 billion
- Hello. - Hello.
- I'm trying to reach Ahmet Chalik.
- What is the subject?
- The subject is the publication of the Holy Book.
- Which Holy Book? - Ruhnama.
- Okay, can you wait one second? - Of course!
- Foreign purchase department.
- I am working on a documentary
that is about foreign companies that do business in Turkmenistan.
- Hold the line please!
Just a moment, please!
We were just trying to teach my daughter this on the piano.
- Chalik Energy. - Hello, I'm trying to reach Ahmet Chalik.
Good day from Chalik Energy. Please hold.
We will connect you to the operator shortly.
Istanbul, Turkey
Chalik was hard to reach,
but we had our own contact in Istanbul.
- This Ahmet Chalik, he is an incredible man.
- But in what way? I mean why do you think...
- When I met him first, I was in Turkmenistan.
He was the second prime minister of that guy...
Leyla Omar Social Journalist
The Turkmen president.
He loves him so much, this Ahmet Chalik.
He keeps him around, but he's a very intelligent man.
He has a lot of things going on there, factories...
I know him very well. I did an interview with him.
He's extraordinary.
I'm sure that he will be happy to talk to you, why not?
Tell Ahmet Chalik that Leyla Omar wants to talk to him.
We didn't get to meet Chalik this time, but we continued to investigate him.
He had a special relationship with Niyazov,
and he was the first to translate the Ruhnama,
and he had used it to get close to the dictator.
It's impossible to do any kind of business in Turkmenistan,
without going through Ahmet Chalik.
Ersin Kalkan Turkish Journalist
He won the Turkmenbashi's confidence
and became his head adviser.
Instead of supporting the Turkmenbashi's megalomania
he should have told him it was comical.
He did the opposite.
They even erected a statue of the Ruhnama book. It was absurd.
The incredible statue was Chalik's birthday present to Niyazov.
We found the statue's designer, who supervised its constructions.
At the meeting they brought us this book.
It was shown to us on the table like this.
Ali Karagoz Graphic designer
They wanted it to have a 37 degree gradient and to open like this.
This is a relief of the Turkmenbashi.
I thought it should be three dimensional.
and we got help from a sculptor. First, we made a model.
Then we started building...
I too want to be like our flag.
On our flag day, when I'm your age I too want to look like you.
Happy birthday, my leader, my homeland!
Happy birthday, my beloved leader!
We were very excited when the statue was revealed.
Turkmenbashi stopped in front of the book and looked at it.
He seemed happy. That was enough for me.
- Hello. - I'm trying to reach the assistant for Ahmet Chalik.
We were still trying to reach Chalik.
We also called other companies that had translated the Ruhnama,
but when we said we were filmmakers, we got nowhere.
Back in Finland we tried a different approach.
Kevin said he was from a company
trying to enter Turkmenistan market and needed advise.
- We have heard about this book, that is called the Holy Book.
- Ruhnama. - Ruhnama, yes!
On the phone General manager of Turbo Team
And you mentioned that helping pay for the publication of that...
- It is a useful way to the heart of the President.
- Yes.
- And we asked from the President to interpret this book into Hungarian language.
Personally I met with him in Ashgabat.
After this I got good business to thirty million dollars.
- Wow! How much did it cost to you to do the publication?
- It was not so much, about 10,000 dollars.
Our method was effective but questionable,
so we decided to continue openly as filmmakers.
And literally lost contact with the Hungarian businessman.
Vienna, Austria
The book that Niyazov wrote, or is said to have written,
opens the door for any company or business in Turkmenistan.
One just has to translate it into a foreign language,
and Niyazov gives the company access to Turkmenistan.
He gives them a big project which will yield a good profit.
I learned this program which makes animations
and I had absolutely no idea that it will become "Bashanya", so it was my father idea.
Because I made a couple of cartoons for myself, just for fun.
Then my father saw it and he came up with an idea
that we could use it as political satire.
Niyazov had made Chalik a minister in his government,
although Chalik wasn't even a citizen of Turkmenistan.
Chalik seemed to be the most influential person in Turkmenistan after Niyazov
and a gatekeeper deciding which companies could access Turkmenistan.
We work with companies from Germany,
and America, Spain and Italy.
It was Chalik's idea to rename the months in Turkmenistan.
September became Ruhnama Month.
Ruhnama University should he built.
Make it a project for one department.
Dear Ahmet, let me put it like this:
This is the State Prosecutor's building, right next to it.
Make a square in front of it, and in the square a garden, a fountain.
And here, you put the building.
You understand: a beautiful place. - Yes, very beautiful.
Let's make the country good.
Dear Ahmet Chalik is making the cultural center good.
In this way we'll build our city, little by little.
Everything will be like a flower.
We had tried all along to go on a trip to Turkmenistan.
Filmmakers aren't allowed there, so we tried to go as tourists.
Many visa applications were denied until finally we were on our way.
Turkmenbashi, the founder.
His sacred building, my permanent day.
My heart and precious.
You are the crown of our heads, the glory of times.
Live as long as the world exists.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
It's hard to imagine another city with as many construction sites
as Turkmenistan's capital, Ashgabat.
Gas and oil pay for the most expensive materials.
We saw signs of Turkish construction companies,
especially Chalik's Gap Insaat.
The national library by Chalik Holding
The national center for culture by Chalik Holding
Archabil avenue by Chalik Holding
The park of independence by Chalik Holding
Ruslan Muradov Deputy director of Turkmenistan Architecture Union
This is a really extraordinary building.
The idea of an opening book is completely unique in the world.
The book is multicolored, in our own ancient tradition.
It is not monochromatic, like most Western statues and monuments.
Another Turkish company, Polimeks,
did a version of the Ruhnama for the blind.
They also bought the right to name a star up in the sky.
They named it Turkmenbashi.
Polimeks specialized in building golden statues of Niyazov.
One of them is a rocket statue, which rotates 360 degree,
A golden Niyazov embraces his nation on top.
Local Guide
The neutral states of Turkmenistan was adopted by the UN in 1995.
and in honor of that this building was built.
And it rotates, according to sun.
It always looks to the sun, as if greeting sun,
like wishing all the best to the people around it.
It's starting to see that president Niyazov is president everywhere.
The Big Brother, the Turkmenbashi,
the Head of All Turkmen, is watching.
Our president does his best to make everything good for us.
Before, no one knew about Turkmenistan,
but now the whole world knows us!
I don't know what would happen to us
if he died and someone else took his place.
I don't believe Turkmenistan will have another one like him.
He was sent to us by God!
If you read the Ruhnama,
you will know all about Turkmenistan.
Yes, it's very helpful for young people, for young children
Local guide
We couldn't know about our history before, we didn’t know the history.
- Do you remember any of his poems?
- From that book? - Yes.
- A few words? - Yes.
Can you think of anything? - No...
Ashgabat is in the desert and water is scarce,
but the city is full of fountains.
They say that water is more expensive than oil here,
which makes the cityscape even more absurd.
Ashgabat is a display window filled with gold and marble.
Finally we got to the countryside where the reality is very different.
The health care system has collapsed.
Unemployment, child labor and poverty are everywhere.
There are no fountains.
Filming is difficult.
We are under constant surveillance,
which can easily make you paranoid.
Fear colors the life of all residents.
Still, one dissident wanted to talk to us.
He had already been imprisoned for his opinions,
and talking to us is sure to mean a long sentence or even death.
The villages are empty.
All the young people have gone to the city trying to find work.
Sadly, young girls are forced to sell themselves on the streets.
It was never like this before.
They have suppressed the media and freedom of speech.
Only the president is allowed to criticize.
If you criticize something now,
you'll be charged with terrorism immediately.
In the name of Great Allah,
my beloved people, my beloved nation!
If the Turkmen soul was one world,
the Ruhnama would be the center of that world.
All the things that exist and will exist in that world,
must continue living in the ways and footsteps of the Ruhnama.
The feeling of the Ruhnama is the pride we had in the past,
and the pride we have today!
The Ruhnama's spring of purpose is a soul born from clean water.
Others called us people who are busy doing holy things.
Because of this, the Ruhnama is a holy book.
French construction company Bouygues, has also made its contribution to Ashgabat.
It made us curious.
We decided to look into Bouygues' operations in Turkmenistan,
as soon as we got home.
Bouygues is one of the world's largest construction companies.
It owns French TV channel TF1,
and Bouygues Telecom.
Ex-President Francois Mitterrand introduced President Niyazov,
to Bouygues' CEO Martin Bouygues.
This launched Bouygues' conquest of Turkmenistan,
and Niyazov found a friend he could always rely on.
Yet the first part of the Ruhnama wasn't translated into French,
by Bouygues but by Ahmet Chalik,
who strengthened his position at Bouygues' expense.
Chalik won many of the projects promised to Bouygues.
I'll give you some extra time.
Talk about it with Martin Bouygues.
You have until Monday.
Aldo Carbonara Vice president of Bouygues
When the second part of the Ruhnama was published in 2004,
Bouygues quickly had it translated into French.
This was honored by a big ceremony in Turkmenistan,
and the day was declared a national holiday.
The members of the Turkmen government and Mejlis of Turkmenistan,
clergy and mass media took part in the solemn ceremony
organized by the famous French Bouygues company,
the initiator of the translation of the second book of Ruhnama.
Niyazov wanted to show his citizens
that democratic France supported his ideology and the Ruhnama.
Phone call to pr-manager of Bouygues
- We spoke a couple of weeks ago, about the possibility of arranging an interview.
- It will be difficult, because we are not allowed to communicate
about our different sites in Turkmenistan.
- The person we would be most happy to interview with would be Martin Bouygues,
obviously we are also happy anybody else that...
- It will be totally impossible.
No, no, no, no, no, no...
- Are you saying that you will not interview us at all and you are refusing to have an interview with us?
- Yes, yes.
- But we are going to prepare this list of questions that are related to bouygues' work in Turkmenistan
and I'm going ahead and send it to you.
- I am quite sure I will not answer.
- You are quite sure you won't answer.
- Yes.
- Is Martin Bouygues in Turkmenistan right now?
- I don't know, I don't have his schedule.
- What will Bouygues do in the future to make sure that it maintains big contracts in Turkmenistan?
- Okay, bye bye.
Paris, France
There are naturally many landmarks built by Bouygues in Paris.
Bouygues Employs 122,500 people Net sales 26.4 billion euro
Bouygues used its TV chanel TF1
to make a two hours program about Turkmenistan and Niyazov.
It was aired in Turkmenistan, but never in France,
although Turkmen leaders were led to believe otherwise.
We have started to work with Martin Bouygues.
The french experts have done a great job in our country.
Niyazov choose Bouygues because Bouygues had very great experience
and he saw a film in Challenger
he saw the mosque of Casablanca and he was very impressed.
David Garcia Journalist
President Niyazov loved Bouygues' luxurious head office Challenger.
It is like a modern version of King Luis XIV's Versailles.
Challenger, The Bouygues headquarters Versailles, The Louis XIV headquarter
Turkmenbashi wanted to destroy everything,
and build a new town in place of the former Ashgabat.
Julian Chevallier Former engineer at Bouygues
Robert Bellon was the Bouygues architect in Turkmenistan.
He has been called Niyazov's Albert Speer.
The presidential palace by Bouygues
The congress and art palace by Bouygues
He created Turkmenistan's Arabic-Scandinavian style
The national bank by Bouygues
a mixture of practically all architectural traditions.
It was a perfect match for Niyazov's megalomania.
The center of free media by Bouygues
Raw stock exchange by Bouygues
The olympic complex by Bouygues
The main building of the university by Bouygues
Bouygues also built Central Asia's biggest mosque in Niyazov's home village Kipchak.
My question was: How many people should be able to pray at the same time in the mosque?
So at least we can size it.
Jacques Gaudron Former director of central Asia for Bouygues
I got the answer and then I said: "Which style?''
''What ahout something like silk-road style?''
He said: ''Yes, that is what I want.''
''But I want some modern features, mixed.''
The mosque cost 100 million dollars. The cupolas are made of gold.
The marble walls and columns cite the Koran and the Ruhnama.
This angered many Muslims.
The loudest critics were thrown in prison.
Spiritual leader Nasrulla Ibadulla received a 22 year sentence.
The mosque can hold 10,000 worshipers,
but it attracts only a few Muslim visitors.
Definitely I was quite embarrassed by what I was hearing
because I thought that the situation was really not going for the better.
I just realized when I was back that it was not a game.
It was a serious thing
with people disappearing and even dying every day.
It's the internal business of Turkmenistan which I totally don't understand.
I'm not capable to say anything on that situation.
We've done our job. I believe we can be proud of what we've done.
I want to point out
that we work in Turkmenistan under clear legal conditions.
Our experiences in this new country have shown
that foreign companies have no difficulties in Turkmenistan.
And I suggest that French gas and electric companies join us,
in this ancient, sunny country.
- Does Bouygues take the position
25th phone call to Bouygues
that you are allowed to make public praise and public support of a dictator,
but that it is perfectly fine for you to refuse to comment in public to the press
on your support to the dictator.
- Do you think that we are speaking the same language?
I just told you we have no further comment to make.
- Well, let me just ask you this...
- You don't understand what I say? You don't listen to me?
I just said that we have no further comment to make.
- I understand exactly what you are saying but what I am saying is that you do make public statements
in support of the Ruhnama book and in support of the dictatorship in Turkmenistan,
and yet you seem to be very upset
if the press dares to ask you any questions about those public statements
So do you think that is a proper...
- Shall we go? - Yes!
Hi Hubert, It's Kevin Frazier.
We are here now at the Bouygues office, the Challenger,
and we are hopping that you can sent somebody here to meet us, or if you can come,
or somebody else can come and maybe they can bring a copy of the french translation of the Ruhnama.
Well, do you want to give an instruction to anybody here
about how to deal with us? Because otherwise we are just going to be here.
The Ruhnama is a book, opening the spring of the mind,
and meeting the thirst of the dry intellect.
In our recent past the number of thirsty intellects has increased.
Istanbul, Turkey
- Hello!
- How can I help you?
- We were hoping to have a chance to interview Mr. Ahmet Chalik.
- Your name?
- My name is Kevin Frazier.
33th phone call to pr-manager of Chalik Holding
- Kevin?
- Yes, Kevin.
- OK Kevin, can you e-mail me all the details? Is it possible?
I will reach my manager and get back to you.
- Hello!
- Hi Leyla, This is Kevin Frazier.
- Tell me what happened! Did you find Ahmet?
- No we didn't. Have you spoken to him?
- I talk to him, but I don't remember.
We talked about other things, because we are friends.
And to be honest with you
I don't think it's a good idea for me to talk to a rich man like him.
I have never been to his office. You can find out.
Please my dear, don't put me in the middle of such things.
- Ya, I understand, but I had spoken with Arto and...
- My dear, I am on the street. The bus will kill me. Please!OK?
bye!
Of course, my activities were illegal.
Officially, I worked on ecology,
but unofficially, I gathered information
about concrete cases of human-rights violations.
Farid's human rights work threatened Niyazov.
Farid Tuhbatullin Exiled Turkmen Human rights activist
He was accused of conspiring to assassinate Niyazov
and given a long sentence.
It was a reason or a pretext,
for punishing me for my activity.
Pressure from human rights groups led to his release,
and he was expelled from the country.
The condition for Farid's freedom was a confession to Niyazov.
Farid had to sign it.
Upon release every prisoner must swear an oath to the President.
In the middle of the room there is a table
on which there is a bread and salt.
And on one side the Ruhnama and the other, the Koran.
I swear by the bread, the Ruhnama and the Koran.
that I will not commit another crime.
It was a great humiliation for me.
Last year journalist Ogulsapar Muradov died in jail.
We knew how dangerous it was to work in Turkmenistan.
I was imprisoned. Still, I kept working.
Everyone hopes for the best,
but someone must do our work.
Phone call to the Finnish translator of Ruhnama
- Ruhnama! - Ruhnama!
- Ruhnama, yes, I apologize!
- The Soul Book.
- Yes! Did you go ahead and do?
- Yes, the Finnish electrical company thought they can by that way
buy themselves possibility of doing big jobs in Turkmenistan.
It is a crazy book.
It was a big pain to translate things which are historically wrong
- Would you be willing to have an interview?
- Well, I don't think it's a good idea.
It could be dangerous for me.
I know the Orientals.
There might be always somebody
who thinks it should not be blamed.
Moscow, Russia
We had the plan of overthrowing the Niyazov's regime,
but unfortunately this plan didn't work.
So my father was accused directly trying to kill Niyazov
And together with my father there were like 600 or 700 people, who immediately got arrested.
Boris Shikmuradov, JR. Political refugee
Hey, don't look at me, I didn't do this!
Boris Shikmuradov Senior was Niyazov's deputy prime minister,
and his closest colleague.
After an assassination attempt on Niyazov in 2002,
Shikmuradov was imprisoned for planning the attack.
I'm not sure if he is dead or alive there.
Last time I saw him it was on Turkmen official television on December 2002,
When he was shown, making a confession,
accepting that he is a drug addict, accepting that he is a terrorist,
accepting that he tried to kill Niyazov, and one hundred other crimes.
This is old Niyazov, gray hair.
And he was normal by that time.
This is new one. This is new Niyazov.
Newly, every picture is edited.
See the editing here.
See that the head is separated from the body.
This is a dictator. This is an animal.
This is the first Turkmenistan government.
At least ten of these people are in jail.
My mother addressed Mr. Bouygues
asking him to get at least some information from inside the country.
Tatiana Shikmuradova
Dear Mr. Bouygues, I have heard that you will soon visit Ashgabat,
and meet with President Niyazov.
You know well my husband Boris,
who has promoted relations between Turkmenistan and the international community.
I understand that business comes first,
but I ask you to try and find out if my husband is alive.
Several letters were sent. Martin Bouygues never answered.
Neither did the many politicians and statesmen Tatiana Shikmuradova contacted.
Bouygues Group, code of ethics.
Compliance with the law
Respect for persons
What about the other companies which have translated the Ruhnama?
Just a moment. I have the list.
English, Arabic, Hungarian, Dutch, Spanish, Italian,...
Ruhnama, translated into many foreign languages,
has found millions friends, and devoted admires in many regions of the world...
Translating the Ruhnama gives companies access to riches.
It also helps Niyazov maintain the dictatorship
and suppress opposition.
The state news agency publishes the letters sent to Niyazov
by CEOs and the company statements praising the Ruhnama.
The Ruhnama has already been translated into nearly 40 languages
and the Turkmen people think the world admires the book
and supports the prophet Niyazov and his actions.
The bigger the company and the country behind the translation,
the greater the propaganda value for Niyazov.
We, Pakistanis consider Ruhnama our book. The spirit of the people...
Translation of Ruhnama in the Chinese language become a milestone in the history of the...
...on behalf of of the workers of the Ituchu cooperation. We would like to...
...this translation into dozens of foreign languages, the second book of...
...wisdom, Ruhnama, continues conquering the world.
Recently it was translate into Zulu language, in Africa.
We are trying to connect your call. Please hold the line.
Phone call to Daimler Chrysler
- Hi. This is Kevin Frazier. We spoke last week.
- Yeah! It was not Daimler Chrysler
but people in the sales department
who initiated this book.
- So you are saying that they were acting outside of the scope of what the company wanted them to do?
- It was not a Daimler-Chrysler thing. They did it on their own.
- Do you know the name of the people who did this translation?
- I don't give them.
- Why are you refusing? I mean do you have a reason for refusing?
- I don't go into details.
- Were they fired specifically for this reason?
Was this the reason that they were removed from the company?
- I don't give you details.
- OK! I understand!
- We are fighting with you!
Stuttgart, Germany
The German automobile giant Daimler Chrysler Group
complied with the government request to the foreign companies
to have the first Ruhnama book translated into their native languages.
Erich Jonscher, head of the Daimler Chrysler overseas
expresses his employees appreciation for 7 years contract
for the delivery of the Daimler commercial vehicles to the country
at the ceremony marks in the official publication of the book's German language edition.
- You visit the Stuttgart office? - Yes, we will definitely be there.
- To whom are you talking? - Well, we are planning to talk to you.
- We don't give interview. None of us.
You are wasting your time if you come here and visit me.
- She's not here.
- Maybe someone in the sales department could have the book.
- I've heard something about this book, but it's not here.
- We can compare the English and German language, you know.
- He told me just a couple of minutes ago that I have to be polite,
I'm trying to be polite.
This is what I am saying. You can hear what I say?
- Nevertheless, Ruhnama must be the center of this universe.
- I'm polite... I'm trying to be polite... just leave immediately.
Daimler Chrysler Automobile giant with total revenues 151.5 billion euros
American Caterpillar had been in Turkmenistan for years.
It cooperated with the German company Zeppelin
which translated the second part of the Ruhnama into German.
Phone call to ZEPPELIN
- The translation was made in Turkmenistan
but I don't know who was responsible for that.
- Do you know where it's possible to find copies of the German translation? Do you have any idea?
- No. I don't know where you can find copies,
because again what we sponsored was the translation itself.
So, I don't know where you can get a copy of it.
Zeppelin, one of the world's leading companies for construction machinery
Siemens CEO Klaus Kleinfeld has shown his deep gratitude to Saparmurat Niyazov
for sending him signed copy of the second installment of Ruhnama.
Dear Mr. President! I am certain that this book, thanks to our mutual understanding,
will further contribute to the deepening of excellent German-Turkmen relations.
The development of Turkmenistan is ample testament
to what can be achieved as a result of political stability.
Siemens is known for supplying Turkmenistan
with surveillance equipment, wiretaps and so on.
This gives direct support to a repressive government.
Many Turkmen dissidents and opponents of the regime,
have been imprisoned because Turkmenistan uses these devices.
Munich, Germany
Torture methods included electrodes behind the ears to give electrical shocks,
and gas masks with the filter covered to cut off breathing.
One of the world's largest electronics companies Employs 475,000 people Sales 87.5 billion euro
Our way is the way of justice.
Our way is the way of welfare.
Our way is the way of unity and solidarity.
Our way is the way of friendship and brotherhood.
Our way is the way of free conscience.
Our way is the way of free labor.
Our way is the way of national dignity.
The holy book of the Turkmens is close to the hearts of millions of readers.
The Czech language Ruhnama has been very well sought-after.
The first edition was sold out in very short time, and it was soon published the second edition.
Prague, Czech Republic
Nobody seemed to have the courage to talk about Turkmenistan
until we finally found a brave Czech CEO.
Karol Tolgyesi General manager, ETIF
We saw the Ruhnama as a way to possibly foster cooperation
and better establish Czech companies in the Turkmen market.
I had the opportunity to meet the President
when the Ruhnama was presented to him.
He thanked us officially for the translation.
It was easier to approach ministries and government offices
because they knew we had done something
to further spread the glory of the Ruhnama.
ETIF, Chemical and construction work
ETIF won 210 million dollar contract after Czech translation of Ruhnama
I think that business is business
and human rights are human rights.
Ruhnama has been given to us by the merciful Allah.
The Turkmen people and the entire world community have suffered a great loss.
On 21th December 2006, 1:10 a.m.
cardiac arrest caused the sudden death of the President of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Niyazov.
First, I felt kind of confused.
And then, I hoped soon to be able to return home.
the funeral delegations included the many representatives of important foreign companies
included Ahmet Chalik, head of the Chalik Group in turkey.
Niyazov was buried in the Bouygues-built Kipchak Mosque.
His death was a total surprise and confusing even to us.
But it also brought hope. The dictator was dead.
This could pave the way for democracy.
International companies could now admit their mistakes
and stop supporting the dictatorship.
Wien, Austria Turkmen opposition dinner January 2007
God willing, we will surely meet in Turkmenistan.
Let your words come to God's ears.
Opposition spokesmen and human rights activists met in Vienna.
They tried to agree on a statement
in support of establishing democracy for Turkmenistan.
I would like to know whether any one of these people here
can give us an idea that what role the Turkmen opposition can play.
This gentleman said that they are not even allowed to enter the country.
What can they do, except producing documents?
Of course the current situation in Turkmenistan is very severe.
We should not expect any changes overnight.
Does anyone here have a sense of whether those companies and those business interests
have already decided to support the acting government
or whether there is an opportunity that they will not do that.
The future of business relations depends mostly on
how the new regime will react to Niyazov's debts.
I believe collaboration and human rights violations will continue
if they honor those debts.
Opposition candidates were excluded
but there was still hope for change
although the elections followed the old patterns.
He was the Minister of Health for many years
and is one of the most long surviving of circle around Niyazov.
Within hours of the announcement of the Niyazov's death
it became known that the constitutionally designated successor to Niyazov had in fact been arrested.
Erika Daily Project director of Turkmenistan Open Society Institute
So Berdimuhamedow has come to power very much as Niyazov has done.
The other thing that's uncanny about his ascend to power is
that he is an absolute look alike with Niyazov.
And it's quite eury to suddenly see: the king is dead, long live the king.
He simply has been reincarnated in a younger one.
Dear people, as you know, according to our constitution,
the Cabinet is run by the president himself.
You know it well.
And so, as the head of the government...
The new president Berdimuhamedow
kissed both the Koran and the Ruhnama at his inauguration.
But would he change his attitude towards dictatorship
and its central symbol, the Ruhnama?
And what would the international companies do?
There used to be Niyazov's portrait here but it was replaced with this.
Niyazov's statue is still there, looking up at the new president.
We tried to go to Turkmenistan again.
Many trips were denied, but eventually one group got in.
The new president had promised many reforms
but nothing seemed to have changed so far.
But there was new hope and people still waited for something better
but feared everything would remain the same.
Many political refugees and dissidents had been turned away.
The Ruhnama was still everywhere.
A Ruhnama school was being built
and Berdimuhamedow was arranging a Ruhnama conference
for the world's children in praise of the Ruhnama's universal wisdom.
"Ruhnama provides with knowledge, inspires for and calls to love an beauty" President Berdimuhamedow
"Ruhnama determines numerous ways of spiritual reformations of the world
in the name of general concord and humanism" President Berdimuhamedow
47th phone call to PR manager of Chalik Holding
- Hi, I'm good. So I assume that you have heard the news about Niyazov.
- Yes, Niyazov died.
- Has that had a big effect on Mr. Chalik? Is that a big issue now for him?
- Yes, Kevin, he said: ''I'm really busy. I don't want to be interviewed."
- Is Mr Chalik still a minister in the Turkmenistan government
and is he still planning to support the Ruhnama?
- No. Right now, no...
- He is not a minister in the government of Turkmenistan anymore?
- No, no.
- He is not.
What would Chalik and the other international companies do now?
Would they still trust the power of the Ruhnama
or support democracy?
Ruhnama is the Turkmens' soul book.
Ruhnama is the voice giving life to my people.
Ruhnama is the Turkmen soul book.
Ruhnama has cleaned us and given us cleanliness.
Let it soak into every Turkmen's blood.
Let the Ruhnama, which has become the light, fill the world.
New Turkmen president Berdimuhamedow moves to consolidate power
Berdimuhamedow sacks secret police chief
President of Turkmenistan receives Ahmet Chalik
People still hid behind silence and denial.
It frustrated us.
You must take permission.
What are you doing? Please!
Try to manage.
We decided to visit the country
that said it was fighting for democracy, against dictators.
Dear Mr President
I would like to congratulate you on Independence day celebrated on October 27.
The people of USA highly appreciate the contribution of Turkmenistan
to the global counter terrorism war.
Sincerely yours George W. Bush President of the United States of America
Washington D.C., U.S.A.
- White House office, Media Affairs.
- Can I talk with President George W. Bush, please.
- And you're from Finland?
- We have one question we want to ask President Bush.
- What is this?
- Now that Niyazov, the dictator of Turkmenistan is dead,
will the United States try to support the movement for democracy in Turkmenistan
or are you willing to once again accept the dictatorship there?
- Ok, hold on for one moment. I'll see if I can get a spokesman for you.
New York, U.S.A.
- Hi, the spokesman who could answer you is not in right now.
Can I take your phone number and I'll pass your message along?
Unlike Turkmenistan, the US allows free speech.
Frustrated, we decided to use this freedom.
My beloved homeland, You are always with me, in my thoughts and in my heart.
For the slightest evil against you let my hand be lost.
Daimler Chrysler Employes more than 360,000 people
For the slightest slander about you let my tongue be lost.
- I'm gonna have to ask you to move from the steps, ok?
- We don't have an invitation but we have this important book...
- Sorry. Good try though.
Those who are suffering tyranny should be helped in order to reduce the numbers of tyrants.
If Allah wills it, the generations who drink deeply
from the clean water of the spring of philosophy of the "Ruhnama"
may grow into beautiful, moral people.
And Mercedes Benz, Daimler-Chrysler which produces Mercedes Benz,
they actually translated in the German this book
in order to help show their support of this dictator and the government of Turkmenistan.
Homeless fucking fashion design!
It's a brand we can all wear.
The Ruhnama can only be translated once into any language
so the companies have found many ways to glorify the Ruhnama.
Moline, Illinois, U.S.A.
Herbert J. Markley Head of the Agricultural Division John Deere
John Deere and Turkmenistan had formed a very good partnership.
We want these people to be very successful.
And we will do the things to make them successful.
Two months before Niyazov's death
John Deere's management asked for and received a signed copy of the Ruhnama
to be put in their museum.
The book's real nature seemed to dawn on them
after Niyazov's death and the book was removed.
Perhaps they would speak more openly now.
- Hi, Ken. Nice to meet you. - Me too.
John Deere PR manager
- What was that about the nature of this book, this Ruhnama book
that made John Deere decide to remove it from its collections.
- The book has been taken out of our collection.
I don't understand the premise of the book in doing business
because we talk about ceremonial gift which we put in our archive.
- It seems to be common knowledge that in order to do business in Turkmenistan
companies should show some kind of interest in the book.
- That's your premise.
If we wish to protect our children from the evils of the streets
Since John Deere's management claimed ignorance
the discussion went nowhere.
The Ruhnama had been around for six years
but the CEO of John Deere hadn't seemed to notice any problems
even though he knew the book well.
David Everett expressed his admiration of the philosophy of Ruhnama
that -in his words-opened him the wealth and grandness of the spiritual world of the Turkmen people.
I know that the second volume of your work has been published
and I am looking forward to reading it in English.
- You want to leave the book?
- We had called them and found that actually you don't have a copy of it,
so we wanted to leave a copy of it for John Deere here.
John Deere World's leading manufacturer of farm equipment
John Deere Net sales and revenues 22.148 billion dollar
- Oh, yes, Turkmenistan? - Yes, that's right.
Phone call to Caterpillar
- Kevin, I checked with our folks in our Asia-Pacific division
and I don't think we can help you out at this time with this request
but we do appreciate you checking in with us.
- Hello, I'm trying to reach Peter Wentworth. - Yes, that's me.
Caterpillar's former systems analyst Peter
has created an extensive web site marketing and praising the Ruhnama.
It also offers many nice Ruhnama products.
Peter now has his own business, but still maintains the site.
- I'm really sorry but I don't think it would be productive for you guys.
I'm kind of busy right now.
And I have to be honest with you
I'm really not a devotee to the Turkmenbashi or Ruhnama.
Peoria, Illinois, U.S.A.
The White House never returned our call
and we were brushed off here as well.
Finding Peter wasn't made any easier by a massive snowstorm in Illinois.
Now we can't get back.
This is jammed.
Maybe we just leave the car here
and in one way or another try to get it out of the snow later.
Turkmenistan's government lies to the Turkmen people
by exaggerating the number of translations.
Companies lie to the Turkmen government
by exaggerating actual interest in the book.
The companies seem reluctant to show their translations to outsiders.
We wonder if Caterpillar and Peter are part of this web of lies.
For the Turkmen government, the web site must look impressive.
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven"
We heard you are coming. Come on in.
- You guys want a cup of hot chocolate? - That would be fabulous.
- We found Peter's website.
Janet Sullivan Peter's wife
- Just wanted to make sure he has no actual relationship with Turkmenistan.
He just thought, hey! this might be a marketing opportunity.
Finally Peter's friendly wife, who also works for Caterpillar, took us to Peter.
Peter Wentworth Former system analyst at Caterpillar
- I was searching on Yahoo, and saw the words Ruhnama, and read about it
and grabbed the domain, and created the website.
- Did the Caterpillar give you encouragement or help with putting the Ruhnama material up?
- Not really, no. In facet I bought the book from eBay.
And I scanned it and put it up on the website.
I honestly do not know anything about it.
I did contact the embassy of Turkmenistan,
to see perhaps I get some sponsorship from them.
They in turn contacted the Caterpillar global contact
and it filtered up to, I don't know, for the CEO level, but somehow up,
certain level of Caterpillar, and then back down to my chain of command, and then they did ask me about it.
Actually I didn't get up to the CEO, it was like, maybe
department of manager,
I'm not sure exactly how high it went up before it went down.
- Can we see some of the T-shirts? Actually we want to buy.
I got them packed away and God only knows where they are.
Peter claims not to have read the Ruhnama or know much about it.
Yet the web site and its analysis of the book are made with surprising expertise.
It's hard to believe it was all written in rural Illinois.
They don't want you guys filming anything in the Caterpillar.
Caterpillar Worlds leading manufacturer of construction equipment
Net sales and revenues 42 billion dollar
Caterpillar Public Affairs.
Sorry, I'm in the office but currently away from my phone.
We would like to have the answers to these perfectly legitimate questions.
Does Caterpillar know that one of its employees has created a Ruhnama site?
Our information says that you do.
Does Caterpillar know that it approved this employee's decision to put the site up?
Our information again says yes.
Apparently you have told your security before, without telling us, because you refused to see us,
that you don't know the answers to these questions.
It seems to me that you as the head of public relations should know the answers to these questions.
So either you are lying, or somebody who does not know how to do your job.
For whatever reason they don't want you to film.
Profit 3.537 billion dollar
Finally, we approached the CEO of the Finnish company Ensto.
He had started a Finnish translation of the Ruhnama.
Phone call to former CEO of Ensto
- Yes, I've been CEO but that case was closed two years ago
and we do not have the book, so forget us.
- You do not have any copies of the book?
- No, it has never been made into a book.
From our side the case was closed two years ago
and no reason to open it again.
- Did you personally feel that there were any...
- I have no reason to continue this discussion
because as I said, it is closed.
Ensto Finnish international electricity group Sales to 80 countries worldwide
To our surprise, Ensto's chairman and one of its owners, called us.
He had heard about us and wanted to give us an interview.
We were astonished.
The publication of your book will undoubtedly served as stimulus
for the development of relations between our countries.
It will allow for close acquaintance with the culture and national traditions of your people,
and the political principles of Turkmenistan.
Timo Miettinen Chairman of the board of directors, Ensto
When reading this I feel very confused
and I don't like this letter
and it is not according to my way of thinking
and not according to our ethical principles.
The suggestion to translate the book
came from the Turkmenistan government.
After this visit we then sent a letter to the president of Turkmenistan
and we also received from him a positive answer.
And at that time we didn't do our homework very properly.
We didn't consider the whole context of the country's situation.
Afterwards I had to admit that this was
a certain kind of misjudgment we shouldn't have done.
Our company's ethical values finally were more important than the business opportunity,
because the fact is also that after abandoning this translation and the book,
also the business opportunity was lost.
I think that Ensto is apologizing for what we did
even though we abandoned our project
and my recommendation to other companies that contributed to this,
supporting the dictatorship at least indirectly
that they should also apologize for
their decision-making in this context.
Boris Shikmuradov, JR. Political refugee
Two highest international officials working with human rights,
they got no result of Berdimuhamedow
if they will, or if they will not cooperate in human rights issue with the international community,
and they accepted that. Nobody cares.
Government of Turkmenistan is doing whatever they want
only because they have national gas.
How come that the rest of the world accept these rules?
The new President publishes his bibliography
The presentation of Ruhnama in the Korean language was held in Seoul.
Turkmen leader vows to increase natural gas exports to Russia.
Berdimuhamedow also said they have a lot to do
especially preparing for the 6th anniversary of the Ruhnama.
The new president Berdimuhamedow has continued in Niyazov's footsteps.
Many ministers have been fired without warning.
Reforms have remained vague.
Strengthened ties to Russia secure Berdimuhamedow's position.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow suggested that the company headed by Ahmet Chalik
should take part in attender on working out the project of the Ruhnama university.
Ahmet Chalik has created a global network through Turkmenistan.
Acting as Turkmenistan's gatekeeper
and an advocate for the Ruhnama has clearly worked for him.
He made all his money in Turkmenistan, but it was long ago.
Now Ahmet Chalik doesn't need Turkmenistan anymore,
Turkmenistan needs Ahmet Chalik.
General sponsor of energy conference: Chalik energy
He is the king. He can do anything now.
Chalik Group expects rapid growth in energy and telecommunication
The final 81th phone call to PR manager of Chalik Holding
- Ismael, hi. This is Kevin.
- Hi, Kevin. I told Ahmet Chalik two days ago.
I said: 'Why do you support the Ruhnama?'
He said he wanted to support the publication of the Ruhnama
and he supported it.
- Do you think that it was wrong to support the Ruhnama?
You think you should apologize for supporting the Ruhnama?
- Why? He makes his business in Turkmenistan.
He wanted to support it. It's okay.
- Don't you see that supporting the Ruhnama
basically forces the new president of Turkmenistan
to use similar methods with the international companies that the old dictator used?
- It's normal, Kevin. Normal.
Berdimuhamedow has not stopped supporting the Ruhnama and praising it.
At least not yet.
The new Ruhnama reading circle
I and my friends have kind of lost our optimism.
We no longer believe anything will happen
that would make it possible for me to return home soon.
Berdimuhamedow never tires of saying
that the Ruhnama is a holy book and you have to study it.
But we have also heard that when the school year starts
pupils don't have to study quotations from the Ruhnama
but quotations from a new book written by the new president.
This may be a sign that people will be forced to read it,
that things will go on as under Niyazov
and a new cult will be established.
And probably the big companies are already looking for ways to please the new president.
We are aware of the global game Chalik Holding
Building Solutions for a demanding world Bouygues
Our aim is limitless Gap insaat
Be inspired Siemens
Unlike any other Mercedes Benz
Nothing runs like a deere John Deere
Today's work, tomorrow's world Caterpillar
This film is dedicated to the memory of Finnish diplomat Markku Visapaa
and to everyone who shares his courage
The turkmenistan news clips in the film are recreations
All the news read in the film was published by the Turkmenistan official news agency and broadcast as state news bulletins
The ruhnama reading groups are also recreations, similar to those repeatedly shown on Turkmenistan television
As it is said, "The ruler who does not punish the criminal and thief
strikes his own caravan and people with his own hands."
If a ruler does punish crime, he gains absolute legitimacy.
You are a part of the fatherland's soul while you are alive,
and after death you are part of the flesh of the fatherland.
The Ruhnama must become the center of the universe.
All past and future things will continue to exist in its orbit.
Ruhnama is a sweet spiritual fruit grown in this territory.
We shall establish this great transformation with this book entitled Ruhnama.
He doesn’t want to touch the book.
I'm telling you, this book is satanic.
It's the Devil's book.
The Ruhnama continues its journey through space, orbiting around the world
The earth orbit also awaits Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow's own book of the soul