"Turkmenistan's Arkadag: A Multibillion-Dollar Tribute to Its Ex-President"
Turkmenistan has officially opened Arkadag, a multibillion-dollar city named after its former president, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov. Despite the extravagant expense of the project, the majority of Turkmen citizens live in poverty. The city, located south of the capital Ashgabat, is touted as the first "smart" city in Turkmenistan and features environmentally friendly vehicles and renewable energy sources. The elder Berdymukhammedov, who ruled for 15 years, developed a personality cult during his time in power. The press is tightly controlled in Turkmenistan, and access for foreign media is extremely limited.