In the 21st Century — Kissing the Hand of Power

In the 21st Century — Kissing the Hand of Power At an Akhal-Teke horse competition in the Netherlands, Turkmen artist Jemal Saparova publicly kisses the hand of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. This image speaks for itself. This is how, today, in a European country, a representative of a system associated for years with systematic and grave human rights violations, transnational repression, persecution of critics beyond Turkmenistan’s borders, restrictions on freedom of movement, and the absence of independent judicial protection is being welcomed. The scene appears particularly cynical against the backdrop of Turkmenistan’s economic crisis and the mass labour migration of its citizens. Representatives of Turkmen civil society had warned the Dutch side in advance, drawing attention to transnational repression and the grave human rights situation in Turkmenistan. Yet Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was nevertheless publicly welcomed and honoured in the Netherlands. Europe cannot condemn authoritarianism and transnational repression while simultaneously providing a European platform for the public glorification of representatives of the very same system. And in the 21st century, the image of someone kissing the hand of power is perhaps one of the most telling illustrations of what is happening.