Ruled by Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, who likes to be called “Arkadag” (Protective Father), Turkmenistan is one of the world’s information black holes. Journalism can only be practiced clandestinely and when independent journalists are identified, they are liable to be jailed and tortured. The state controls virtually all the media. To prevent the population from watching foreign TV stations, satellite dishes are being taken away. President Berdymukhammedov is on RSF’s list of predators of press freedom.