Turkmenistan - AFP

A view of a shop selling locally-manufactured clothes in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 30, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is on...

A view taken from inside a taxi shows Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 30, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most seclu...

A woman walks past the statue of Turkmen former president Saparmurat Niyazov in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 30, 2023. The ex-Soviet Cen...

A view of a monument to the founder of the Soviet Union Vladimir Lenin in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 30, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central A...

Pensioners play backgammon in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 30, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most secluded coun...

A view of a carpet shop in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 30, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most secluded countri...

Locals have a festive lunch marking the Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) Muslim holiday in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex...

Locals have a festive lunch marking the Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) Muslim holiday in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex...

Locals have a festive lunch marking the Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) Muslim holiday in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex...

Locals have a festive lunch marking the Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) Muslim holiday in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex...

A view of Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most secluded countries in the world....

A view of Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most secluded countries in the world....

A view of the statue of Turkmen former president Saparmurat Niyazov in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asia...

A view shows the Palace of Happiness, a marriage registry office, in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian...

A view of the Independence Monument in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most secl...

A view of the State museum of the State cultural centre of Turkmenistan in the capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian natio...

The main flag of Turkmenistan sits in front of the State museum of the State cultural centre of Turkmenistan in the capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 20...

A view of Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most secluded countries in the world....

A view of Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most secluded countries in the world....

Chinese delegation visits the State museum of the State cultural centre of Turkmenistan in the capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Cen...

A view shows the Golden Horse Monument featuring former Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov riding an Akhal-Teke, Turkmenistan’s national horse,...

A family walks to a shopping mall in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most seclud...

The main flag of Turkmenistan sits in front of the State museum of the State cultural centre of Turkmenistan in the capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 20...

A boy waits at a public transport stop in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most s...

The main flag of Turkmenistan sits in front of the State museum of the State cultural centre of Turkmenistan in the capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 20...

A view of the Independence Monument in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most secl...

A view of Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most secluded countries in the world....

A view of Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most secluded countries in the world....

A view of the Constitution Monument in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most secl...

A view shows the Golden Horse Monument featuring former Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov riding an Akhal-Teke, Turkmenistan’s national horse,...

An employee cleans a glass showcase at a jewellery shop in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is...

Fruits and vegetables rest on stalls at a market in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of...

A Turkmen honour guard soldier stands on duty near the Independence Monument in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Cen...

Sprinklers water a garden in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most secluded count...

A view of the State museum of the State cultural centre of Turkmenistan in the capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Central Asian natio...

A woman hangs washed clothes on a rope in the yard of a residential building in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on June 28, 2023. The ex-Soviet Cen...