According to petwithsupplies, the largest cities in Turkmenistan are Ashgabat, the capital and largest city, which is the hub of the country’s economic, political and cultural life. Located on the Kara Kum desert plain, it is home to around 1 million people. It is a modern, vibrant city built on a grand scale with wide boulevards, impressive architecture and numerous parks. The city has many attractions including a number of museums and monuments as well as numerous cafes, restaurants and shopping centres. The second largest city in Turkmenistan is Turkmenabat (formerly known as Chardzhou). It is located in the east of the country near Uzbekistan and has a population of around 250 000 people. It is an important industrial centre with several factories producing motor vehicles, textiles, food products and other goods. The city also has several universities including one of Turkmenistan’s oldest universities – Magtymguly State University – which was founded in 1921. The third largest city in Turkmenistan is Dashoguz (formerly known as Tashauz). With a population of around 230 000 it lies close to both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in the north-west of the country. Like Ashgabat it has wide boulevards lined with trees but there are also many parks throughout the city providing places for relaxation or recreation activities such as swimming or sports games. Dashoguz also boasts some interesting historical sites such as ruins from ancient civilizations that once inhabited this region. Turkmenbashi (formerly Krasnovodsk) comes fourth on this list with an estimated population of around 210 000 people living in this port city located on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. The port serves both passenger ships carrying tourists to other parts of Central Asia as well as cargo vessels bringing goods from countries such as Russia or Kazakhstan into Turkmenistan. Finally, there’s Mary (formerly Merv), another major industrial centre situated close to Ashgabat with an estimated population of around 170 000 people living here. This ancient Silk Road oasis town was once one of Central Asia’s most important cities but now remains largely forgotten by modern travellers due to its location away from main transport routes connecting other parts of Central Asia together. In 2008, Turkmenistan was a highly authoritarian state under the rule of President Saparmurat Niyazov. The country had been independent since 1991, when it declared its independence from the Soviet Union. However, the government was still highly authoritarian and retained much of the Soviet-era political structure. In addition to Niyazov’s rule, there were other powerful political figures in Turkmenistan, including members of his family and close associates. The government maintained strong ties with Russia and China, as well as other Central Asian countries. The economy of Turkmenistan in 2008 was heavily dependent on oil and natural gas exports to Russia and other countries in the region. This dependence had led to an increase in corruption among government officials, as well as a growing gap between rich and poor citizens. The government also heavily subsidized key industries such as agriculture and energy production, resulting in a lack of economic diversification. In addition to economic issues, human rights were also a major concern for many citizens due to the authoritarian nature of the regime. Freedom of speech was virtually non-existent in Turkmenistan during this period; dissidents were often arrested or harassed by security forces for speaking out against the government. Check pharmacylib for Turkmenistan in 1996.