Address by Turkmen artists Dear President of Turkmenistan, Many members of Turkmenistan’s Union of Artists are questioning the competence of that organization. For the past two decades the Union of Artists has completely discredited itself as an artistic association which should be committed to supporting and developing our national art. Instead we are witnessing a complete degradation of the Union, whose executives are concerned with the distribution of funds, contracts, apartments and other benefits provided by the government. The administration of the Union is violating the rights of the Union members and the organization’s charter by distributing state funds as they see fit. Based on the recently adopted law of Turkmenistan on combating corruption, some Union members intend to draw the attention of law enforcement agencies and demand that a thorough inspection of the Union’s activities, the Artistic Fund and the Exhibition hall be carried out. In our opinion even a routine, superficial inspection can confirm crimes committed by the executives of the organization and their all-round inefficiency. For many years they have been deceiving the authorities and spoiling the image of our country in the international arena. Sheker Bairamova has been working in the Union for over 30 years. The artists have repeatedly expressed their negative attitude towards her presence on the managerial board of the Union of Artists. Throughout all these years she has been the sole decision-maker under different Chairpersons. She was provided with an artist’s studio which she does not need since she is not an artist. On a regular basis Sh. Bairamova falsifies documents and distorts facts and interferes in artists’ personal and family lives in an inappropriate manner. At the same time she repeatedly claims that the Ministry of Justice can work only with her and nobody else. The former chairperson of the Union of Artists, Babasary Annamuradov, does not hold an academic title and has not authored any scientific works, but nevertheless he is an Honorary Doctor of Turkmenistan’s Academy of Fine Arts. How did he receive this title and who awarded it to him? He is listed as an instructor of the Academy but he does not work there which is a gross violation of Turkmenistan’s Labour Code. In the meantime we cannot express our opinion openly because we have witnessed the treatment of those who had voted against Saparmamed Meredov nominated by higher ranking authorities. For a long time S. Meredov has been a manager of the Museum of Fine Arts and at the same time a chairperson of the Union of Artists, which violates not only Turkmenistan’s Labour Code but also the charter of the Union of Artists. Annual reporting procedures are not practiced in artistic associations. Currently the “right” people – who have nothing to do with fine arts – are being registered as members of the Union on a large scale basis. Many of them receive studios without legitimate documents and the studios are not used for their intended purpose. There is bargaining between members of “Geneshlik” (Council) and all board members, where state orders are allocated. The largest orders are taken on by Saragt Babaev who repeatedly convinces everyone that he is “an authorized representative and the closest friend of the Turkmen President”. Artistic associations are organizations for uniting artists and for fostering the genuine art of Turkmenistan. However, the Union is currently a hotbed of mass violations. Many artists believe that the Union in its current form must be liquidated as the organization has completely discredited itself. Comment by the editorial board: Nine members of the Union signed this address. They asked that their names be withheld.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 10:36:19 +0000
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