Statue of the late Saparmurat Niyazov, "Leader of all Turkmens", who died yesterday, leaving a resource rich Central Asian country in abject poverty, fear and ruins.
Image shot in 2004. Taken discretely: the bringing of cameras into the country and their use around town was not encouraged.
interesting thing about this photo is that this isnt even the biggest statue of that man in turkmenistan. typical soviet style setting here for this statue. if there was one thing "turkmenbashi" did well it was build his cult of personality up.
as for the photo itself, pleasing colours and simplicity (except for the cranes in the background). i usually clone that stuff out. i took some similar photos in moscow several years ago and they could pass off as the postcards that were for sale, depicting everything in the country as being normal and prosperous.
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