The Turkmen government has an absolute monopoly of the media. The authorities monitor media outlets, control printing presses, block websites, monitor internet use and lay down editorial policies.

Reporters Without Borders has called Turkmenistan "an ever-expanding news black hole".

"Journalists have been arrested, tortured, physically attacked, or otherwise forced to stop working," the group says.

TV is the most popular medium. State-run broadcast media comprise several national TV and radio networks. Rebroadcasts of Russian TV are subject to censorship.

Some citizens watch Russian and Turkish TV via satellite. The authorities have attempted to curb this by removing satellite dishes from private households.

US-government funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty broadcasts in Turkmen by shortwave and satellite under the name Radio Azatlyk.

Turkmentelecom and other state bodies control internet access, which is prohibitively expensive for most citizens.

There were 1.5 million internet users by July 2022, 25% of the population (Internetworldstats.com).

Foreign news and opposition websites are blocked and international social networks are often inaccessible.