My latest with @adalatseeker and @boshikh for @OCCRP: We tracked down the secretive relative of #Turkmenistan's longtime dictator who controls the country's monopoly mobile phone operator.
https://twitter.com/OCCRP/status/1509459344013901824?s=20
How secretive is Shyhmyrat Shaharliyev, the director of #Turkmenistan's monopoly mobile operator Altyn Asyr (TMCell)? He has never made a public appearance as director!
During most of the investigation, we only had an image of his torso (the man at the center) from social media.
During most of the investigation, we only had an image of his torso (the man at the center) from social media.
Only later did we manage to identify him in 3 seconds of footage from #Turkmenistan state TV. Three seconds are his only public appearance!!!
Why so secretive? Likely because he doesn't want the public to realize he's related to longtime president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov...
Why so secretive? Likely because he doesn't want the public to realize he's related to longtime president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov...
...and that his family enjoys a life of luxury. @OCCRP was able to connect Shyhmyrat Shaharliyev to two restaurants in #Turkmenistan. And his son regularly posts photos of his collection of expensive watches.
But while the Shaharliyev family is benefiting from its ties to #Turkmenistan's first family, most Turkmen are struggling to get by. Ordinary mobile phone users complain that Altyn Asyr's service is expensive, slow, and dysfunctional.
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