Constitution of Turkmenistan.

Turkmenistan is a democratic, legal and secular state in which the government takes the form of presidential republic (Article 1). The property is inviolable. Turkmenistan approves the right to private ownership of the means of production, land and other material and intellectual values. They can also belong to the associations of citizens and the state. The law establishes objects that are exclusive property of the state. The state guarantees equal protection and creation of equal conditions for development of all forms of ownership. Confiscation of property is prohibited, except for the property acquired by means prohibited by law. Forced confiscation of property is permissible only in cases stipulated by law (Article 9). The Constitution consists of 117 Articles divided into VIII Sections: Fundamentals of the Constitutional System of Turkmenistan (I); Rights, Freedoms and Duties of the citizens of Turkmenistan (II); The System of Government and Administration in Turkmenistan (III); Local Self-Government (IV); Election System, Referendum (V); Judiciary (VI); The Prosecutor’s Office (VII); and Final Provisions (VIII). The state is responsible for safeguarding the national historical and cultural heritage, natural environment, ensuring equality between social and ethnic communities. The state encourages scientific and artistic creativity and distribution of its positive results, promotes development of international relations in the fields of science, culture, education and training, sports and tourism (Article 11). Turkmenistan guarantees the equality of rights and freedoms of individual and citizen, and also the equality of the individual and citizen before the law regardless of their nationality, race, gender, origin, property and official status, place of residence, language, religion, political beliefs, party affiliation or lack of affiliation to any party (Article 19). Men and Women in Turkmenistan have equal civil rights. Violation of equality on the basis of gender is punishable by law (Article 20). Everyone has the right to favourable environment. The State supervises the management of natural resources in order to protect and improve living conditions, as well as environmental protection and regeneration (Article 36). Gengeshes (local self-government): 1) Determine the basic directions of economic, social and cultural development of their territories; 2) Create and approve the budget and report on its performance; 3) Establish local taxes and the manner of their charging; 4) Define measures for rational use of natural resources and environmental protection; 5) Deal with other issues assigned by law to them. The decisions taken by Gengeshes within the limits of their competence are binding in their territory (Article 86).