Turkmenistan is the southernmost republic of the former Soviet Union. The country was conquered by the Mongols in the thirteenth century before being seized by Russia in the late nineteenth century. With the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, it became an independent republic.

Since 1996, the religious activity of people of all faiths in Turkmenistan has been highly restricted.  Only two religious communities are allowed legal registration—the Sunni Muslim Board and the Russian Orthodox Church. However, even the limited religious activity allowed by law is controlled by the government, with registered religious groups often denied the right to worship and facing bans on the printing and importing of religious literature.  Other religious communities are raided and their members threatened and assaulted. Building a new place of worship is impossible for those who are not registered and the government has confiscated or destroyed many churches. Several national pastors have been exiled, beaten up, heavily fined and imprisoned. Foreigners involved in religious activities, including missionaries and priests, are regularly expelled.

President Saparmurat Niyazov, elected in 1999 elections in which every candidate was selected by the government, promoted himself as supreme authority during his rule, echoing the self-glorification of King Nebuchadnezzar of the Bible. Monuments to his “wisdom” were erected and there was pressure to quote him along with the bible. In 2005, President Niyazov issued a declaration that, "we have one religion and unique traditions and customs, and there is no need for people to look beyond these."  Increased pressure on religious minorities in the predominantly Muslim country followed.

The personality cult around Niyazov diminished with his death in December 2006. Although his successor, Kurbanguly  Berdymuhamedov, initially said that he would follow in the former leader’s footsteps, he has since shown signs of wanting to expunge the legacy of Niyazov's 21-year ironfisted rule. In late 2008, all references to the late president were dropped from the state's national anthem.  Berdymuhamedov has also reversed other policies of Niyazov such as renaming months after his relatives, banning opera and closing hospitals everywhere, except in the capital Ashgabat.

• Pray that Christians facing persecution will stand firm in their faith. 
• Pray that the truth of the gospel will permeate the nation.
• Pray that key Turkmen leaders will come to faith in Christ.