Büzmeýin, Turkmenistan
Büzmeýin
Бeзмейн Abadan (2002–2018) | |
---|---|
Büzmeýin Location in Turkmenistan | |
Coordinates: 38°03′06″N 58°12′36″E | |
Country | Turkmenistan |
City | Ashgabat |
Büzmeýin is the name of both a borough (Turkmen: uly etrap), Büzmeýin District, and a neighborhood (Turkmen: ýaşaýyş toplumy) of Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. Formerly a separate city in Ahal Province, in 2013 the city was incorporated into Ashgabat as part of a program that expanded the capital's area by about 15%.[1][2]
The municipality was founded as a "town of urban type" but granted the status of a city in 1963. It bore the name Büzmeýin until October 2002, when its name was changed to Abadan by President Saparmurat Niyazov.[3] In January 2018, the original name was restored.[4] The traditional Russian form of the name is Bezmein (Безмейн).
Etymology
According to the Turkmen Academy of Sciences, "Büzmeýin" is derived from medieval Arabic "buza" (alcoholic beverage, beer) plus Persian "mayim" (raisin, grape plant), a reference to the area's historic use for wine grape production and wine warehousing, dating back to when Nisa was capital of the Parthian Empire.[5]
Niyazov claimed Büzmeýin to be a meaningless word, and in late 2002 the new name became Abadan (Persian: آبادان, literally meaning 'the Prosperous Place') — a billboard at the town-entrance even features an eponymous poem by him.[6]
Transport
About 25 km. from central Ashgabat,[6] the center of the former town is served by a station on the national railway system and by municipal bus service. The M37 highway passes through the neighborhood.
Industries
Büzmeýin was developed as an industrial town.[6] Niyazov worked at the Büzmeýin State Electrical Power Plant for three years, before entering a political career.[6]
2011 explosion
On 7 July 2011, around 16:45 local time, massive blasts struck the city. According to government officials, they occurred at a fireworks warehouse, killing 2 military men and 13 civilians.[7][8] Opposition groups, however, claim it was in fact a Soviet-era arms depot that caused the explosions, with a death toll exceeding 1,300 victims.[9][10]
References
- "Ashgabat to expand its borders". Chronicles of Turkmenistan. 2013-06-28. Archived from the original on 2013-07-11. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- "Ашхабад прирос новыми территориями". TURKMENISTAN: The Golden age (in Russian). Government of Turkmenistan. 2013-05-27. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
...Меджлис Туркменистана постановил: Земли территории города Абадан (...) включить в пределы территории земель города Ашхабада, исключив эти земли из состава территории Ахалского велаята. (The Assembly of Turkmenistan has decided: to include the grounds of the city of Abadan (...) into an area of the city of Ashgabat while excluding those grounds from the territory of Ahal Province.)
- Turkmenistan Daily Digest Archived July 6, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- "Глава государства подписал Постановления о переименовании и структурной реорганизации некоторых хякимликов Ахалского велаята и Ашхабада". January 8, 2018. Archived from the original on July 9, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
- Atanyyazov, Soltansha (1970). Türkmenistanyň Toponymyk Sözlügi (in Turkmen). Ashgabat: Ylym. pp. 55–56.
- Brummell, Paul (2005). Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 109, 111. ISBN 978-1-84162-144-9.
- "Turkmenistan Says Fireworks Blast Killed 15; Opposition Says Hundreds Dead, 11 July 2011 Monday 11:13". Archived from the original on 2012-09-21. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
- "Mysterious Turkmen Blast Site Blocked Off". Themoscowtimes.com. 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- "Turkmenistan: Human Rights Activists Say Death Toll Climbing from Explosion". Eurasianet. EurasiaNet.org. 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- Amateur video of the explosion scene on YouTube