Anti-government slogans appear on banknotes in Turkmenistan

AKIPRESS.COM - Banknotes with comments critical of the president are starting to circulate in Turkmenistan. Messages in Turkmen such as "Death to Haramdag, the people have woken up" and "Haramdag, güm bol!" have been written by hand on notes of varying denominations, Turkmen News reports.
The epithet "Haramdag" plays on the president's official title "Arkadag" (which literally means a mountain behind one's back, in other words, a supporter or protector), replacing "arka" (behind) with "haram" meaning something forbidden. "Güm bol!" is a popular expression among Turkmen who are dissatisfied with the president's regime and can be loosely translated as "Get lost!"
The source said that similar banknotes have been received in change at the market and even from ATMs. The turkmen.news correspondent in the north-eastern Lebap region has also seen banknotes with anti-presidential inscriptions.
The dissatisfaction of Turkmenistan's citizens is compounded by the chronic food crisis, the impossibility of sending money to loved ones, corruption, and the lack of employment and opportunities to realize their potential at home