Büzmeýin, Turkmenistan
38°03′06″N 58°12′36″E / 38.05167°N 58.21000°E
Büzmeýin
Abadan (2002–2018) | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 38°03′06″N 58°12′36″E / 38.05167°N 58.21000°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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c d 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