Sapa Niyazov awards annual hat prize

Sapa Niyazov (otherwise known as Turkmenbashi as you now know) awarded the gold medal in the general utility hat category at the annual Atamyrat Turkmen Hat Olympics this week to a previously unknown elder from Mary (the region not the camel - for the adventurous of you here's details of the airport at Mary. Did you spot the very short runway? I'd stick to Atamyrat International if I were you!)



(Notice the wonderful effects of Sapa's recent rejuvenation treatment. He looks a lot better than he does on the Turkmenistan bank notes below. Unless it's really his stunt double and/or clone - not everyone is happy about seeing his picture everywhere in Ashgabat - maybe he's taking precautions - who cares if the young guy gets sanctioned as long the old guy in hiding has more DNA to use. But then maybe he really looks like he does on the bank notes!)

Aardvark is rather disappointed that the prize went to such a conservative piece of head gear.

Here's Aardvark's favorite:



Now there's a hat that deserves a medal. Let's get that hat on the Atamyrat Hat Olympics map!

Come on CIA guys, can't you pedal a bit of US interest here in Turkmenistan. Where are the operatives on the ground here in Atamyrat? Where was the company man on the judging committee?