Turkmenistan ( or ; , ), formerly known as Turkmenia, is a country in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north and east, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest, and the Caspian Sea to the west. 

Turkmenistan has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. In medieval times, Merv was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road, a caravan route used for trade with China until the mid-15th century. Annexed by the Russian Empire in 1881, Turkmenistan later figured prominently in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Central Asia. In 1925, Turkmenistan became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic (Turkmen SSR); it became independent upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. 

Turkmenistan possesses the world's fourth largest reserves of natural gas resources. Most of the country is covered by the Karakum (Black Sand) Desert. Since 1993, citizens have been receiving government-provided electricity, water and natural gas free of charge. 

Turkmenistan was ruled by President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov until his death in 2006. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow was elected president in 2007. According to Human Rights Watch, "Turkmenistan remains one of the world’s most repressive countries. The country is virtually closed to independent scrutiny, media and religious freedoms are subject to draconian restrictions, and human rights defenders and other activists face the constant threat of government reprisal." After suspending the death penalty, the use of capital punishment was formally abolished in the 2008 constitution.
What was an important stop on the Silk Road?
What is that road?
Is it a caravan route?
What business did it aid?
Until when?
Turkmenistan has been where for centuries?
Is most of the country forest?
What is it, then?
What's one thing the residents get for free?
What natural resources is in abundance there?
Who ruled there until 2006?
What punishment did they end there in 2008?
What other punishment is no more?
What's to the southwest of this country?
What did the place used to be called?
What happened in 1881 there?
When did it become it's own country?
What caused that to happen?
Is it a repressed country?
Do the people have much freedom?
Merv
Merv was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road
the Silk Road,
the Silk Road,
yes
 a caravan route
for trade with China
 for trade with China 
until the mid-15th century.
until the mid-15th century.
at the crossroads of civilizations
 at the crossroads of civilizations
no
Most of the country is covered by the Karakum (Black Sand) Desert.
Most of the country is covered by the Karakum (Black Sand) Desert.
 Most of the country is covered by the Karakum (Black Sand) Desert.
electricity, water and natural gas
electricity, water and natural gas free of charge
natural gas resources
 the world's fourth largest reserves of natural gas resources
President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov
 ruled by President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov until his death in 2006
capital punishment
capital punishment was formally abolished in the 2008 constitution.
the death penalty,
 the death penalty,
Iran
 Iran to the south and southwest
Turkmenia
 formerly known as Turkmenia
It was annexed by the Russian Empire
Annexed by the Russian Empire in 1881
1991.
 it became independent upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. 
the dissolution of the Soviet Union
 the dissolution of the Soviet Union
yes
Turkmenistan remains one of the world’s most repressive countries
no
media and religious freedoms are subject to draconian restrictions