Taking on Turkmenistan's ruling personality

The Central Asian nation of Turkmenistan is weeks away from elections, but the image of only one candidate is to be found in public spaces.

The image in question is of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the country's second president since independence and a leader know for commanding absolute power and being intolerant of dissent.

Berdimuhamedov has promised the February 12 elections will be transparent, but five years after he came to power, his pledges of democratic reforms have yet to materialise.

Al Jazeera's Robin Forestier-Walker reports from Ashgabat.