This volume contains the Turkmenistan Civil Code as adopted in December 1998. The translation by William E. Butler is based on the official text and any differences with the Russian language version are noted in footnote annotations.
The Turkmenistan Civil Code is unique in the CIS for incorporating as part of its official title the name of the President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Turkmenbashi. This gives the Civil Code a special symbolic value in the hierarchy of sources of Turkmenistan Law.
Another important feature of the Civil Code is its lack of a section devoted to private international law, or `conflicts of law'. Until this position is rectified or clarified, Turkmenistan law is the sole applicable law.