By Russian President Vladimir Putin inadvertently broke a peculiar Turkmen law as he arrived in Ashgabat for an unscheduled summit with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Footage released by the Kremlin shows Putin, 72, pulling up to the Chamber of Commerce in his black Aurus Senat limousine, contravening local regulations that favor white or silver vehicles.
The law, instituted under former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, considers white a symbol of luck and prosperity. Black cars were discouraged, with some owners reportedly required to repaint their vehicles lighter colors.
Putin’s choice of transport may reflect security concerns, as the seven-tonne armored car is designed to resist bomb and chemical weapons attacks. The impromptu meeting, occurring on the sidelines of a conference celebrating a local poet, comes amid escalating Middle East tensions.
During the talks, Putin declared relations with Iran a “priority,” highlighting the two nations’ often aligned views on world events. Both countries are under Western sanctions, with Iran reportedly supplying weapons to Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Pezeshkian described relations between Iran and Russia as “sincere” and criticized the United States and Europe for not wanting to calm the situation in the Middle East.
This summit in reclusive Turkmenistan, which maintains strategic relationships with both Russia and Iran while adhering to a policy of neutrality, underscores the shifting geopolitical landscape in the region.
Putin’s violation of local custom, while likely unintentional, adds an unusual twist to this high-stakes diplomatic meeting between two leaders often portrayed as part of an “axis of evil” by Western media.
