President Berdimuhamedov said the smoke would destroy viruses that are “invisible to the naked eye”

The eccentric dictator of Turkmenistan claims to have discovered a way to halt the spread of coronavirus without the need for self-isolation or lockdowns.

President Berdimuhamedov, 62, ordered government ministers to “fumigate” the country with smoke from burning a herb called harmala. He said the smoke would destroy viruses that are “invisible to the naked eye”.

No other measures have been introduced to prevent an outbreak. Ministers hailed the decision and pointed out that Mr Berdimuhamedov has previously written about the herb in his book, Medicinal Plants of Turkmenistan.

Turkmenistan’s eccentric president

According to reports, a conference on co-operation with the UN that was held recently in Ashgabat, the capital, was fumigated with harmala smoke before visitors were allowed to enter.

The central Asian country, which