Eurasianet (Free subscription) | 03/11/2009
A new report slams a leading German bank for allowing Turkmenistan’s former president, Saparmurat Niyazov, to stash billions of dollars in state earnings in a personally controlled account.
Eurasianet (Free subscription) | 01/23/2009
Only three ministers originally appointed by ex-President Saparmurat Niyazov remain in power following a sweeping purge initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. A Turkmen opposition website speculates that Berdymukhamedov’s most powerful rival may be the next target.
Eurasianet (Free subscription) | 01/07/2009
The minimum wage and state pensions in Turkmenistan have increased by 10 percent as of January 1.
The Economist (Free subscription) | 12/30/2008
Glimmers of light in a murky state ALTHOUGH Turkmenistan’s eccentric and autocratic president-for-life, Saparmurat Niyazov, was short in physical stature, he has continued to cast a long shadow since his death two years ago. Only very gradually has his successor, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, begun to make moves to release the country from its self-imposed, Soviet-style isolation. A new constitution...
Largehearted Boy (Free subscription) | 12/20/2008
Love Me Turkmenistan is a compelling, unique book. The slim volume features vivid photos of Turkmenistan, especially its graven images of Saparmurat Niyazov (its former president), each photo paired with an actual quote from Niyazov, one of the world's...
Financial Times (Free subscription) | 12/20/2008
Saparmurat Niyazov's death two years ago yielded the promise of reform, but the question now facing Turkmenistan is whether his successor may simply be stepping into his totalitarian shoes
Eurasianet (Free subscription) | 12/17/2008
The acting governor of the Tashkent Region, Ziyavitdin Niyazov, three district heads and one mayor have been sacked for "grave shortcomings," the news website Gazeta.uz reported December 17.
ArtsJournal (Free subscription) | 12/17/2008
"It's been two years since Saparmurat Niyazov - the deeply perverse dictator of Turkmenistan, died. At the time of his death, Turkmenbashi ('father of the Turkmen') as he preferred to be known, was on the brink of global superstardom… [photographer Nicolas Righetti's book] Love Me Turkmenistan presents a glimpse of the [dictator's] personality cult at its peak."...
Jumping in Pools (Free subscription) | 12/17/2008
I don't know if you follow Central Asian politics, but the former dictator of Turkmenistan was an interesting guy. Supurat Niyazov became dictator after the fall of the Soviet Union. He promptly declared himself a god and exercised full control over the country. Raised an orphan, he changed his name to Turkmenbashi, or Father of the Turkmen. He even had a massive statue of himself built in the capital....
France 24 (Free subscription) | 12/14/2008
In their first election since absolute leader Saparmurat Niyazov's death, Turkmens go to the polls in what is being touted as a step toward democracy. But with nearly all candidates from the ruling party, critics have called it a sham.
Eurasianet (Free subscription) | 12/12/2008
Turkmenistan is to ditch references to former president Saparmurat Niyazov in the national anthem. The new version of the anthem -- which will omit four references to Turkmensbashi, Niyazov's self-styled title, meaning Father of the Turkmen - will be introduced on December 21, the second anniversary of the mercurial dictator's death.
BBC News (Free subscription) | 12/08/2008
The government of Turkmenistan is amending the national anthem to remove repeated references to late President Saparmurat Niyazov.
BBC News (Free subscription) | 12/08/2008
The government of Turkmenistan is amending the national anthem to remove repeated references to late President Saparmurat Niyazov.
Blood & Treasure (Free subscription) | 12/08/2008
...up with Gurbanguly: The late President Saparmurat Niyazov -- a.k.a. Turkmenbashi, or Leader of the Turkmen -- had renamed the month after himself and April after his mother, Gurbansoltan. He called September "Ruhnama," after a spiritual guide he wrote, which...
FP Passport (Free subscription) | 12/08/2008
The more things change, the more things stay the same in Turkmenistan. New president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov is moving slowly to dismantle the personality cult of his predecessor, the infamous Saparmurat Niyazov, and may be building a new one of his own:
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