On the afternoon of July 21, information about the death of the second president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Myalikguliyevich Berdimuhamedov, began to be actively disseminated in the Russian-language media and telegram channels. The reference in all the media was to a single political scientist who had not previously dealt with Turkmenistan at all, but many believed immediately and immediately began to build versions: Berdimuhamedov could not die from “kidney failure”, there is poisoning. The previous president, Saparmurat Niyazov, also died suddenly, which means that we see a format of transfer of power taking root in a super-closed country.

Then the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Russia issued an official denial (although, given the regime they represent, one can trust them with the same skepticism as this political scientist), and the main source of information issued an official apology. Berdimuhamedov, according to journalists more or less aware of the situation, is in Germany, since his mother is in a clinic there in a serious condition.

The health of Arkadag himself (this is his official status of president, “patron” is translated, so as not to be confused with the “father of all Turkmens” Turkmenbashi) is also naughty: they say he recently had a kidney transplant. Still, such a simple, trivial death at the age of 61 is not at all what fits in with the image that official Turkmen propaganda paints for Berdimuhamedov.

And this image is massive. Berdimuhamedov is a writer, singer, equestrian, pistol shooter in a sitting position on a bicycle, racer, weightlifter, author of the Asian Games anthem, patron of kittens and, in general, a Turkmenator.

In a country where before that a man ruled for many years, replacing the names of the months with the names of relatives, it is difficult to surpass the level of the cult of personality, but Niyazov's personal dentist Berdimuhamedov tried very hard. All this looks comical - but this is from Moscow or even from Minsk, and in Turkmenistan, where people see nothing and no one else in the media, many people seriously think that this is how everything works. Superman President: In between writing books about the healing power of tea and horses, he saves his native country from outside enemies. Turkmenistan, by the way, is officially neutral - like Switzerland.

But Ashgabat is, of course, not Bern, but our Pyongyang: there is even a joke that the worst criminals in North Korea will face a terrible punishment - exile in Turkmenistan. This is perhaps an exaggeration, but not a very strong one: at least they are trying to have a dialogue with North Korea, while Turkmenistan seems to exist on a separate planet. They don’t burn officials with flamethrowers (but this is inaccurate), but there is simply no way out of this constant Looking Glass, where it is customary to kiss his own book presented by the president, because it is higher than the Koran or bread.

Dmitry Medvedev and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat. Photo: Ekaterina Shtukina / press service of the government of the Russian Federation / TASS

A country of chic and obligatory white buildings (Berdymukhammedov really dislikes black color) and at the same time an acute shortage of food, medicines and even forms for these medicines.

A showcase that is a distorted mirror in every sense: both a personal show by Gurbanguly Vaganovich Petrosyan, and a lens for a distorted perception of the reality of all more than five million people inside. Day after day, a simple resident of some Kunya-Urgench drowns in this total lie, like in the quicksands of the Karakum, about which the Soviet hit Berdimuhamedov so fervently sang.

But life in this microcosm for Berdimuhamedov only seems to be going on in a “relaxation”. Palace intrigues in a country where everyone lies to everyone are heated to the limit, but you yourself never understand who to be afraid of and who to bring closer to yourself. Berdymukhammedov himself came to power this way: when Saparmurat Niyazov died, Arkadag took advantage of the general confusion and, with the participation of the special services, declared himself the heir to Turkmenistan, and then the same special services first of all cleared out. Now the situation is even worse: it is always more difficult to defend power than to win it. When health begins to fail, one must also transfer one's powers to someone. Transit of power, be it wrong.

Berdimuhamedov has a son, Serdar, who is clearly being considered as a successor: on television he is called the “son of the people”, and this year the 37-year-old colonel, an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a process engineer, a doctor of technical sciences and a chief specialist of the Office for the Beer, Non-Alcoholic and Wine Industry The Association of Food Industry of Turkmenistan also became the khakim (governor) of the most important Akhal velayat, that is, the Ashgabat region.

The son will certainly be on his side in the event of an attempted palace coup, but one cannot be sure of this either: at one time, Berdimuhamedov Sr. was called the illegitimate son of Niyazov (they are really very similar) and, they say, could help speed up the replacement of Turkmenbashi with his beloved . History tends to repeat itself, and in a country like Turkmenistan, you can never know exactly at what point the spiral will start a new turn.

This is the biggest pain of a president-dictator: no one can be trusted.

You and your family can't even get sick in your own country, because even with a discount on the lack of medicines, the road to the hospital can always be the way to the finish line

(And for some reason their own recipes for tea treatment do not help). People applaud your shooting from a rifle at targets falling before the shot, but behind your back they secretly hope that you will die quickly. Berdimuhamedov could already feel it to the fullest when in 2013 during the race he fell off his horse at full speed, now he has to live these feelings again.

One can console oneself: although the next ruler of Turkmenistan will certainly have a hand in ensuring that Arkadag quickly leaves his post for eternity, it will be extremely difficult for him to find an area of ​​human existence in which Berdimuhamedov would no longer become a pioneer.

Berdimuhamedov Gurbanguly Myalikgulyevich

Gurbanguly Myalikgulyevich Berdimuhamedov (Turkmen. Gurbanguly Mälikgulyýewiç Berdimuhamedow; born June 29, 1957, Babarap village, Geok-Tepe district, Ashgabat region, Turkmen SSR, USSR), bears the title Arkadag (Turkmen. Arkadag - "patron") - the president of Turkmenistan with February 14, 2007 (from December 21, 2006 to February 14, 2007, he served as Acting President of Turkmenistan), statesman, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan, Army General, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Doctor of Economics, Academician of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan , former chairman of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (from 2007 to 2013). Biography President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov with President of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev during a visit to the Kul-Sharif mosque Born on June 29, 1957 in the village of Babarap, Geok-Tepe district, Ashgabat region, Turkmen SSR. Father, Myalikguly Berdimuhamedovich Berdimuhamedov - teacher, candidate member of the CPSU, former head of the department of correctional labor institutions, now a pensioner. Mother - Ogulabat-edzhe. Grandfather, Berdimuhamed Annaev, was a famous teacher, worked as the director of an elementary school, during the Great Patriotic War he fought at the front. Gurbanguly was the only son in the family, his sisters are Durdynabat, Gulnabat, Myahri, Guljamal and Oguljamal. In 1979 he graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry of the Turkmen State Medical Institute, then graduate school. Doctor of Medical Sciences, professor in the specialty "social hygiene and healthcare organization". He began his career in 1980 as a dentist. From 1980 to 1982 he worked as a dentist in a rural outpatient clinic in the village of Errik-Kala, Ashgabat region. From 1982 to 1985 he was the chief freelance dentist of the Ashgabat region. From 1985 to 1987 he was the head of the dental department of the Central District Hospital of the Keshi village council of the Ashgabat region and the chief freelance dentist of the Ashgabat region. 1990-1995 - Assistant Professor, Department of Therapeutic Dentistry, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, Turkmen State Medical Institute. 1995-1997 - Director of the Dental Center of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan. Since 1997 - Minister of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan. Since 2001 - Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan (Niyazov himself was the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan). In November 2006, he represented Turkmenistan at the CIS summit in Minsk. Long before the death of S. A. Niyazov, rumors were circulated in the press, according to which Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was the illegitimate son of Turkmenbashi, an indirect confirmation of which was the resemblance and the fact that little is known about Berdimuhamedov's parents. After Niyazov's death, he headed the funeral commission and became acting president by decision of the State Security Council. In accordance with the Constitution, Ovezgeldy Ataev, the chairman of the Mejlis, was supposed to head Turkmenistan, but a criminal case was suddenly initiated against him. On December 26, at a meeting of the Halk Maslahaty (People's Council), he received the unanimous support of 2,507 delegates of the country's supreme authority as a candidate for the presidency of Turkmenistan. He won the presidential elections on February 11, 2007 with a score of 89.23% and became the second president of Turkmenistan. On the morning of February 14, 2007, the Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan announced the name of the winner, immediately after which the inauguration of the new president began. Berdimuhamedov was presented with a presidential certificate and a distinctive sign in the form of a gold chain with an octagonal emblem. The new president walked on a white carpet, symbolizing a bright path. He was presented with sachak - bread wrapped in a tablecloth, a quiver with arrows, the Koran and the Ruhnama. He made his first official visit to Saudi Arabia. The President visited the shrines of the Islamic world, performed the holy Hajj Umrah. On April 23, 2007, he paid an official visit to Moscow and held a meeting with Putin, during which gas contracts, cooperation in the field of medicine and education, and the foreign policy orientation of the new Turkmen authorities were discussed. On August 4, 2007, he was elected chairman of the Galkynysh National Movement and the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan. He won the presidential elections on February 12, 2012 with a score of 96.70%. In 2013, he suspended his membership in the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan for the duration of his presidency. Campaign Promises Berdymukhammedov promises to make the Internet accessible to the people of Turkmenistan (now only 5% of the population uses the network, many objectionable sites are blocked). In his televised speech, Berdymukhammedov said: “I believe that the international Internet network, the latest communication technologies should be available to every citizen.” This promise has already been realized. On February 17, 2007, two modern Internet cafes began operating in Ashgabat. An hour of using the Internet costs a little less than 4 euros. According to the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat will soon have 15 Internet cafes, and they will also appear in the velayats (regional centers). Students and employees of all higher educational institutions and research institutes, readers of the Central Scientific Library of Turkmenistan have free access to the Internet. He also promised to reform the education system, bringing back music schools in the provinces that Niyazov had abolished, and extending the duration of secondary school (from nine to ten years) and universities (from four to five years). Berdymukhammedov intends to increase pensions, which were reduced by almost 20 percent in 2006. On June 12, 2007, the Resolutions "On the activities of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan" and "On the improvement of the scientific system of Turkmenistan" were adopted, creating the Academy of Sciences, the Higher Attestation Committee and the Science and Technology Fund of Turkmenistan. Presidential elections of 2012 On December 15, 2011, during the VII Congress of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan and the national movement "Galkynysh", it was announced that Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov would nominate his candidacy in the presidential elections in 2012. On January 3, 2012, Berdimuhamedov was registered as a contender for the post of President of Turkmenistan. On January 9, 2012, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov spoke on national television with his election program. Elections were held on February 12, 2012. The CIS mission, represented by its head, said that "the presidential campaign in Turkmenistan was held in compliance with ethical standards, correctly, in a calm atmosphere", "complaints and statements from voters were not received." The election results were summed up at a meeting of the Central Election Commission on February 15. In accordance with Article 51 of the law "On the Election of the President of Turkmenistan", candidate Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov won an absolute majority of votes (97.14%) and was recognized as the elected president of Turkmenistan. Reforms With a first decree, Berdymukhammedov returned a ten-year education to schools. The promise to abolish the compulsory wearing of national attire for students of secondary and higher educational institutions has not been fulfilled to this day. The traditional dresses used as school uniforms for girls were replaced with dark green European-style dresses with aprons. In the spring of 2009, an action was initiated to confiscate copies of the book "Rukhnama" in all institutions and enterprises of the country. Instead, books by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov were brought there. In the general education schools of Turkmenistan, Rukhnama was left on the list of subjects, but its teaching was reduced to one hour a week. The final exam in Ruhnama was also cancelled. He also made some changes in state symbols and rituals, which are interpreted as a restriction of Niyazov's personality cult: his name was first removed from the text of the oath, and then from the anthem of Turkmenistan and replaced with the word "president" (thus, we are talking not only about the current President, that is, about Berdimuhamedov, but also about all future presidents, without glorifying a specific person). Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov abandoned the mass celebration of his birthday, canceled mandatory concerts dedicated to his visits to various regions of the country, as well as the oath of allegiance to the president, which was taken by employees, students and schoolchildren. On June 29, 2007, on the night of the newly elected president's birthday, the logo of the TV channels in the form of the image of the golden bust of Turkmenbashi disappeared from the programs of Turkmen television. Personal life and family Heirs: one son (Serdar), three daughters and four grandchildren. Hobbies According to information in the media in December 2009, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov enjoys reading, horseback riding, sports, playing various musical instruments, writing poems about the Motherland. He spends his summer holidays at the Turkmen resort Avaza. According to the Turkmen media, the president is also fond of riding a sports bike, jet ski, gardening, and fishing. He is the author of a number of books, including scientific papers, among them: “Turkmenistan is a country of healthy and highly spiritual people”, “Akhal-Teke horse is our pride and glory”, “Medicinal plants of Turkmenistan”, “A good name is imperishable”. At the end of 2011, he became the author and performer of the song "You are my white flowers." Since childhood, he has been fond of motorsport. In April 2012, he set a lap record and became the winner of the auto racing competition in a Turkish-made Volkicar. The car driven by the President was transferred to the National Sports Museum. In September 2013, he became the winner of the race in an Alfa Romeo sports car, at a distance of 2340 meters. Holder of the Diploma of the Honorable Holder of the 10th Dan in Karate. On April 28, 2013, he took part in the races held at the arena of the International Equestrian Complex on his own Akhal-Teke horse Berkarar, and won first place, winning $ 11.05 million. The amount won was transferred to the account of the State Association "Turkmen atlary". After crossing the finish line, Berdymukhammedov fell off his horse. Subsequently, law enforcement agencies prevented the dissemination of information about this incident. Favorite number is "7". Interesting facts Supports the football club "Rubin"]. He came to the presidential elections in 2012 in a tinted VAZ-2106 car. Fluent in German and Russian. Jennifer Lopez, Mustafa Sandal, Nancy Ajram, Ziynet Sali, Philip Kirkorov, Ani Lorak, Sati Kazanova and the Reflex group came to Avaza to celebrate the 56th anniversary of the President. At the end of the gala concert, Jennifer Lopez sang the famous song "Happy Birthday, Mr. President”, for which she was criticized by world human rights activists.

Last week in Russia, all TV channels at once turned into National Geographic with a single two-hour program "The Race for the Pike" (with repetitions in all news releases). Obviously, someone is trying hard to emphasize their masculinity - the best remedy before the upcoming elections. However, this “someone” in the world of political alpha males is now officially only the second, because the first is now the president of Turkmenistan.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the current Turkmenbashi and Arkadag (Patron) in one person, set his next record of heroism last week. At military exercises near Ashgabat, Berdimuhamedov showed by personal example how to hit the enemy with a sniper rifle from five meters, frown when throwing a knife into the hat of a mock enemy, and, of course, reload a pistol in the style of Alexander Nevsky. Hero!

But if you think that these are the only superpowers of Arkadag, then shame on you and twenty years of Turkmen hard labor on your head! Berdimuhamedow is not only the king of the world and a role model in the army, but also the master of sports. Here he is so enthusiastically engaged in simulators and does not even sweat that the entire government, unable to restrain himself (and how can he restrain himself - this is Turkmenistan), rushes to exercise with the same passion.

Arkadag, however, does not need all these miserable attempts of his plebs - he is above this and is ready to swing himself at any time and without subordinates (but with a TV camera and conversations during exercises). Oh, what a bench press he has! What muscles! What a stern, but slightly distracted look!

And all the equipment obeys Arkadag: from a racing car ...

... to some kind of supertank, which automatically dries up after leaving the water (and glows inside under water).

However, as it should be for any superhero, the bulk of Arkadag's cases are far from weapons and aggression. For example, he writes books. Do you know what these books are? About tea, about horses, about medicinal herbs - only 35 items. The only strange thing is that among the books of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov there is not a single collection of tongue twisters.

Even Berdimuhamedov, walking along the road, can discover a whole modern village (move over, Gotham!). True, after that the village immediately disappears, but is this not evidence of the miraculous essence of Arkadag?!

But Berdymukhammedov's main occupation is his singing. He can sing in any genre. If you want a guitar riff, get a riff! In the hands of Arkadag, any detuned instrument turns into a cheerful source of music.

If you want a piano, you will have a piano. White, but no ballerinas inside (and no sound, it seems). Arkadag does not accept vulgarity!

Gurbanguly Myalikgulyevich Berdimuhamedov (Turkmen. Gurbanguly Mälikgulyýewiç Berdimuhammedow) is a Turkmen statesman, since 2007 he has been the second president of Turkmenistan.

Biography

Born on June 29, 1957 in the village of Babarap, Geok-Tepe district, Ashgabat region, Turkmen SSR.

In 1979 he graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry of the Turkmen State Medical Institute, then graduate school. Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor in the specialty "Social Hygiene and Health Organization". He began his career in 1980 as a dentist.

1990-1995 - Assistant Professor, Department of Therapeutic Dentistry, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, Turkmen State Medical Institute.

1995-1997 - Director of the Dental Center of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan.

Since 1997 - Minister of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan.

Since 2001 - Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan (Niyazov himself was the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan). In November 2006, he represented Turkmenistan at the CIS summit in Minsk.

Long before the death of S. A. Niyazov, rumors were circulated in the press, according to which Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov was the illegitimate son of Turkmenbashi. The reliability of this information is called into question, since the age difference between them is only 17 years.

After Niyazov's death, he headed the funeral commission and became acting president by decision of the State Security Council. In accordance with the Constitution of Turkmenistan, Ovezgeldy Ataev, the chairman of the Mejlis, was supposed to head, but a criminal case was suddenly initiated against him.

On December 26, at a meeting of the halk maslahaty (People's Council), he received the unanimous support of 2,507 delegates of the country's supreme authority as a candidate for the presidency of Turkmenistan.

He won the presidential elections on February 11, 2007 with a score of 89.23% and became the second president of Turkmenistan.

On the morning of February 14, 2007, the Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan announced the name of the winner, immediately after that the innaguration of the new president began. Berdymukhammedov was presented with a presidential certificate and a distinctive sign in the form of a gold chain with an octagonal emblem. The new president walked on a white carpet, symbolizing a bright path. He was presented with sachak - bread wrapped in a tablecloth, a quiver with arrows, the Koran and the Ruhnama.

On April 23, 2007, he paid an official visit to Moscow and held a meeting with Putin, during which gas contracts, cooperation in the field of medicine and education, and the foreign policy orientation of the new Turkmen authorities were discussed.

Election promises

Berdymukhammedov promises to make the Internet accessible to the people of Turkmenistan (now only 1% of the population uses the network, many objectionable sites are blocked.) In his televised speech, Berdymukhammedov said:

“I believe that the international Internet network, the latest communication technologies should be available to every citizen”

This promise has already been fulfilled. On February 17, 2007, two modern Internet cafes began operating in Ashgabat. An hour of using the Internet costs a little less than 4 euros. According to the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat will soon have 15 Internet cafes, and they will also appear in the velayats (regional centers). Students and employees of all higher educational institutions and research institutes, readers of the Central Scientific Library of Turkmenistan have free access to the Internet. ,

He also promised to reform the education system, returning schools to the provinces that Niyazov had abolished, and extending secondary school (from nine to ten years) and universities (from four to five years).
Berdymukhammedov intends to increase pensions, which were reduced by almost 20 percent in 2006. On June 12, 2007, the Resolutions "On the activities of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan" and "On the improvement of the scientific system of Turkmenistan" were adopted, creating the Academy of Sciences, the Higher Attestation Committee and the Science and Technology Fund of Turkmenistan.

With the first decree, Berdymukhammedov returned a ten-year education to schools. Uniforms of university students were also abolished, and the traditional dresses used as school uniforms for girls were replaced with dark green European-style dresses with aprons.

He also made some changes in state symbols and rituals, which are interpreted as a restriction of Niyazov's personality cult: his name was first removed from the text of the oath, and then from the anthem of Turkmenistan and replaced with the word "president" (thus, we are talking not only about the current president , that is, about Berdymukhammedov, but also about all future presidents, without glorifying a specific person).

Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov has canceled the mass celebration of his birthday, canceled mandatory concerts dedicated to his visits to various regions of the country, as well as the oath of allegiance to the president, which was taken by employees, students and schoolchildren.

On June 29, 2007, on the night of the newly elected president's birthday, the logo of the TV channels in the form of the image of the golden bust of Turkmenbashi disappeared from the programs of Turkmen television. The reports of the Russian information services that this happened on July 6 were almost a week behind the fact.

Order "Watan" ("Watan" - "Motherland") (2007)
Order "Galkynyş" ("Galkynysh" - "Revival")
Order "Prezidentiň Ýyldyzy" ("President Yildyzy" - "Star of the President")
Order of the President of Turkmenistan "Garaşsyz Türkmenistana bolan beýik soýgusi üçin" ("Garashsyz of Turkmenistan bolan beyik soygusi uchin" - "For great love for Independent Turkmenistan")
Medal "Watana bolan soýgusi üçin"
Medal "Turkmenistanyn Garaşsyzlygynyn 11 ýyllygyna"
Anniversary medal "10 years of Astana" (Kazakhstan, 2008)

Before the presidency of Turkmenistan, almost nothing was known about Berdimuhamedov, but now his biography has been replenished with many facts.

In the presidential elections held on February 12, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov won 97.69% of the vote, the country's Central Election Commission announced yesterday. And 97.27% of voters took part in the elections.

For the first time, Berdimuhamedov was elected head of state ten years ago, on February 11, 2007, a month and a half after the death of the former permanent leader, Saparmurat Niyazov (Turkmenbashi).

Over the past ten years, the president's biography has been replenished with many new facts. Here are nine of the most interesting.

1. There is a family - the spouse is not visible

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, 59, has never been seen in public with his wife. Almost nothing is known about her. At the elections on Sunday, he appeared at the polling station with his closest relatives, but again his wife was not there.

The government website turkmenistan.gov.tm reports that the president was accompanied by father Myalikguly Berdimuhamedov, mother Ogulabat Berdimuhamedov, son, two daughters and grandchildren. A photo of the president's family was not published.

2. Became a successor in a short time

Berdymukhammedov began governing the country as vice prime minister on December 21, 2006, the morning after the death of the country's first president, Saparmurat Niyazov.

Although, according to the Constitution, the chairman of parliament, Ovezgeldy Ataev, was supposed to temporarily act as president for two months - without the right to participate in the presidential elections.

But he was abruptly arrested, charged with malpractice, and later sent to prison for five years.

On December 26, an emergency congress of the People's Council was held, during which presidential elections were scheduled and amendments were made to the Constitution, allowing the Deputy Prime Minister to act as president and participate in elections.

In his first presidential election in 2007, Berdymukhammedov received 89.23% of the popular vote. In 2012, he improved the result to 97.14% - it would seem that there is nowhere better.

But in 2017, it turned out even more. Now, according to the amendments to the Constitution of Turkmenistan made in September 2016, the next elections will be held in seven years.

4. Worst among the worst

In 2010, the president of Turkmenistan was named one of the five worst dictators in the world by Foreign Policy magazine.

Human rights activists from Human Right Watch and other international organizations regularly report on the persecution of civil activists and oppositionists, whose trail has been lost in the prisons of Turkmenistan.

Today Turkmenistan is one of the most closed and totalitarian countries in the world. In the Freedom House ranking for 2016, the country was in the top ten along with North Korea, Syria, Somalia and Sudan.

5. Took control of 80% of the country's oil and gas revenues

"President's (Berdimuhamedov's) Personal Pocket: Oil, Gas and the Law" was the title of a report by the American research organization Crude Accountability on the situation in Turkmenistan, published in October 2011.

The document stated that Berdymukhammedov personally disposed of the country's rich energy reserves.

The authors of the report concluded that over the course of four years, the new leader of the country gradually gave exclusive powers to the State Agency for the Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources under the President of Turkmenistan, which closed all activities related to the sale of oil and gas.

The precedent for "manual control" of the country's most profitable sector of the economy was set by Niyazov, who in 1997, according to Eurasianet.org, personally approved all tenders and licenses in the energy sector.

Most of all, researchers from Crude Accountability were surprised by the fact that, according to Turkmen laws, only 20% of revenues from oil and gas exports went to the state budget. The other 80% was controlled by the same agency, which was not even required to report on them.

6. Created the cult of Arkadag instead of the cult of Turkmenbashi

In July 2008, Berdymukhammedov returned the normal names of the months and days of the week to the country.

His predecessor tried to inscribe himself in history by renaming the names of the months: January - in Turkmenbashi, April - in Gurbansoltan (Niyazov's mother. - Ed.), September - in Rukhnama (his philosophical work).

The new names were used only in documents and office work, with the return to the regular Gregorian calendar, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

However, they rejoiced early: the debunking of one cult turned into the creation of another - the cult of Arkadag (the patron of the nation). So Berdimuhamedov began to be called in 2010, since then the unofficial title has firmly entrenched in him.

7. Helped cut out a tumor, wrote a book

The second president of Turkmenistan is a dentist by profession, he completed his postgraduate studies in Moscow, and in 20 years after graduation he made an enviable career in this field.

By the time of his appointment as Minister of Health in 1997, he was the director of the dental center of the Ministry of Health of Turkmenistan.

Later he became Deputy Prime Minister, responsible for education, science, culture and the media. Already in the presidency in 2007, he received the degree of doctor of medical sciences and the title of professor.

In 2009, the leader of the nation assisted in an operation to remove a benign tumor behind the ear. This happened during the grand opening of the cancer center in Ashgabat.

And the book he wrote about the medicinal plants of Turkmenistan was recommended as a guide to all healthcare workers.

8. Chief horse breeder

Among other titles of the current president is “People's Horse Breeder of Turkmenistan”. His passion - horses, is also dedicated to one of his books entitled "Akhal-Teke horse - our pride and glory."

In April 2013, the leader of the nation, a skilled rider, fell off his horse during a race. Later, the security forces made a lot of efforts to prevent the spread of information about the emergency, but this video is still available on YouTube.

It was reported that the presidential horse stumbled just after crossing the finish line, so that despite the fall, Berdymukhammedov still won those races.

The President of Turkmenistan generally likes to win competitions. For example, once I came to the opening of a car race, suddenly decided to participate - and finished first.

9. Writes songs and sings

During a meeting with voters in the Akhal region on January 30, the president, answering a question about what he was doing, replied that he was working on songs for women that he wanted to present to them on March 8 - International Women's Day.

Then the head of Turkmenistan was captured with a guitar, fervently and with feeling he sang a song to his own accompaniment, thus responding to the musical greeting of young voters.