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Turkmenbashi the Great Named No Successor
Turkmenistan’s president-for-life, Saparmurat Niyazov had died overnight. Niyazov had led the country for 21 years and his funeral is slated for December 24.
Turkmenbashi the Great Saparmurat Niyazov, 66, died overnight of the cardiac arrest. Given the absence of designated successor and peculiarity of ruling procedures in Turkmenistan, including the absolute cult of Niyazov, the concerns about the power transfer in this gas producing state of Central Asia are really great.
”Turkmenia had special methods of ruling,” Russia’s Federation Council Speaker Sergey Mironov commented on Niyazov’s death. “Heaven forbid, but in this respect, the death of the country’s leader may result in the uncontrolled process.”
Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov was committed to chair the funeral commission for Niyazov. This appointment could be of extreme importance, signaling that exactly Berdymukhamedov will probably take over the country, at least it was the common practice in the former Soviet Union. But nothing could be said for sure when it comes to today’s Turkmenistan.
www.kommersant.com
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