Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow edit
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Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow edit
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Gurbanguly Mälikgulyýewiç Berdimukhammedov
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 21 December 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Saparmurat Niyazov |
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| Born | 29 June 1957 Babarab, Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union |
| Political party | TDP |
| Residence | Ashgabat, Turkmenistan |
| Alma mater | Turkmen State Medical Institute |
| Profession | Dentistry |
| Religion | Muslim1 |
Gurbanguly Mälikgulyýewiç Berdimukhammedov (Russian transliteration: Курбанкули (or Гурбангулы) Мяликгулыевич Бердымухаммедов2, born June 29, 19573) has been the President of Turkmenistan since December 21, 2006, when he became acting president following the death of Saparmurat Niyazov, and the imprisonment of his constitutionally appointed successor, Öwezgeldi Ataýew. Berdimuhammedow and the Halk Maslahaty announced on December 26 that the next presidential elections would be held on February 11, 2007. On February 14, 2007, Berdimuhammedow was named the winner of the presidential election held three days earlier, and immediately sworn into office.4
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Berdimukhammedov was born on June 29, 1957 in Babarab in what is now the Geok Tepe etrap ("district") of Ahal province. He graduated from the Turkmen State Medical Institute in 1979 and entered a career in dentistry.5 He also received a PhD in medical sciences in Moscow.5 By 1992 he had become part of the dentistry faculty at the Medical Institute.
In an interview when asked about his life experience Gurbanguly Berdimukhammedov said:
"It is too early for me to write a detailed biography. My biography is in many respects typical of people of my generation."6
On influencing factors to his character:
"My parents always managed to maintain the hospitable atmosphere in the family. They were happy at an opportunity to communicate openly with people - friends and relatives. They always took active part in the resolving of other people's problems and difficulties...(more)...this necessity in empathy my parents had instilled in me in the childhood influenced, to the considerable extent, my choice to devote my life to medicine...(more)...readiness to help a neighbor is peculiar to the society as a whole, it may characterize the strength and moral health of the nation. The Turkmen literature has many splendid authors who gave the world their immortal works that express the profound Turkmen people's wisdom in a concentrated form. I admire Makhtumkuli, Andalib, Azadi, Kemine... Due to my medical education I read a lot the works of Ibn Sina (Avicenna), a great scholar of the medieval times, with great interest. The expanse of his interests and the depth of the scientist's judgments struck me. Ibn Sina was a great man not only as a doctor but as a philosopher and thinker as well."6
In 1995, during the rule of Saparmurat Niyazov, Berdimukhammedov became head of the dentistry center of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry.7 In 1997, he was named Health Minister, and he then became Deputy Prime Minister in 2001.89 In April 2004, Niyazov suspended Bedimukhammedov salary for three months because healthcare workers were also not being paid.7
The Health Ministry was responsible for carrying out Niyazov's notorious order to close all hospitals outside of the capital city and major regional towns in 2005.10
Following the death of Niyazov, who had not named a successor, in December 2006, Berdimukhammedov became the head of the commission to organize Niyazov's state funeral. This immediately led to speculation that he was a front-runner in the race to appoint a successor to Niyazov in the power vacuum that followed his death.
The State Security Council of Turkmenistan appointed Berdimuhammedow acting president.1112 The Council stated in its announcement that Öwezgeldi Ataýew, who as the Chairman of the Assembly of Turkmenistan was to become the acting president, was not appointed "in view of the fact that the prosecutor-general had instituted criminal proceedings against him."13
Under Article 60 of the Turkmen Constitution, which stipulated that the acting president "may not stand for election to the Presidency",14 Berdimuhammedow would not have been allowed to run as a candidate in the 2007 presidential elections. However, on December 24, 2006 People's Council voted to remove this provision, making him eligible for the election as one of the six chosen candidates, all members of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan.15 Berdimuhammedow was supported by the current elite,16 and the official results showed him as winning 89% of the vote.4 Berdimuhammedow made his first official visit abroad, after becoming president, to Saudi Arabia in mid-April 2007. There he performed the pilgrimage umrah, and met with King Abdullah. 17 He then visited Russia and its president Vladimir Putin at the end of the same month.
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In April 2007, Berdimuhammedow visited Islamic holy sites in Medina.18
He has also been quoted as saying
"A human being always communicates with God... There is no place for insincerity and craftiness. Even if you try to palter before God he will see it anyway. Truly, the one who can afford talking honestly and sincerely not only to God but people as well is happy."6
Moscow's Kommersant daily reported opposition leaders as describing Berdimuhammedow as weak-willed and wielding little influence.19
Because of his allegedly 'uncanny resemblance' to Niyazov, it was rumoured that Berdimuhammedow could be the former President's illegitimate son.20 Observers said these rumours were spread to lend legitimacy to Berdimuhammedow's hold on power.7
Some sections of the media criticised the elections: Radio Free Europe described the elections as "neither free nor fair",21 and the International Crisis Group described it as "blatantly falsified".22
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Saparmurat Niyazov |
President of Turkmenistan 2006 – present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by unknown |
Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan 2001 – 2006 |
Succeeded by Rashid Meredow |
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