This is an accepted version of this page Gurbanguly Mälikgulyýewiç Berdimuhamedow[b][c][d][13] (born 29 June 1957) is a Turkmen politician and former dentist who is currently the chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan.

[24][25] Berdimuhamedow stepped down as president on 19 March 2022, being succeeded by his son, Serdar, who won a snap election deemed as neither free nor fair,[26] making Turkmenistan the first Central Asian country to be ruled by a dynastic system in modern times.

[39] The council stated in its announcement that Öwezgeldi Ataýew, who, as the chairman of the Assembly of Turkmenistan was to have become the acting president, was not appointed "in view of the fact that the prosecutor-general had instituted criminal proceedings against him".

However, on 24 December 2006, the 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.

[48] He called for reform of education, health care and pension systems, and government officials of non-Turkmen ethnic origin who had been sacked by Nyýazow were allowed to return to work.

Khojaniyazov has little public profile to speak of, but one of his most recent positions, as of May at least, was as deputy head of the Awaza tourist recreation zone.

[63][64] In February 2022, it was reported from Reuters that Berdimuhamedow was planning to resign after an early presidential election on 12 March,[65] fuelling speculation that he would be preparing for his son Serdar to succeed him as the next President.

[66] Berdimuhamedow did not contest the election, which was subsequently won by Serdar,[67] establishing Turkmenistan as the first Central Asian country to transfer power dynastically from father to son.

[72] Via a separate "constitutional law" signed into effect 21 January 2023, President Serdar Berdimuhamedow also appointed his father "national leader" (Turkmen: Milli Lider) of Turkmenistan.

This appointment accords the elder Berdimuhamedow the right to speak out on any matter of public interest, as well as immunity from prosecution (also extending to members of his family), personal protection by national security agencies, and financial support from the government.

He called for an end to the elaborate pageants of music and dancing that formerly greeted the president on his arrival anywhere, and said that the Turkmen "sacred oath", part of which states that the speaker's tongue should shrivel if he ever speaks ill of Turkmenistan or its president, should not be recited multiple times a day but reserved for "special occasions".

[84] Human Rights Watch noted that Berdimuhamedow not only has complete control over public life and the media, but presides over a regime that does not tolerate "alternative political or religious expression.

"[85] Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has ranked Turkmenistan near the bottom of its Press Freedom Index for most of Berdimuhamedow's tenure, as it did under Nyýazow.

RSF noted that internet access is heavily censored in Turkmenistan, and that satellite dishes have been removed by government officials.

[86] In 2008, he dismissed Akmyrat Rejepow, the longtime chief of the presidential security detail and one of the main proponents of Nyýazow's personality cult.

The fall was censored on TV but leaked online,[89] and mocked on an episode of HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver in 2019.

[92] In August 2013, Berdimuhamedow suspended his Democratic Party of Turkmenistan membership for the duration of his presidency, ostensibly to remain "above partisan politics" and "promote a multiparty system.

[99] By decree of Berdimuhamedow in January 2019, the government will gradually end state funding of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan; it will be phased out in three years.

[citation needed] In 2019, the Belarusian construction company Belgorkhimprom also filed a similar claim with the court, to which Turkmenistan should pay about $200 million.

In May 2020, a special delegation from Russia led by Deputy Minister of Defence Alexander Fomin[110] brought the banner of Annayev's unit to Ashgabat,[111][112] being trooped through the square in front of the Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex during the inaugural Victory Day Parade in the capital.

[113] In October 2012, the Main Drama Theater of Turkmenistan staged a play based on Berdimuhamedow's book about his grandfather called "Good Name Imperishable".

[116] On 20 December 2022, the National Council passed a decree naming the new capital of Ahal Province "Arkadag" in honour of Berdimuhamedow.

The 21 January 2023 presidential decree appointing Berdimuhamedow chair of the People's Council contains the following paragraph as justification for his appointment as National Leader:"Considering the tremendous merits in establishing a solid foundation for a democratic and secular state with rule of law, all-around development and strengthening the international prestige of independent neutral Turkmenistan, strengthening the unity of society, harmony and cohesion of the people during long years of state and social work, recognition as a prominent statesman and politician, who has received great honor, great respect, and esteem of the Turkmen people, high organizational skills in wise management demonstrating an outstanding example of competence, decisiveness, and leadership, successfully implementing the humane policy of "The state is for the man!"

[119] On 30 September 2023 the Assembly of Turkmenistan passed a law creating the Arkadag medal, a state award to be granted to citizens and non-citizens who have made "a weighty contribution to development of social, public, humanitarian, charitable, volunteer activity and in the organisation of medical services, rehabilitation as well as financial and material aid, consultation and the technical aid to children and the youth, who are need of assistance.

[30] According to the same leaked cables, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow has a mistress, Marina, a Russian nurse, whom he supposedly met earlier in his dentist career.

Serdar served in the Armed Forces and the Assembly of Turkmenistan, and held a series of high government posts, leading to appointment as a deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers before his election to the presidency.

[29][154][155] According to Turkmen propaganda, Berdimuhamed likes to write books,[156][157][158][159] or songs, act as a DJ and engage in health activities during spare time.

[162] On 20 July 2019, YouTube channel of a Turkmen opposition media outlet published false reports that Berdimuhamedow had died while on holiday at the age of 61.

[163][164] The Turkmen Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Shadurdy Mereov, and the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied these claims on 21 July.