Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gurbanguly Mälikgulyýewiç Berdimuhammedow | |
 |
|
|
|
|
|---|---|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 21 December 2006 |
|
| Preceded by | Saparmurat Niyazov |
|
|
|
| Born | 29 June 1957 Babarab, Turkmen SSR, Soviet Union |
| Political party | TDP |
| Residence | Ashgabat, Turkmenistan |
| Alma mater | Turkmen State Medical Institute |
| Profession | Dentistry |
| Religion | Muslim[1] |
Gurbanguly Mälikgulyýewiç Berdimuhammedow (Russian name: Курбанкули (or Гурбангулы) Мяликгулыевич Бердымухаммедов[2], born June 29, 1957[3]) has been the President of Turkmenistan since December 21, 2006, when he became acting president following the death of Saparmurat Niyazov. On February 14, 2007, Berdimuhammedow was named the winner of the presidential election held three days earlier, and immediately sworn into office.[4]
Contents |
[edit] Early years
Berdimuhammedow was born on June 29, 1957 in Babarab in what is now the Gökdepe 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 Berdimuhammedow 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 stroke me. Ibn Sina is a great man not only as a doctor but as a philosopher and thinker as well."[6]
In 1995 under the rule of Saparmurat Niyazov, Berdimuhammedow became head of the dentistry center of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry [7]. In 1997 he was named Health Minister, and also became Deputy Prime Minister in 2001.[8][9] In April 2004, Niyazov suspended Bedimuhammedow 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 did not name a successor, in December 2006, Berdimuhammedow 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.
[edit] President of Turkmenistan
The State Security Council of Turkmenistan appointed Berdimuhammedow acting president.[11][12] 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.
 |
Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
[edit] Religious sentiment
In April 2007, Berdimuhammedow visited Islamic holy sites in Medina,[18] declaring "A human being always communicates with God."[6]
[edit] World press view and rumours
Moscow's Kommersant daily reported opposition leaders as describing Berdimuhammedow as weak-willed and wielding little influence.[19]
Because of his 'uncanny resemblance' to Niyazov, it was rumoured that Berdimuhammedow could be the former President's illegitimate son [20]. Observers said the 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]
[edit] In office
[edit] See also
[edit] References and footnotes
- ^ President of Turkmenistan arrives in Mecca, performs umrah
- ^ Although Gurbanguly Mälikgulyýewiç Berdimuhammedow is the only Turkmen form, and Turkmen, written with Latin alphabet, is the only official language of Turkmenistan, western sources generally use the Russian form of Turkmen proper names, using various transliterations:
-
- The website of the presidency: Gurbanguly Myalikguliyevich Berdymuhammedov [1]
- RFE/RL: Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov.[2][3][4]
- BBC: Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.[5], then Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov [6]
- Reuters: Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.[7][8][9]
- The New York Times: Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov.[10][11]
- The Associated Press: Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov.[12]
-
- ^ Berdimuhammedow celebrated his 50th birthday on June 29 [2007] "Turkmenistan: New President Shows Shades Of 'Turkmenbashi'", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, July 3, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
- ^ a b "New Turkmen President Sworn In", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 2007-02-14. Retrieved on 2007-03-06.
- ^ a b Luke Harding. "And finally ... how the march of a lone cockroach put 30 people out of work", The Guardian, 2008-02-22. Retrieved on 2008-02-22.
- ^ a b c INTERVIEW OF THE PRESIDENT OF TURKMENISTAN FOR THE TURKMENISTAN MAGAZINE. Turkmenistan Magazine (17-02-2007).
- ^ a b c BBC profile
- ^ "Turkmenistan: Change Of Leadership Presents Many Dangers", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberties, December 22, 2006.
- ^ Press-Uz.info, December 22, 2006 (in Russian).
- ^ "Turkmenistan: President announces large-scale closure of hospitals", Amnesty International, March 24, 2005.
- ^ "Turkmenistan's 'iron ruler' dies", BBC News, 21 December 2006.
- ^ "Power in Turkmenistan temporarily moved to Berdimuhammedow" (in Russian)
- ^ Turkmen Dpty PM Berdymukhammedov appointed acting president. ITAR-TASS (2006-12-21).
- ^ The Constitutional Law of Turkmenistan
- ^ New Turkmen leader is inaugurated, BBC, February 14, 2007; http://lenta.ru/articles/2006/12/26/awakening/
- ^ Interfax > Politics
- ^ Berdymukhammedov Burnishes Muslim Credentials On Visit To Saudi Arabia
- ^ President of Turkmenistan arrives in Mecca, performs umrah
- ^ Vladimir Solovyov and Mikhail Zygar, "Turkmenbashi, "Father of All Turkmen," Dies", Kommersant, December 22, 2006.
- ^ Nick Holdsworth. "No choice for the toothless Turkmen voters", Sunday Telegraph, 2006-12-30. Retrieved on 2008-02-22.
- ^ Pannier, Bruce. "Turkmenistan: Presidential Election Deemed Neither Free Nor Fair", Radio Free Europe, 2006-02-12. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
- ^ Vershinin, Alexander. "Think Tank Blasts Turkmen Election", Associated Press, CBS News, 2007-02-13. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
[edit] External links
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Saparmurat Niyazov |
President of Turkmenistan 2006 – present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by unknown |
Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan 2001 – 2006 |
Succeeded by Rashid Meredow |
|
|||||
|
|||||
