Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Turkmenistan

Turkmen Media Deny Niyazov's Health Has Deteriorated

Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov (file photo) (ITAR-TASS)

October 24, 2006 -- State-controlled media in Turkmenistan have denied reports that the health of President Saparmurat Niyazov has deteriorated.

TEXT SIZE - +

October 24, 2006

The official TDH news agency on October 23 quoted Niyazov's German doctor, Hans Meisner, as saying the Turkmen president-for-life was "lively and full of energy" and that he was "feeling great."

Meisner reportedly made those remarks after examining Niyazov at the International Medical Center in Ashgabat, the Turkmen capital.

Niyazov publicly admitted on October 20 to having heart problems.

Addressing a world congress of Turkmen in Ashgabat, he said he couldn't fast during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan because he had to take medication prescribed to him after a heart ailment.

"Many of my deputies are fasting [during Ramadan]," he said. "Only I cannot fast because I'm taking tablets. After my heart disease [doctors] gave me medicine. Life itself has released me from fasting. So, don't blame me."

Niyazov's health is surrounded with the utmost secrecy in Turkmenistan. Twice this year, however, state-contolled media said he had to undergo medical checkups in Germany.

The Gundogar opposition website on October 20 claimed Niyazov had, the day before, inaugurated a factory in a golf cart "because he has great difficulties walking."

The report could not be independently confirmed.

(TDH, Turkmenistan.ru, Gundogar)

RFE/RL Central Asia Report

SUBSCRIBE For regular news and analysis on all five Central Asian countries by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Central Asia Report."

Production and distribution of rap music is not officially banned, but it

Yo! Turkmen Rappers Flip The Script On Repression

For a growing number of Turkmen youth, rap music has become a way to express their daily struggles and inspire political change in one of the world's most oppressive countries. More

A woman relaxes underneath a photo of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov at the resort of Avaza.

Turkmenistan's Personality Cult 2.0

Turkmen Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov appears to be building a personality cult to match that of his eccentric predecessor. More

Myalikguly Berdymukhammedov, the father of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, in a September 2009 television appearance

Keeping Up With The Berdymukhammedovs

Reports say a police unit in Turkmenistan this week was named after the father of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov. State-run media reportedly describe it as a gesture to honor Myalikguly Berdymukhammedov's years of service to Turkmenistan's Interior Ministry and "his efforts in educating the younger generation." More