Turkmen President Gurbanguly Burdymukhammedov (file photo) (AFP)
June 23, 2007 -- Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has ordered the closure of a fund set up by his late predecessor, Saparmurat Niyazov, in an apparent bid to recover wealth that Niyazov reportedly kept abroad.
Berdymukhammedov's decree, issued on June 22, also set up a special commission to audit the fund, state newspaper "Neitralny Turkmenistan" reported.
No further details were released.
Little is known about the sources or expenditures for the fund, which is managed by German banks.
(AP)
Saparmurat Niyazov, 1940-2006
Saparmurat Niyazov, 1940-2006
ERA OF UNCERTAINTY. The death of Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov ends an era and begins a period of great uncertainty in Turkmenistan....(more)
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