Turkmen President Appoints New National Security Minister

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov (file photo)

State television in Turkmenistan has reported that President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has appointed a new national security chief.

The report on March 2 said National Security Minister Guichgeldy Khodjaberdiev resigned for "health reasons," and was replaced by Dovrangeldy Bairamov, who previously headed Turkmenistan's state customs service.

Berdymukhammedov has been reshuffling his government in recent months as Turkmenistan struggles with an economic crisis linked to low prices on the global oil market.

In February, the former chief of the presidential administration, Palvan Taganov, was fired.

Berdymukhammedov listed corruption and discipline issues as the reasons for his dismissal.

Khodjaberdiev had taken over the national security minister’s post in October.

He previously had been the head of Berdymukhammedov's personal security team.

Based on reporting by AFP, TTV, and Turkmen State News Agency