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Below is a list of leaders of present-day Turkmenistan since the establishment of Turkmen SSR in 1925.
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Below is a list of leaders of present-day Turkmenistan since the establishment of Turkmen SSR in 1925.
C Constitutional referendum
† Died in office
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Elected | Term of office | Political party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
| 1 |  | Saparmurat Niyazov (1940–2006) | 1990 | 2 November 1990 | 21 December 2006 [†] | 16 years, 49 days | CPT (until Dec. 1991) |
| 1992 | DPT | ||||||
| — |  | Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow (1957–) | — | 21 December 2006 | 14 February 2007 | 55 days | DPT (until 2013) |
| 2 | 2007 2012 | 14 February 2007 | 19 March 2022 | 15 years, 33 days | |||
| 2017 | Independent | ||||||
| 3 |  | Serdar Berdimuhamedow (1981–) | 19 March 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 74 days | DPT | |
On 21 January 2023, President Serdar Berdimuhamedow appointed his father, former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan with the title "National Leader" (Turkmen : Milli Lider). [4] [5] [6] [7]
The politics of Turkmenistan nominally takes place in the framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Turkmenistan is nominally both head of state and head of government. However, as of 21 January 2023 a "national leader" was appointed who chairs an independent People's Council (viz.) with authority to amend the constitution, and who exercises supreme political authority. No true opposition parties are allowed; every registered political party supports the third and current President Serdar Berdimuhamedow. The country is frequently described as a totalitarian state.
Turkmenistan is a country in Central Asia bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea to the west. Ashgabat is the capital and largest city. It is one of the six independent Turkic states. With a population over 7 million, Turkmenistan is the 35th most-populous country in Asia and has the lowest population of the Central Asian republics while being one of the most sparsely populated nations on the Asian continent.
The Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, also known as Soviet Turkmenistan, the Turkmen SSR, Turkmenistan, or Turkmenia, was one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union located in Central Asia existed as a republic from 1925 to 1991. Initially, on 7 August 1921, it was established as the Turkmen Oblast of the Turkestan ASSR before being made, on 13 May 1925, a separate republic of the USSR as the Turkmen SSR.
Turkmenistan is divided into five regions, or welaýatlar and one capital city (şäher) with provincial legal status. They are Ahal, Balkan, Dashoguz, Lebap and Mary, plus the capital city of Ashgabat. Each province is divided into districts. As of 20 December 2022 there were 37 districts, 49 cities, including 7 cities with district status, 68 towns, 469 rural councils and 1690 villages in Turkmenistan.
The People's Council of Turkmenistan is Turkmenistan's independent "representative body" exerting supreme constitutional authority. It includes in its membership, but is not considered part of, the legislature. Among other things, it is empowered to amend the constitution. Its chairperson is appointed by the president and is designated the "National Leader". State media referred to the People's Council as the "supreme organ of government authority". From 2018 to 2023 it was the upper chamber of Turkmenistan's Parliament, the "National Council".
The Assembly is the unicameral legislature of Turkmenistan. Between March 2021 and 21 January 2023, it was the lower house of the National Council of Turkmenistan. It consists of 125 members, who are elected for five-year terms in single-seat constituencies.
Gurbanguly Mälikgulyýewiç Berdimuhamedow is a Turkmen politician who is currently the chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan. He previously served as the 2nd President of Turkmenistan from 2006 to 2022, when he entered into a power-sharing arrangement with his son, Serdar, the current president.
The State Security Council of Turkmenistan is an important decision-making body in the field of the defence of Turkmenistan. It is the highest decision-making body in the armed forces next to the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff, with its members directly advising the President of Turkmenistan on matters of national security.
The Turkmenistan Cup is an annual football tournament for Turkmen clubs. The cup has been contested since 1993. The competition's most successful performer is Köpetdag Aşgabat with 7 trophies. The winner of the competition ordinarily got a spot in the AFC Challenge League group stage. The cup winners play a match for the Turkmenistan Super Cup against the Ýokary Liga champions of the season.
The Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan is a state body in Turkmenistan founded in 1951, which is responsible for the implementation of Turkmen scientific and technical policy. The academy was closed under president Saparmurat Niyazov and reopened by his successor, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.
Kasymguly Gulmyradovych Babayev is a Turkmen political figure and economist.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan is the chief executive body in Turkmenistan. The Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan is appointed by the President of Turkmenistan who is both the chief of state and head of government. In addition to holding specific portfolios in most cases, six deputy chairpersons of the Cabinet of Ministers may also be assigned responsibility for oversight of a province of Turkmenistan or of the capital city.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs is the interior ministry or national police force of Turkmenistan. The ministry directly controls the Turkmen police force, consisting of about 25,000 personnel and works with the Ministry for National Security on matters of law enforcement and national defense. The primary tasks of the police force include maintaining law and public security, crime prevention and investigation, passport controlroad and fire safety, and international cooperation in law enforcement. The ministry works with INTERPOL. The current minister is Muhammet Hydyrow. The ministry was founded on February 19, 1998, by decree of President Saparmurat Niyazov “On the formation of the police of Turkmenistan”.
Serdar Gurbangulyýewiç Berdimuhamedow is a Turkmen politician serving as the third and current president of Turkmenistan since 19 March 2022. Berdimuhamedow had previously served in several other positions within the government of his father, Gurbanguly, the long-standing authoritarian ruler of Turkmenistan. The father and son entered into a power-sharing arrangement in 2022 whereby they jointly rule an authoritarian system of government in Turkmenistan.
Lieutenant General Begenç Ataýewiç Gündogdyýew is a Turkmen military officer and politician who currently serves as the 10th minister of defence of Turkmenistan under President Serdar Berdimuhamedow. He previously served in this same position from 2011 to 2015, succeeding Ýaýlym Berdiýew.
The Internal Troops of Turkmenistan is a service branch of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan under the auspices of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It is one of three types of paramilitary forces in the country, with the other two being the Turkmen National Guard and the Turkmen Border Troops. It is designed to maintain law and order and enforce the status quo in terms of state sovereignty. It aides the Turkmen National Police in everyday activities, similarly to the Military Police Corps in the United States Army. In an operational view, the internal troops are organized similarly to the Turkmen Ground Forces, both consisting of sub-units. The Internal Troops consists of between 20,000 and 25,000 personnel.
People's Council elections were held in Turkmenistan on 28 March 2021 to elect 48 of the 56 members of the People's Council or Halk Maslahaty. Another eight were appointed by the president on 14 April 2021.
Shamuhammet Durdylyyev is a Turkmen politician. He was the first mayor of the city of Arkadag. He previously served as deputy chairman of the Turkmenistan government for construction and industry and as mayor of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan's capital city. He is currently on the board of directors of the consortium of construction companies responsible for building the "Ashgabat City" residential development.
The National Council of Turkmenistan was Turkmenistan's bicameral national legislative body or parliament from March 2021 until January 2023. The upper chamber was the People's Council and the lower chamber was the Assembly. The National Council was created in March 2021 following election of members to the upper chamber, which in turn followed a constitutional amendment in late 2020.
Arkadag is a city in southern Turkmenistan. It became the regional capital of Ahal Province effective 20 December 2022. It is a largely greenfield development started in 2019 with an initial budget of $1.5 billion. The city was named in honor of former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who is officially entitled Arkadag. Uniquely among Turkmen cities, Arkadag is by law designated a "city of state importance".