A new president has appeared in Turkmenistan. They became Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov, head of the commission on organizing the funeral of Saparmurat Niyazov. The former favorite of the most odious dictator of the post -Soviet space promised voters to conduct democratic transformations in the country.

How he won

Last Sunday, the second presidential election was held in Turkmenistan in its more than 15-year post-Soviet history and only the first alternative. Until December last year, at the insistence of the Turkmen people, the late Saparmurat Niyazov was the lifelong president of the country, so there was simply no need to conduct election campaigns. Turkmenbashi nevertheless planned to hold the presidential election in 2009, but he was prevented by the cardiac arrest at the end of December 2006.

Those who replaced the deceased Great Serdar (leader) decided to observe the legality. Moreover, the authorities tried to organize an election campaign in the way in decent democratic states. When on December 26, at a national congress, Hulk Maslahatta (People’s Council), along with the recognized favorite of the election race - acting President Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov, fifth more applicants for the post of head of state were approved, this became a sensation. In the time of the late father of all the Turkmen, there was no talk of any alternative.

From the very beginning, there was no secret to anyone that none of the rivals Berdimuhammedov is able to compete with him on an equal footing. Candidates were picked up from among the state -owned people of the middle hand, almost unknown in the country. The first deputy Khyakim of Dashoguzsky Velayat (deputy head of the regional administration) Amanniyaz Atadzhikov, the deputy minister of the oil and gas industry, Ishankuli Nuryev, the mayor of the city of Abadan Orazmirad Garajaev, and the factory of the regional administration of the Akhalian Velayata Annababerda Chupanov, mayor of the city Turkmenbashi Ashirniyaz Pommanov and the head of the Karabekaul district Muhammadnazar Gurbanov.

During the pre -election campaign, the Turkmen Central Economic Center repeated more than once that all participants in the presidential race were provided with equal conditions for agitation. And in fact, all the candidates freely traveled around the country, met with voters and performed from television screens. No one prevented the five competitors of Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov to promise the electorate to “build up the country's economic potential”, “improve the welfare of the people”, “solve pressing issues of social nature” and “create new jobs”.

During the election campaign of Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov, he parted somewhat with his predecessor in the views of the future of Turkmenistan. Local media did everything so that the Turkmen people would not notice this
Photo: Reuters

But the acting president did not sit back. By virtue of the position held by Berdimuhammedov, he appeared daily in all Turkmen media, then chairing at meetings of the government, then making working trips through the regions. Each time he promised the Turkmens almost revolutionary transformations, which, with the living Turkmenbashi, could not be dreamed of. So, Berdimuhammedov undertook to revise the decision of Saparmurat Niyazov, who in 2005 ordered to stop the payment of old -age pensions to all peasants. In addition, the successor of Niyazov proposed to return a ten-year secondary education in the country-the former president reduced this period to nine years, which is why Turkmen schoolchildren lost the opportunity to enter universities of other CIS countries. Also, the acting head of state spoke out for free access of the population to the Internet and for the development of mobile communications in rural areas. Finally, Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov said that there is no alternative to democratic transformations in Turkmenistan and that multi -party system should be developed in the country.

Despite the fact that the campaign’s election program contrasted with the fresh promises of the rest of the applicants and actually meant a revision of the policy of Saparmurat Niyazov, the state media glorified Berdimukhammedov as the faithful successor of the immortal case of all the Turkmen. This one characteristic was obviously more convincing than all election campaigns.

Where came from

Now the name of the Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov is full of all Turkmen media, and two months ago about him, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health of Turkmenistan, few knew. Reliable information about him is extremely scarce. It may seem that before the death of his patron of Berdimuhammedov, he did not show himself anything at all. Even the representatives of the Turkmen elite, which were prominent in the past, fell out of disgrace under Niyazov and now living abroad, can recall a little about their former colleague, who turned out to be the successor of the father of all Turkmen.

Rare memories are quite contradictory. It is reliably known that he received a good medical education, worked as a dentist in the clinic at the Republican Ministry of Health - the most elite Hospital of Ashgabat. Then he became the head of the department at the capital's medical institute. “I talked with his former students, but I didn’t hear anything bad about him, like nothing good. Just nothing,” says Bayram Shikhmuradov, the son of the once closest ally of Turkmenbashi, ex-head of the Foreign Ministry Boris Shikhmuradov, now the most famous Turkmen political prisoner. "He was never a personal doctor of Niyazov, although he was so often called. He rather controlled personal doctors. Niyazov was observed in the most attentive way to doctors from Germany, and Berdimuhammedov accompanied him on trips, watched administrator functions."

The activities of Berdimuhammedov as Minister of Health, Shihmuradov recalls one story. “They say that, being a minister, he often traveled at night hospitals and hospitals and personally checked how the work was going. And without warning. The one who told me about this, believed that this characterizes Berdymukhammedov from the bad side. But I don’t see anything bad here,” Bayram Shihmuradov argues, “maybe in Turkmenistan it is only necessary.”

At the time when Berdimuhammedov was headed by the Ministry of Health, the health care system of Turkmenistan underwent monstrous changes. So, in 2005, President Saparmurat Niyazov ordered all rural hospitals in the country to abolish. According to his logic, if someone in the province gets ill, he should go to the capital for treatment. And for emergency help in the field it was ordered to contact the military units. However, as Bayram Shihmuradov believes, such a health care reform has nothing to do with the activities of Minister Berdimuhammedov: “His role was insignificant. It is impossible to assign responsibility for failures, as well as for anything good, such as the construction of ultramodern medical centers in Ashgabat. He also has nothing to do with this. He was a puppet, like everything in the government Niyazova.

Berdymukhammadov’s uninitritability is also emphasized by the former deputy prime minister of Turkmenistan Khudaiberda Orazov: “I do not remember a single case when he performed at a government meeting. He was always silent. And this despite the fact that his reputation was very bad. Almost, Alchen was always behind him. We have. "

Despite this strange set of personal qualities, Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov has always been a favorite of Turkmenbashi. This even gave rise to a strange rumor that he was the illegal son of Niyazov. However, all former representatives of the Turkmen elite reject these speculations.

How to save

There is every reason to believe that without the personal participation of the Minister of Defense of Turkmenistan Agageldy Mammedgeldyev (left), the change in power in Turkmenistan would not occur in such a short time
Photo: AP

“For example, I’m waiting for the election results, but what will happen after them,” the “authorities” told Bayram Shihmuradov on the eve of the vote in Turkmenistan. “Berdymukhammedov will be elected president with a big advantage. On February 14, the Hulk Maslahata meeting will be scheduled - inauguration will be held. But what will happen next when all mourning and pre -election ceremonies will be Behind? "

For many years, Bayram Shihmuradov, who has been living for many years, believes that the Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov should become Turkmen Khrushchev, who will inevitably begin the postponement of the thaw. “Niyazov could not let go of the political prisoners,” Shikhmuradov justifies his thought, “they would immediately begin to make accusations against him. And Berdymuhammedov can calmly do this. It will not threaten his power or the system as a whole. Now the third forces, that is, gave a chance to Berdymukhammedov and those who are behind him. They will lead, the decision of the world community - you can work with them or not.

Bayram Shikhmuradov expects that among the first decisions of the new authorities will be the abolition of restrictions on freedom of movement within the country and to travel abroad. In addition, in his opinion, it is extremely important that Berdymukhammedov begin to cooperate with the special structures of the UN and the OSCE engaged in healthcare, the position of prisoners and national minorities: “All these years they asked for permission to enter, but they were not given visas. The Red Cross also could not gain access to the prisoners. If this happens, the reputation of new authorities will immediately change for the better.” According to Bayram Shikhmuradov, to believe that the situation will change for the better, there are already: according to independent media reports, the authorities began to demolish the infamous prison of the Ovadan Dep, in which the monstrous conditions contained political prisoners. However, this information has not yet received official confirmation.

“I think that Berdimuhammedov will fulfill some promises,” the Turkmen writer Ak Velsar, who lives in exile in Sweden, agrees. “There will be no more nonsense, such as Turkmenbashi. Berdymukhammedov himself received normal education and will restore a tenfield in schools and five years in universities. As a doctor will restore health, who will return pensions to those who have a pension to those who have a pension He is still a doctor, and I think the profession, he himself misses the time when there was a normal higher education.

Nevertheless, according to Velsapara, democratization under Berdimuhammedov should not be expected: "As for promises to make available the Internet or start democratic transformations, there are doubts here. Berdimuhammedov does not know other methods except Niyazov’s methods. I think he is afraid."

Bayram Shihmuradov suggests that personnel hunger can be one of the main problems of the new authorities. A significant part of the state apparatus employees during the reign of Turkmenbashi were repressed, removed from their posts or left the country. "Berdymukhammedov will have to return those people who left the country, or those who were removed from business. This applies at least the old farmers of the Soviet school, they need to be returned to business, not to use their knowledge would be stupid." Many of those who are in prison could also return to active activity. Since 1992, 14 ministers of economics and finance have been replaced in Turkmenistan - now this position is generally vacant. All potential candidates in prisons. Finally, there are also former professional officials who were sent to work for ambassadors. They could also return and work to the country. "

How to destroy

Five rivals Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov (middle in the upper row) ensured the democracy of his election by President Turkmenistan
Photo: Reuters

However, despite the rainbow promises that Berdimuhammedov distributed before the elections, not everyone believes in the bright future of Turkmenistan without Niyazov. The memories that the newly elected president made his way to power, violating the constitution. In accordance with the Turkmen Basic Law, in the event of an unexpected death of the president, the chairman of the parliament was supposed to be attached to his place. However, the speaker of the owzgeldy Ataev was arrested on December 21 - on the same day, when the death of Turkmenbashi was announced. The acting president became Berdimuhammedov, and the Constitution was amended that the legally incompetent president should have exchanged one of the deputy primers of the country.

As the writer Ak Velsar told the “authorities”, behind the palace coup, which led to power by Berdymukhammedov, there were influential security officials. “According to my information, Niyazov fell into a coma on December 19, closer to the evening,” Velsar shared with the correspondent of “authorities”. “Immediately after that, the security officials, including the Minister of Defense Agageldy Mammadgeldyyev, the head of the Foreign Ministry Rashid Meredov and the head of the personal protection of the late Turkmenbashi Akmurad Recep, urgently gathered and all the key gathered and distributed all the key Roles ".

The decision of the ministers to make a successor to the quiet Minister of Health Berdymukhammedov, the writer-discident explained to the fact that he did not make sudden movements during his father’s lifetime and did not cross the roads to anyone. ” “Having distributed all the roles, they announced everyone on December 21 about the death of the Serdar. But this was not the present time of death, but the time of the forced recognition of the failed fact,” said Velsar. The writer does not believe in the independence of the new head of state: "Now he is not independent enough, and until a certain time passes, it will not be possible to say how independent he is."

The former Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister Khudaiberda Orazov also agrees with Velsapar. He is convinced that with the advent of Berdimuhammedov, no thaw in Turkmenistan will come. "Niyazov died, but his scheme lives. Moreover, he lives in a more sophisticated version. It would be possible to talk about the future of the country if she had one leader. And there a group of persons rules. Much will depend on how they all divide."

In favor of a pessimistic script, those methods that Turkmen security forces prepared the victory of Berdimuhammedov also speak. Immediately after the death of Turkmenbashi, the country was fenced off from the outside world with an even stronger iron curtain than the one, behind which Saparmurat Niyazov was used to hiding. Foreign journalists were refused entry visas to cover the election campaign, and the borders of Turkmenistan to this day are guarded in an enhanced mode, even food is not imported from outside to the country.

Khudaiberda Orazov is sure that the security forces will be controlled by Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov from the shadow: "No one will rule him to rule. All the security forces will solve. They will again resume repressions. There will be no transformations." Orazov is convinced that the promises of Berdymukhammedov are designed only for the Western public: “He says what they write to him. What ten education can we talk about? There is not even a curriculum. And there are no textbooks. The teachers are all dispersed, the qualifications have been lost. The number of children over the years of independence has increased three times, and not a single school has been built.”

Vladimir Soloviev, Mikhail Zygar

The newspapers will not lie

Letters of readers published in the newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan on the eve of the election

"Preparing for the elections of the President of Turkmenistan goes to the finish line. After a few days, we will come to polling stations in order to cast our votes for the most worthy contender for the highest state post. But whoever was elected the head of our independent neutral state, it is obvious that the course, determined by our great Serdar. All six candidates for presidents clearly and clearly declared this in their programs. Turkmenistan ".

Gulistan Kabulova, director of secondary school No. 5, Turkmenabat

“Today we are all citizens of Turkmenistan, we are facing the responsible choice of the new president of the country. At the same time, we determine the priority tasks that we have to solve in the near future, checking them with the pre -election programs of all six candidates for the post of President of Turkmenistan.

Having familiarized myself with these programs, I came to the conclusion that Gurbanguly Myaliklyevich Berdymukhammedov is able to ensure the achievement of the goals set by the national programs of the Great Serdar. "

L. AMMANIAZova, Deputy Director of Turkmenmillihasabat, Doctor of Economics, Honored Economist of Turkmenistan

"The election campaign is coming to the end. We think, think about the ways of further development of Turkmenistan. And of course, getting acquainted with the pre -election programs of candidates, we rejoice that each of them says about the immutability of the great Serdar on the further democratization of our society, strengthen the economic power of the state and the growth of the well -being of the people."

B. NEESSOV, Chairman of the Trade Committee of the NGDU "GUTURDEENEF" GK Turkmenneft "

"Все шесть кандидатов на пост главы государства в ходе предвыборной кампании зарекомендовали себя достойными соратниками Великого Сердара. Как он пишет в священной "Рухнаме", наши далекие предки жили богато и счастливо. Одевались в шелка и парчу. Редкостной красоты коврами устилали полы в домах. И успешно торговали на Великом Шелковом пути, разнося по всему миру славу о высококачественных изделиях рук своих.

Нынешним их потомкам по плечу возродить былое экономическое могущество государства туркмен. Ведь у руля суверенного Туркменского государства достойные продолжатели дел нашего первого и незабвенного Президента Сапармурата Туркменбаши Великого".

Б. Муратдурдыев, военнослужащий, г. Ашхабад

The continuity of worship