Translated material
The President and the Opera
The first elections in 16 years were held in Turkmenistan
Yesterday, Turkmenistan elected a president for the first time in this century. This has happened in this country only once - in 1991. Then Saparmurat Niyazov became the head of state, who later received the name Turkmenbashi the Great and died suddenly on December 21, 2006 .Yesterday's elections were a great holiday for Turkmen voters. And not because it was the first time they had the opportunity to choose between six presidential candidates. And not because young voters who took part in the elections for the first time were given the immortal work of the deceased leader, the book “Rukhnama”. But because on a warm day, when it’s sunny outside, 20 degrees Celsius, music is playing and free cakes are offered, it’s so nice to think about possible changes for the better.
Actually, these are the changes that Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov promises his compatriots, who will be declared the winner of the elections tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, after the ceremonial inauguration, will take office as President of Turkmenistan. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov will arrive in Ashgabat tomorrow evening to participate in this celebration. Ukraine, whose energy security directly depends on the stability of Turkmen gas supplies, will also be represented at the highest level.
The only intrigue of the Turkmen elections is the numbers with which Mr. Berdymukhammedov will defeat his five rivals, and how close this impressive victory will be to absolute 100 percent. Judging by the turnout that distinguished these elections - 98.65% - the victory of “a close ally of Turkmenbashi the Great” (as Mr. Berdymukhammedov is already officially titled in Turkmenistan) will be even more expressive. As for the election promises he made, one of them was already fulfilled yesterday. For the first time in many years, Turkmen television showed an opera banned by the late leader.