Putin awarded the former President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with the Order of Merit for the Fatherland

Russian President Vladimir Putin has awarded former President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov the Order of Merit to the Fatherland, IV degree. The corresponding decree was published on the official Internet portal of legal information.

Berdumukhammedov received the order for his "great contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership" between the two countries, the decree emphasizes.

• Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov became president of Turkmenistan in 2007 after the death of the first head of state, Saparmurat Niyazov. Under Berdimuhamedov, a cult of his personality was created in the country, he himself received the official nickname "Arkadag" ("Patron").
• Berdimuhamedov left the presidency ahead of schedule in early 2022, explaining that he needed to “give way to the young.” His son Serdar Berdimuhamedov was elected as the country's new president.