Saparmurat Niyazov
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Saparmyrat Ataýewiç Nyýazow | |
1st President of Turkmenistan
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In office June 21, 1991 – December 21, 2006 |
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Preceded by | Muhammetnazar Gapurow (as General Secretary) |
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Succeeded by | Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow |
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Born | February 19, 1940 Gypjak, Turkmen SSR, Soviet Union |
Died | 21 December 2006 |
Political party | Democratic Party of Turkmenistan |
Spouse | Muza Sokolova Russian: Муза Соколова[1] |
Saparmyrat Ataýewiç Nyýazow (February 19, 1940, Gypjak, Turkmen SSR, Soviet Union – 21 December 2006), also commonly known by the romanization Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov of the Russian spelling Сапармурат Атаевич Ниязов of his Turkmen name, ruled Turkmenistan as the head of state from 1985 until his death in 2006. He served as the First Secretary of the Turkmen Communist Party from 1985 until 1991, after which he served as the first President of Turkmenistan.
Niyazov and Turkmen media referred to him using the title "His Excellency Saparmurat Niyazov Türkmenbaşy, President of Turkmenistan and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers". His title Türkmenbaşy, or Turkmenbashi (IPA: [tyrkmenbaʃɯ]), meaning Leader of Turkmens referred to his position as the founder and president of the Association of Turkmens of the World.[2]
Foreign media criticized him as one of the world's most authoritarian and repressive dictators, highlighting his reputation of imposing his personal eccentricities upon the country. Global Witness, a London-based human rights organization, reported that money under Niyazov's control and held overseas may be in excess of US$3 billion, of which $2 billion is supposedly situated in the Foreign Exchange Reserve Fund at Deutsche Bank in Germany.
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[edit] Background
Turkmenistan |
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Niyazov's father died fighting against Nazi Germany in World War II. The other members of his family were killed in a massive earthquake that leveled Aşgabat in 1948. He grew up in a Soviet orphanage before the state put him in the custody of a distant relative.
In 1962 Niyazov joined the Communist Party. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming head of the Communist Party of the Turkmen SSR in 1985. He gained this post after Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev removed the previous leader, Muhammetnazar Gapurow, following a cotton-related scandal.
On January 13, 1990, Niyazov became Chairman of the Supreme Soviet, the supreme legislative body in the republic.
Niyazov and his Russian-Jewish wife, Muza, had a son and a daughter, Myrat and Irina, respectively.
[edit] Personality cult
“ | I admit it, there are too many portraits, pictures and monuments. I don't find any pleasure in it, but the people demand it because of their mentality. | ” |
— Saparmurat Niyazov[3]
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Niyazov ruled as an authoritarian leader, notorious in the Western world for the cult of personality he established around himself in Turkmenistan.[4] Niyazov, at the beginning of his rule, referred to Turkmenistan as a nation devoid of a national identity. He renamed the town of Krasnovodsk, on the Caspian Sea, Türkmenbaşy, in addition to renaming several schools, airports and even a meteorite after himself and his immediate family. He even renamed the months, and days of the week after his family; January becoming Turkmenbashi.[5] Niyazov's portrait is on Manat banknotes and large portraits of the late President hang all over the country, especially on major public buildings and avenues. Statues of himself and his mother are located throughout Turkmenistan, including one in the Karakum Desert as well as a gold-plated statue atop Aşgabat's largest building, the Neutrality Arch. The statue rotates so that it will always face into the sun and shine light onto the capital city. Niyazov commissioned a palace in Aşgabat commemorating his rule. The government has given him the hero of Turkmenistan award five times. Niyazov said he opposed having his "pictures and statues in the streets, but it's what the people want."[6]
Erika Dailey, a specialist for the Open Society Institute, said the education system under Niyazov indoctrinated and brainwashed young Turkmen through the Ruhnama, a national epic written by Niyazov. In 2004, the dictator ordered the closure of all rural libraries on the grounds that he thought that village Turkmen do not read.[7] The Ruhnama, a mixture of revisionist history and moral guidelines, was intended as the "spiritual guidance of the nation" and the basis of the nation's arts and literature. With Soviet-era textbooks banned without being replaced by new publications, libraries are left with little more than Niyazov's works.[citation needed]
In Niyazov's home village of Gypjak, a complex has been built to the memory of his mother, including a mosque (est. at US$100 million, built by the French company Bouygues) conceived as a symbol of the rebirth of the Turkmen people. The walls of this edifice display precepts from the Ruhnama along with Qur'an suras. The Ruhnama was introduced to Turkmen culture in a gradual but eventually pervasive way.
Niyazov first placed copies in the nation's schools and libraries but eventually went as far as to make an exam on its teachings an element of the driving test.
In older pictures, Niyazov had white hair; at the time of his death, it was black.
[edit] Domestic policy
[edit] Economy
Turkmenistan has the second largest reserves in the gas-rich former Soviet Union, generating high revenue for the state. The government has used central planning, such as state control of production and procurement, direct bank credits with low interest rates, exchange rate restrictions, and price controls, since it existed as a Republic within the U.S.S.R.[8]
In 1991 Niyazov's government put forth a decree granting "the free use of water, gas and electricity by the people of Turkmenistan."[2] In reality, the population receives the lowest possible minimum wage and then the state distributes free water, gas and electricity.[8]
The summer of 2004 saw a leaflet campaign in the capital, Aşgabat, calling for the overthrow and trial of Niyazov. The authorities were unable to stop the campaign and the President responded by firing his Interior Minister and director of the police academy on national television.[9] He accused the minister of incompetence and declared: "I cannot say that you had any great merits or did much to combat crime."
In May 2000, the government revoked all Internet licenses except for the state-owned Turkmen Telecom and in June 2001 shut down all Internet cafés.[10] By 2005 there were 36,000 Internet users, representing 0.7% of the population.[11]
[edit] Foreign policy
Niyazov promoted a policy of neutrality in foreign affairs, refraining from seeking membership in NATO or GUUAM and almost ignoring the CSTO. Turkmenistan has not participated in any United Nations peacekeeping missions.
Niyazov met with former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to discuss an oil contract in Turkmenistan for a Canadian corporation in late 2004. In March 2005 news of this meeting caused uproar amongst opposition circles in Canada, who claimed the affair could damage Chrétien's legacy.
Niyazov announced in 2005 that Turkmenistan would downgrade its links with the Commonwealth of Independent States. He furthermore promised free and fair elections by 2010 in a move that surprised many Western observers.
In 2006, the European Commission and the international trade committee of the European Parliament voted to grant Turkmenistan "most favored nation" trading status with the European Union, widely seen as motivated by interest in natural gas, after Niyazov announced he would enter a "human rights dialogue" with the EU.[12]
[edit] Presidential decrees
See also Renaming of Turkmen months and days of week, 2002
As President-for-Life of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov issued many controversial and unusual decrees:
- In April 2001, ballet and opera were banned after Niyazov felt they were "unnecessary ... not a part of Turkmen culture", .[13]
- In 2004 it was forbidden for young men to grow long hair or beards.[13]
- In March 2004, 15,000 public health workers were dismissed including nurses, midwives, school health visitors and orderlies and replaced with military conscripts.[14]
- In April 2004 the youth of Turkmenistan were encouraged to chew on bones to preserve their teeth rather than be fitted with gold tooth caps or gold teeth.[15]
- In April 2004 it was ordered that an ice palace be constructed near the capital.[16] (In December 2006 an article in the UK's Sunday Times revealed the 'ice palace' to be an ornate ice skating rink.[17])
- In 2004 all licensed drivers were required to pass a morality test.[18]
- In 2004 it was prohibited for news readers to wear make-up[19]
- In February 2005 all hospitals outside Aşgabat were ordered shut, with the reasoning that the sick should come to the capital for treatment. All rural libraries were ordered closed as well, citing ordinary Turkmen do not read books.[20]
- In November 2005 physicians were ordered to swear an oath to the President, replacing the Hippocratic Oath.[21]
- In December 2005, video games were banned as being too violent for young Turkmen to play.
- In January 2006, one-third of the country's elderly had their pensions discontinued, while another 200,000 had theirs reduced. Pensions received during the prior two years were ordered paid back to the state.[22] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan strongly denied allegations that the cut in pensions resulted in the deaths of many elderly Turkmen, accusing foreign media outlets of spreading "deliberately perverted" information on the issue.[23]
- (Note: On March 19, 2007 Turkmenistan's new president Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has reversed a decision of his predecessor by restoring pensions to more than 100,000 elderly citizens..[24])
- In September 2006 Turkmen teachers who failed to publish praise of the Turkmen leader would remain at a lower payscale or be sacked.[25]
- In October 2006 Turkmenistan claimed to have set free 10,056 prisoners, including 253 foreign nationals from 11 countries on the Night of Omnipotence. Niyazov said, "Let this humane act on the part of the state serve strengthening truly moral values of the Turkmen society. Let the entire world know that there has never been a place for evil and violence on the blessed Turkmen soil."[26]
- The Turkmen words for bread and the month of April were changed to the name of his late mother, Gurbansoltanedzhe. [27]
- Car radios, lip-syncing, and recorded music are all prohibited.[28]
- Video monitors are required in all public places.[28]
- Dogs are restricted from the capital city due to unappealing odour.[29]
[edit] Death
On December 21, 2006, Turkmen state television announced that President Niyazov had died of sudden cardiac arrest.[30][31] Niyazov had been taking medication for an unidentified cardiac condition. The Turkmen Embassy in Moscow later confirmed this report.
According to the Constitution of Turkmenistan, Öwezgeldi Ataýew, Chairman of the Parliament, would assume the presidency. Deputy Prime Minister Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow was named as head of the commission organizing the state funeral. Due to the imprisonment of Öwezgeldi Ataýew who, under the Constitution is first in line to succeed the presidency, Berdimuhammedow was named as acting president. Berdimuhammedow and the People's Council of Turkmenistan announced on December 26 that the next presidential elections would be held on February 11, 2007.[32]
The New York Times reported that Niyazov's son, Murat, has been in contention for the presidency after the constitution was amended to allow Turkmen of mixed ethnic backgrounds to qualify for the post.[3]
The circumstances of Niyazov's passing has been surrounded by some media speculation, including that Niyazov had been the victim of poisoning.[33] Some Turkmen opposition sources also claim that Niyazov died several days before the officially announced date of December 21.[34]
[edit] Burial
Niyazov was buried on December 24 at his home village of Gypjak approximately 10 kilometres from the capital. Prior to being moved to the village, Niyazov's body lay in state in an open coffin in the presidential palace. Many mourners, including foreign delegations, passed by the coffin in a three hour period.[35]. Tang Jiaxuan, the Chinese State Councilor and special envoy of President Hu Jintao to Turkmenistan[36], Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Richard Boucher[37], Iranian Vice President Parviz Davoudi, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli, Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, and Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan attended the funeral.[38]
[edit] Miscellaneous
- In October 2005, 100,000 copies of Mahribanlarym, a new book by Niyazov, were printed. The book included his lyrical poetry and short stories.[39]
- Niyazov ordered the building of a new university to be named after Ruhnama. The university was scheduled to be built in 2010.[40]
[edit] See also
[edit] References and notes
- ^ "Наследником Туркменбаши может стать следователь московской прокуратуры", Komsomolskaya Pravda, 2006-12-22. Retrieved on 2006-12-22. (in Russian)
- ^ a b Turkmenistan Fact Sheet, Government & Politics-President. Embassy of Turkmenistan. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ a b Chivers, C. J.. "Intrigue Follows Death of a President for Life", New York Times, 2006-12-22. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ "Turkmenistan's 'iron ruler' dies", BBC News, 2006-12-21. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ The Associated Press. "Saparmurat Niyazov, Turkmen Leader, Dies at 66", The New York Times, 2006-12-21. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ "Turkmenbashi Everywhere", CBS News, 2004-01-04. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ IFLA Blasts Turkmenistan Library Closings and Rights Violations. American Library Association (2005-5-6). Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ a b Badykova, Najia (2004-06-18). The Turkmen Economy: Challenges and Opportunities. St Antony's College, University of Oxford. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ Short resume maintained by Reporters Sans Frontières
- ^ Clarke, Michael (2003-01-24). Turkmenistan. Struggling For News In Turkmenistan. Glenn Hauser's World of Radio. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ The World Factbook entry for Turkmenistan information retrieved on August 30, 2006
- ^ "Double Standard for Dictators", WashingtonPost.com, 2004-04-14. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ a b Whitlock, Monica. "Young Turkmen face beard ban", BBC News, 2004-02-25. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ Whitlock, Monica. "Troops to replace Turkmen medics", BBC News, 2004-03-01. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ Burke, Justin. "Turkmen president urges youth to avoid gold teeth", EurasiaNet.org, 2004-04-07. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ Osborn, Andrew. "Dictator orders ice palace to be built in central Asian desert", The Independent on Sunday, 2004-08-15. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ Januszczak, Waldemar. "In the realm of fantasy", The Sunday Times, 2006-12-17. Retrieved on 2006-12-26.
- ^ Romanoff, Lance Jonn (2005-08-18). Absolute Power Makes You Absolutely Crazy. Ljonn.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ Turkmenistan Project Weekly News Brief, August 13-19, 2004. EurasiaNet.org (2004-06-19). Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ Morgan, David (Translator). "President of Turkmenistan closes hospitals, libraries and nature reserves", Prima-News, 2005-02-14. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ "Turkmen Doctors Pledge Allegiance To Niyazov", Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty (RFERL), 2005-11-15. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ "Туркменбаши решил истребить всех стариков", NEWSru.com, 2006-02-03. Retrieved on 2006-12-22. (in Russian)
- ^ "...Russian media outlets disseminate "deliberately perverted" information on republic's pension maintenance", Turkmenistan.ru, 2006-04-02. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ "Turkmen leader restores pensions", bbc.co.uk, 2007-03-19. Retrieved on 2007-03-19.
- ^ "Praise Turkmen leader or else, teachers are told", Telegraph (UK). Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ "Turkmenistan to set free 10056 prisoners...", Turkmenistan.ru, 2006-10-17. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ "“Tensions Rising as Turkmenistan Stops Pension Payments”", Taipei Times, 2006-02-05. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ a b "Turkmenistan bans recorded music", BBC News, 2005-08-23. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ "In the realm of fantasy", The Sunday Times Online, 2006-12-17. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ "Turkmenistan's 'iron ruler' dies", BBC News, 2006-12-21. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ "President of Turkmenistan dies at 66", BreakingNews.ie, 2005-12-21. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ "Two candidates named for Turkmen presidency", ITAR TASS, 2006-12-26. Retrieved on 2006-12-26.
- ^ "Saparmurat Niyazov 's werelds gekste dictator", Het Nieuwsblad. Retrieved on 2006-12-22. (in Dutch)
- ^ "Turkmenbashi died several days ago", RIA Novosti, 2006-12-21. Retrieved on 2006-12-22. (in Russian)
- ^ Turkmen leader's funeral begins. CNN (2006-12-24). Retrieved on 2006-12-24.
- ^ Chinese envoy attends funeral of Turkmenistan's late president. China Economic (2006-12-25). Retrieved on 2006-12-25.
- ^ Late President of Turkmenistan laid to rest. Calcutta News (2006-12-25). Retrieved on 2006-12-25.
- ^ First VP leaves Turkmenistan. IRNA (2006-12-25). Retrieved on 2006-12-25.
- ^ Turkmenistan Project Weekly news brief, October 14-20, 2005. EurasiaNet.org. Retrieved on 2007-01-12.
- ^ "New Turkmen University Named After Leader’s Book", RFE/RL, 2005-12-13. Retrieved on 2007-01-12.
[edit] External links
- Official webpage (in English)
- Un-official webpage (in English)
- Saparmurat Niyazov's Article for UN Chronicle
- Saparmurat Niyazov's Article towards Opening of UN Millenium Summit
- Saparmurat Niyazov on Elections, Turkmen Democracy and Consolidation of Authority in Turkmenistan
- Turkmenistan's Republican Opposition Party in Exile
- Global Witness Report
- Ruhnama - Book by Turkmenbashy (online in English, Russian, Turkish, Turkmen)
- The Ruhnama of Saparmyrat Turkmenbashy the Great
- Opposition webpage (partly in English)
- Transcript of 2004 profile on news program 60 Minutes
- BBC News Country Profile of Turkmenistan with information and articles about Saparmurat Niyazov
- PARADE Magazine's 2006 Annual List Of The World’s 10 Worst Dictators
- Double Standards for Dictators, The Washington Post, April 14, 2006
- Show Trials Like Stalin's in Turkmenistan, The New York Times, January 27, 2003
- President Nyazov's "House of Free Creativity" called a crude provocation - IFEX
- Turkmen Leader To Have Second Eye Operation
[edit] Monuments to Niyazov
- A gold statue of Niyazov
- A gold bust of Niyazov
- Niyazov revolves to face the sun
- Another gold statue of Niyazov
Preceded by Muhammetnazar Gapurow |
General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Turkmen SSR 1985 – June 21, 1991 |
Succeeded by None (Position Dissolved) |
Preceded by None (Position Created) |
President of Turkmenistan June 21, 1991 – December 21, 2006 |
Succeeded by Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow |
Leaders of Turkmenistan |
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Turkmen SSR, First Secretaries: Ivan Mezhlauk • Shaymardan Ibragimov • Nikolay Paskutsky • Grigory Aronshtam • Yakov Popok • Anna Mukhamedova • Yakov Chubin • Mikhail Fonin • Shadzha Batyrov • Balysh Ovezov • Sukhan Babayev • Dzhuma Durdy Karayev • Balysh Ovezov • Muhammetnazar Gapurow • Saparmurat Niyazov
Turkmenistan, Presidents: Saparmurat Niyazov • Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow |
Prime Ministers of Turkmenistan |
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Turkmen SSR: Kaikhaziz Atabayev • Aitbay Khudaybergenov • Sukhan Babayev • Balysh Ovezov • Dzhumadurdy Karayev • Balysh Ovezov • Abdy Annaliyev • Muhammetnazar Gapurow • Oraz Orazmukhamedov • Bally Yazkuliyev • Chary Karriyev • Saparmurat Niyazov • Annamurad Khodzhamuradov • Khan Akhmedov
Turkmenistan: Khan Akhmedov • de facto: Saparmurat Niyazov • Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow |
Persondata | |
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NAME | Niyazov, Saparmurat Atayevich |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Nyýazow, Saparmyrat Ataýewiç (Turkmen); Ниязов, Сапармурат Атаевич (Russian) |
SHORT DESCRIPTION | first President of Turkmenistan |
DATE OF BIRTH | February 19, 1940 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Ashkabad, Turkmen SSR, Soviet Union |
DATE OF DEATH | December 2006 |
PLACE OF DEATH | Ashgabat, Turkmenistan |