Breaking news from Ferghana.ru: Akmurad Rejepov used to be a chief of the Presidential Security Service under the former Turkmenistani President, Mr. Niyazov. Before that, KGB-man. His relationship with Niyazov allowed him to exercise the threads of power from behind Turkmenbashi's back. The rise of President Berdymukhamedov is commonly believed to have been facilitated by Mr. Rejepov.
The Presidential Security Service is one of two secret police in Turkmenistan, which are sometimes at odds with each other. In mid-May, Mr. Rejepov was relieved of his duties, along with other important security officials. Somehow, we missed the trial: can't imagine how, what with free press and rule of law:
but Mr. Rejepov has been sentenced to twenty years in prison on charges of corruption. His son Nurmurad, an ex-official of that other secret police, the National Security Service, has been sentenced to 13 years. A third person, a businessman and head of the Turkmenistan company “Oriental” has been convicted to 17 years.
This is, of course, seen as part of President Berdymukhamedov's continued consolidation of power. And there are indications that the new eminence grise in Turkmenistan is a different security official named Alexander Zhadan. As Martha Brill Olcott suggests, governmental reform might not be the accurate term for what is occuring in Turkmenistan. Looks like: the rehabilitation of an existing system in favor of a new President.
Because, if Mr. Rejepov can make Mr. Berdymukhamedov a president, that means he could possibly make another person president, too. Kingmakers are always dangerous to an existing king.
Illustrations: University of British Columbia; Museum of the Far West.
