His death raises a risk of political instability in the energy-rich country that some fear could have an impact on Europe's gas supplies.
So this is not a good sign, given what some administrations will do to control energy resources (not naming names here):
I expect there will be a massive fight for power now in Turkmenistan and it's likely to take place between pro-U.S. and pro-Russian forces, said a Russian gas industry source, who declined to be named (can you say: polonium?). Gas will become the main coin of exchange and the key asset to get hold of.
That's great.
Under the Constitution, Parliament Speaker Overzgeldy Atayev is to take over as acting president until elections that must be called within two months. The Constitution, however, bans Atayev from running for president in that vote.
Originally a Soviet apparatchik, Niyazov took the title of Turkmenbashi (Head of the Turkmen) the Great and had thousands of portraits and statues, including one in gold leaf that rotates to face the sun in Aşgabat. I hope MsLee gets a photo of that if she is ever able to leave the hotel.
His death means a terrible shock for the republic, its residents and the political class. It's comparable to a shock the Soviet Union felt after Stalin's death said Vyacheslav Nikonov, head of the Moscow-based Politika think tank.
Ooooh - do you think they will embalm and put him on display like Stalin and Lenin...or better yet, wheel out his preserved corpse to oversee all of the big meetings in the country like the great Jeremy Bentham? That would be in keeping with his ego, and it would be cool!
Amongst his accomplishments, Niyazov renamed the month of January after himself as well as a sea port and even a meteorite.
How much do I love that?
His funeral in set for December 24th.
1 comment:
Hi, Layne! Since we are on lock-down there is nothing to do but email, I have finally had enough time to check out your blog. How exciting that I am listed in the first story!
A few updates (for today, as things here are constantly changing): The Parliament speaker who was supposed to take over, according to the Constition, was arrested on criminal charges (we don't know exactly what the charges are). A man who was supposed to be fired from his position next week has now taken over. We don't know if any elections will actually take place.
In 2002, an assasination attempt on Turkmenbashi by opposition failed, and the opposition were exiled to Sweden. They are reported to be planning what their next move is. The acting President now said he will keep running the country the same way that Turkmenbashi did. That's a little scary! I don't know what the opposition plans to do.
I will keep you updated as I hear things. What an interesting time to be here!
Although, Turkmenistan is just a made up country, so anything I am writing about is possibly not true. Then again, I am not creative enough to think up a President who renames months after himself and family members!
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