May 21, 2008
Begench Aydyn

Who is ruling Turkmenistan ?

(Slowing down liberal reforms….)

December 21, 2006 the death of a President Saparmurat Niyazov brought Turkmenistan into governmental crisis. In the country where only one person ruled where a parliament and an independent judicial system were not functioning properly, a multi-party system and freedom of speech that are main principles of democracy were prohibited, the death of the leader led to unexpected circumstances.

Despite this or any other reasons when president is unable to do his duties before new president is elected the right to take the responsibility is given to Speaker of Mejlis (Parliament). Violation of basic laws and principles, ambiguous appointment of a person from different position, however, reveals that there is a political power behind the scenes. With the order of that political power Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov was nominated and later elected as a president of Turkmenistan . Who is the political power that supported Berdimuhammedov and was the reason for his election? This role was given to Saparmurat Niyazov’s former security chief Akmurat Rejepov (received seventeen- year prison sentence and serving it in Ovadandepe prison) according to most media. Since the principles of political struggle have changed, the actual figure of controller became clear. He is Victor Mihaylovich Khramov.

When newly elected president starts his duties he brings people he can work with. Nevertheless, to the position of assistant whom he could rely on his life and secrets and who is close to him, Berdimuhammedov was obliged to appoint Saparmurat Niyazov’s assistant, Victor Khramov. Khramov has been working as a Niyazov’s assistant since 1985. That period they used to appoint someone from centre, that’s Moscow , to people in charge of former Soviet republics. They were Moscow ’s ear and eye.

On 21st of December 2006 when Niyazov passed away, Moscow ’s official takes vital actions to keep country in control. Since Khramov was Moscow ’s man Akmurat Rejepov that time chief of president’s security, Minister of National Safety and Minister of Internal Affairs were all afraid of him. They did his orders without any objection. Personnel who worked in president’s palace were scared of him and tried not to encounter him in the corridors.

For Khramov’s authority is great in the country his close relatives gain substantially from this advantage. His wife promoted many people to high positions. Their son- in- law 28, lieutenant holds a significant position in the economic safety department of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan. He is talked to make dirty deeds in the country.

Victor Khramov is the one who had crucial role in directing political ideology based on cult of personality. Now Annanur Chariyarov, in charge of national press, works only with the instructions of Khramov. Recently Khramov in the presence of newspaper and magazine, radio and television in short, all media members demanded to raise personality of new president Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov. If we take a glance at national press we can witness Khramov’s instructions are being carried out just so.

Victor Khramov interferes with duty of Mejlis (Parliament) and has a firm hand of it. Every time when they prepare to hold Halk Maslahaty (People’s Consul) Akja Nurberdiyeva, speaker of Mejlis, is forced to take direct order of Khramov and conduct it strictly in accordance with it. Holding new presidents portraits, placing people according to velayats (regions), their rise up applauding, and sorting out people to give speeches all of these are instructed to Speaker of Mejlis Akja Nurberdiyeva by Victor Khramov. Nurberdiyeva brought up Khramov’s words to members of Mejlis behind closed doors. In accordance with his words it is necessary to have personality cult to control and keep order among nation.

Now there is a power struggle between Khramov and forces favouring Berdimuhammedov.   Khramov prevents president’s allies to make liberal reforms. Despite the fact that Berdimuhammedov’s close supporters exceed in number Khramov is domineering so far.

Khramov is also actively involved in appointing people to high positions in government. Khramov turns down most candidates’ personal documents that come to president. Since these people are highly intellectual and supporters of president’s reforms, Khramov hinders them to get high positions. Although he is a president’s assistant he has great influence on everything. Certainly, president Berdimuhammedov is aware of this but he is powerless to have an effect on it yet. Since his election, Berdimuhammedov hasn’t been able to release imprisoned high and low rank government officials and political prisoners who had been sentenced by Saparmurat Niyazov. Khramov is the main obstacle in this case. Rumour goes around that ex- vice premiers Yolly Gurbanmuradov and Dortguly Aydogdiyev who were in good relation with Berdimuhammedov were released from Bayramaly prison.  This, however, turned out to be a lie.  Above mentioned people are being kept behind bars in Ovadandepe prison.

So far it has been beyond Berdimuhammedov power to undertake domestic and foreign policy independently. The policy is entirely depending on Khramov and Rashid Meredov, minister of foreign affairs and vice premier, lends a hand him in this case. Rashid Meredov has been holding the position of a minister of foreign affairs for a long time. According to some sources Victor Khramov initially intended to nominate Rashid Meredov as a president after Saparmurat Niyazov’s death. However, taking into consideration the fact that Rasid Meredov isn’t fluent in Turkmen language and not pure Turkmen he had to stand on Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov. To take situation completely into control now Khramov started to prepare Rashid Meredov for presidency. Recently Rashid Meredov has begun regularly giving interviews to national media in Turkmen language. The position he is holding now, vice premier, fully enables him to claim for presidency in accordance with the recent constitutional changes.

Last couple of months western countries, European Union and especially the USA are aiming to get main natural resource of Turkmenistan gas to European countries through Caspian Sea . To realise the project called “Nabbuko” the energy representative of the USA in Eurasia Steven Man has met several times with the president Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov in Ashgabat. However, these talks haven’t given positive results for the USA . Of course, even here Hramov’s influence is obvious.

Now domestic and foreign policy of Turkmenistan is being conducted by Victor Khramov with the support of Rashid Merdov. Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov is president only for public eye, in other words he is powerless president and is doing what he is told. When EU and the USA hold talks with Turkmenistan first of all they should make a distinction who they are holding talk with and only after that set conditions.

How is Berdimuhammedov going to deal with present political situation? What is Berdimuhammedov’s solution for it (present political situation)? It is going to be very complicated to dismiss Khramov and Rashid Meredov from their posts and liberate domestic and especially foreign policy from Russian influence and come to power. Since Khramov is protected by Russian Special Forces it seems very dangerous for Berdimuhammedov to go up against them.  First of all, his and his family’s and after all country’s safety might be in danger. It will not give any difficulty for Russian Special Forces to mess up country. An example, when Georgian government carried out independent foreign policy Russia illegitimately interfered into country’s domestic affairs.

How long will Kharamov’s unchallenged supremacy remain? Or will Berdimuhammedov accept a fate and leave the country to Russia to slavery. Or Will he find courage to choose self-government? Will he support the people and will they support him in this instance?  We will get the answer soon…