Central Asia/Russia


	May 9, 2002	atimes.com

Central Asia/Russia

Strain starting to show on 'Turkmenbashi'
By Sergei Blagov

MOSCOW - Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov, also known as "Turkmenbashi", or head of the Turkmens, on May 7 suddenly fired his top financial official, Seitbai Kandymov, on graft and nepotism charges. However, Niyazov's opponents argue that the shake-up is more of an indication of the Turkmen leader's growing fears of possible infidelity among his once most-trusted loyalists. Moreover, since March the country's ruling elite have been subjected to continued shake-ups following the so-called plot of the State Security Committee, also known by its Russian-language acronym, KNB.

Kandymov, the deputy prime minister and Central Bank chairman, was sent packing by Niyazov "for serious wrongdoings and failure to provide appropriate leadership" to the country's financial sector. According to KNB head Poran Berdyev, Kandymov embezzled state-owned securities and hired his children and relatives to work in the country's banking system, despite Niyazov's ban on nepotism. According to Russia's RIA news agency, Berdyev also claimed that Kandymov had contacts with former deputy prime minister Khudaiberdy Orazov and ambassador to Turkey Nurmuhammad Hanamov, both of whom defected to the opposition's ranks in 2001.

As a result, Niyazov ordered criminal charges filed against Kandymov and the confiscation of his homes. Niyazov appointed Finance Minister Enebai Atayev as deputy prime minister and Imamdurdy Gandymov, the former head of Daikhanbank, as Central Bank chairman.

The demotion of Turkmenistan's top financial official on graft charges makes little sense since there are no independent state institutions in Turkmenistan, former Turkmen foreign minister and opposition leader Avdy Kuliyev told Asia Times Online. Since all Turkmen government bodies report to Niyazov, these institutions amount to little more than empty shells, while Niyazov himself should be held responsible for all wrongdoings, said Kuliyev, who is currently based in Moscow. The Turkmen authorities had earlier accused Kuliyev of plotting an armed rebellion and of embezzling funds from the state coffers. The self-exiled Kuliyev describes the charges as fabrications. Kuliyev also told ATOL that the demotion of Turkmenistan's top financial official was an after-shock of the alleged KNB plot.

Moreover on May 7, Turkmen Prosecutor General Kurbanbibi Atajanova claimed that so far 80 criminal offences by KNB officers, including five murders, 22 cases of torture and 69 illegal detentions, had been discovered. Criminal charges were filed against 22 top KNB officers, including former KNB head Mukhamed Nazarov, Atajanova told national Turkmen television.

Last March, Niyazov suddenly fired a number of his top security officials on charges of power abuses. In an unprecedented move, Niyazov went live on television and lashed out his once most-trusted loyalists - namely top KNB officials. The Turkmen president accused the KNB of bribery and human rights violations, as well as drug trafficking. He accused his security apparatus of "detaining people illegally and forging evidence". Subsequently, Niyazov fired KNB head General Mukhammed Nazarov, who was replaced by Turkmenistan's Interior Minister Poran Berdyev. The government claimed that "within the past six months, KNB officers had carried out illegal searches, planted drugs, tortured detainees, and even killed police officers".

"Recently, the KNB reported to nobody," Berdyev stated.

Since the young and energetic Nazarov was rumored to be Niyazov's potential successor, it was assumed that Niyazov had opted to remind the world who is the boss in Turkmenistan. Therefore, it is also understood that the so-called "KNB plot" can be interpreted in terms of Niyazov's uneasiness over his possible succession. Following Nazarov's demise, defense minister Gurbandurdy Begenjev, a former KNB officer, was also fired and replaced by Rejepbai Arazov, a former head of parliament. Arazov was in turn replaced by Tagandurdy Khallyev, formerly Niyazov's adviser.

Moreover, Niyazov ordered the demotion of many KNB officers, notably regional security heads. All were stripped of their military ranks and decorations. Niyazov's decree said that these officers had "blatantly violated Turkmen laws, detained citizens illegally, forced confessions by violence and intimidation" and accepted bribes. Last April, Niyazov fired KNB Colonel Begmurad Otuzov, the former head of the KNB in Lebap district, for "serious wrongdoings". Otuzov became the 30th KNB officer fired by Niyazov. (Incidentally, Otuz means "thirty" in Turkmen.) Niyazov also fired the head of the Turkmen Border Guard Service, General Tirkish Termyev, who was replaced by former deputy defense minister Agagheldy Mamedgheldyev.

However, Niyazov is being careful to balance his on-going crackdown with a series of populist moves. Also on May 7, Niyazov signed a decree to raise war veterans' pensions to 600,000 monat (US$115) a month - compared to the country's minimum monthly pension of 100,000 monat. Niyazov also allowed Turkmen youngsters to gain driver's licenses at age 17, a year earlier than in other nations making up the Commonwealth of Independent States. Niyazov also ordered parliament to pass a law requiring noncitizens to pay $50,000 to marry a Turkmen, allegedly to ensure that any children of such unions will be cared for if the marriage ends.

Turkmenistan is a one-party state dominated by its president and his closest advisers. Niyazov, head of the Turkmen Communist Party since 1985 and president of Turkmenistan since its independence in October 1990, builds statues of himself. In December 1999, a compliant parliament appointed him "president for life".

Nonetheless, it is understood that Niyazov is worried by the recent series of defections of his one-time loyalists. In recent months, he has been increasingly nervous about the possibility of more. Turkmenbashi reportedly banned his officials from spending holidays abroad. However, February's defection of Nurmuhammad Hanamov, former Turkmen ambassador to Turkey, was not an isolated incident, as also in February, former Central Bank chairman Khudaiberdy Orazov announced his formal defection into dissidence.

In the meantime, Niyazov's opponents continue to challenge his rule. On November 1, 2001, Boris Shikhmuradov, formerly both foreign minister and Turkmenistan's ambassador to China, openly lashed out at the regime and joined the opposition. Just one day later, the Prosecutor General's Office announced that Shikhmuradov was wanted on charges of embezzling nearly $30 million through illicit arms sales in 1994 when he served as deputy prime minister and oversaw the defense and security agencies.

The continued shake-up of the Turkmen government and its security apparatus, against the backdrop of the defections of high-ranking officials, seem to indicate Niyazov's growing suspicions over the loyalty of his closest aides. However, it remains to be seen whether these problems will entail any meaningful changes in the Turkmen strongman's regime.

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