Eurasia Insight:
TURKMENISTAN: ONLY A FEW HOLDOVERS FROM NIYAZOV ERA NOW REMAIN
1/23/09

Only three ministers originally appointed by ex-President Saparmurat Niyazov remain in power following a sweeping purge initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. A Turkmen opposition website speculates that Berdymukhamedov's most powerful rival may be the next target.

Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov has survived numerous purges since his appointment back in 2001. But the dismissal of his most trusted aide on January 15 dealt the political insider a severe blow, Chrono-tm.org said on January 22.

Meredov's ally, Hoshgeldi Babayev, had been serving as deputy foreign minister in charge of Caspian Sea issues before getting the boot recently. In announcing the firing, Berdymukhamedov lambasted Babayev. "He [Babayev] has made no progress in this field so far," the president announced during a cabinet meeting.

As a result of Berdymukhamedov's personal attack, a Chrono-tm.org commentary suggested that Meredov has received a "black tag" from the president and may be marked for removal in the near future. Berdymukhamedov has ousted 13 senior figures from his administration in as many days. The purge has included Niyazov-era appointees and a few of Berdymukhamedov's own selections who have failed to live up to expectations.

Chrono-tm.org added that of the two remaining Niyazov-appointed ministers, the minister of agriculture, Esenmurat Orazgeldiev, is the most vulnerable, adding that he may meet his end in March, when the government holds a meeting on agricultural reform. The other Niyazov-era holdover, Minister of Environmental Protection Makhtumkuli Akmyradov, likely enjoys more job security due his low profile within the cabinet, the opposition website commented.