Gurbanguly

Gurbanguly Mälikgulyýewiç Berdimuhamedow, born on 29 September 1957, is a Turkmen politician who served as the president of Turkmenistan from 2007 to 2022. He trained as a dentist at the Turkmen State Medical Institute and worked in the health sector before entering higher levels of government, where he held various leadership positions in Turkmenistan’s administration. Following the death of Saparmyrat Nyýazow in 2006, Berdimuhamedow became acting president and was subsequently elected to the presidency in 2007. He was re-elected in 2012 and 2017, each time with margins described by international observers as not fully indicative of a competitive political process.

His presidency was characterized by strong centralized authority and a prominent personality cult, with the state maintaining extensive control over politics, media, and the economy. Domestically, his administration pursued large-scale infrastructure and modernization projects and implemented reforms in health and education sectors, while political freedoms remained tightly restricted and opposition activities were limited.

In 2022, after more than a decade and a half in power, Berdimuhamedow stepped down and was succeeded by his son, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, who won the presidential election. The elder Berdimuhamedow remains a significant figure within Turkmen politics and the ruling establishment. His tenure is often viewed in the context of Turkmenistan’s long-standing single-party political framework and its emphasis on stability and continuity in governance.