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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Turkmenistan TV erases face of former leader |
| 2007-07-09 |
| The image of Turkmenistan's late autocratic leader, long shown on television screens during most programmes, disappeared from broadcasts yesterday, the latest of his successor's steps to diminish Saparmurat Niyazov's personality cult. The gold-coloured profile of former president Niyazov, who died in December after two decades of iron-fisted rule in the natural gas-rich Central Asian country, had been a symbol of Turkmenistan's four government television channels. It appeared in the right-hand corner of the screen during virtually all broadcasts. The authorities did not comment on its removal yesterday. Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov, Niyazov's successor, has scrapped some of his least-popular policies and moved toward greater transparency. However, he has given no sign that he will scrap one-party rule. In recent months, the new president has removed his predecessor's name from a patriotic oath and some of his once-ubiquitous portraits from streets and newspapers. Although Mr Berdymukhamedov has told ministers that he should no longer be met by singing schoolchildren, dancers and oaths of loyalty, some of his portraits have replaced those of Niyazov in government buildings. The new leader has awarded himself a massive gold and diamond pendant and issued silver and gold coins with his portrait on his 50th birthday, in what analysts said were efforts to begin a new personality cult. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #4 Did they get rid of that big gold statue of him that rotates with the sun? Or did they just replace the head with the new guy's? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-07-09 10:40 |
| #3 Names and other proper nouns aren't acceptable in Scrabble. Lose a turn, and take the tiles back into your hand. |
| Posted by: gromky 2007-07-09 06:04 |
| #2 I can say one good thing about Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov - his name would net you a sh*tload of points in a game of Scrabble. Other than that, one cult of personality is just as good as another. |
| Posted by: Glusorong the Slender4698 2007-07-09 03:53 |
| #1 Niyazov, we'll miss ye. *tear* This new fellow Berdymukhamedov is just a lame copycat. Personality cult, my ass. Niyazov had more personality in his fingernail clippings than this new guy. |
| Posted by: gromky 2007-07-09 02:29 |