Editing History of Turkmenistan (section)

== Since 2006 ==
In [[2007 Turkmenistan presidential election|an election]] on February 11, 2007, [[Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow]] was elected president with 89% of the vote and 95% turnout, although the election was condemned by outside observers.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1298497.stm]

Following his election, Berdimuhamedow moved to reduce foreign isolation and reversed some of Niyazov's more egocentric and damaging policies. Internet cafes offering free and uncensored Web access opened in [[Ashgabat]],<ref>{{cite news
  | agency = Associated Press
  | title = A crack in the isolation of Turkmenistan: Internet cafes
  | newspaper = USA Today
  | date = February 16, 2007
  | url = https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-02-16-turkmenistan_x.htm
  | access-date = 2007-04-26
  | archive-date = February 27, 2007
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070227214732/http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-02-16-turkmenistan_x.htm
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref> compulsory education was extended from nine to ten years and classes in sports and foreign languages were re-introduced into the curriculum, and the government announced plans to open several specialized schools for the arts.<ref>{{cite news
  | title = 1 апреля в Туркмении откроются школы искусства
  | publisher = Gündogar
  | date = February 21, 2007
  | url = http://www.gundogar.org/?022500000000000000011062007020000#3922
  | access-date = 2007-04-26
  | language = ru
  | archive-date = April 3, 2007
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070403065914/http://www.gundogar.org/?022500000000000000011062007020000#3922
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref> President Berdimuhamedow has called for reform of education, health care and pension systems, and government officials of non-Turkmen ethnic origin who had been sacked by Niyazov have returned to work.<ref>{{cite news
 |author=Leila 
 |title=Internet in Turkmenistan: A sign of hope? 
 |publisher=New Eurasia 
 |date=February 20, 2007 
 |url=http://turkmenistan.neweurasia.net/?p=176 
 |access-date=2007-04-26 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516173113/http://turkmenistan.neweurasia.net/?p=176 
 |archive-date=May 16, 2007 
 |df=mdy-all 
}}</ref>

President Berdimuhamedow began to reduce the personality cult surrounding Niyazov and the office of the president. He called for an end to the elaborate pageants of music and dancing that formerly greeted the president on his arrival anywhere, and said that the Turkmen "sacred oath", part of which states that the speaker's tongue should shrivel if he ever speaks ill of Turkmenistan or its president, should not be recited multiple times a day but reserved for "special occasions." Previously the oath was recited at the beginning and end of TV news reports, by students at the beginning of the school day, and at the beginning of virtually all meetings of any official nature that took place in the country.<ref>{{cite news
  | title = Turkmenistan moves to reduce cult
  | publisher = MWC News
  | date = March 10, 2007
  | url = http://mwcnews.net/content/view/13117/195/
  | access-date = 2007-04-26 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070313203413/http://mwcnews.net/content/view/13117/195/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = March 13, 2007}}</ref>

However, Berdimuhamedow is criticized for building a personality cult of his own (albeit a modest one compared to his predecessor's). For example, he is the only person whose first name is used in government press releases; other officials always have their first names abbreviated to a single letter. He is also sometimes called the "Turkmen leader" by his country's press. Additionally, while his regime is somewhat less heavy-handed than Niyazov's, it is still rigidly authoritarian.

On March 19, 2007, Berdimuhamedow reversed one of Niyazov's most unpopular decrees by giving pensions back to 100,000 elderly people whose pensions Niyazov had slashed in the face of an unspecified budget crisis.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/|title=Breaking News, World News & Multimedia|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=March 18, 2018|archive-date=January 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108144641/http://www.nytimes.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 20, in a decision of significant symbolic weight in the ongoing rejection of Niyazov's personality cult, he abolished the power of the president to rename any landmarks, institutions, or cities.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1075388.html|title=Turkmenistan Restricts Presidential Prerogatives|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=February 2, 2012 |access-date=March 18, 2018|archive-date=March 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318183202/https://www.rferl.org/a/1075388.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 31, 2007, the 20th Congress of the [[People's Council of Turkmenistan|Halk Maslahaty]] began in the city of Mary. New laws relating to agricultural efficiency were passed, and it was decreed that school teachers' wages would soon rise by 40%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/?page_id=3&lang_id=en&elem_id=9716&type=event&sort=date_desc|title=School teachers' wages to rise by 40%|website=www.turkmenistan.ru|access-date=March 18, 2018|archive-date=March 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319003848/http://www.turkmenistan.ru/?page_id=3&lang_id=en&elem_id=9716&type=event&sort=date_desc|url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 12, Russia and Turkmenistan announced that they had reached an agreement to build a new natural gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Russia, via Kazakhstan. This has led to speculation that the European Union will become more energy-dependent on Russia, which buys Turkmen gas at below-market prices, and that as a result Russia's political influence in Eastern Europe may increase.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6649169.stm | work=BBC News | title=Russia clinches gas pipeline deal | date=May 12, 2007 | access-date=May 4, 2010 | archive-date=December 24, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224132752/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6649169.stm | url-status=live }}</ref>

On May 16, in what was described as one of his boldest moves up to that time, Berdimuhamedow sacked a high-ranking security official who had been instrumental in building and maintaining the late president Niyazov's extensive cult of personality. According to official Turkmen news media, [[Akmyrat Rejepow]], the head of the presidential security service, was removed from office by presidential decree and transferred to "another job." The nature of this job was not specified.<ref>http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/pp051607.shtml {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924021545/http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/pp051607.shtml |date=September 24, 2015 }} "Turkmenistan: New President Sacks Long-Serving Security Chief" from EurasiaNet.org</ref>

On June 14, Berdimuhamedow re-opened the Turkmen Academy of Sciences, which had been shut down by his predecessor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gundogar.org/?024100000000000000011062007060000#4470|title=Гундогар:: NEWS|website=www.gundogar.org|access-date=March 18, 2018|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024237/http://www.gundogar.org/?024100000000000000011062007060000#4470|url-status=live}}</ref> According to reports, as of June 25 Berdimuhamedow had also ordered the closure of the International Fund of Saparmurat Niyazov, the former Turkmenbashi's personal private fund, and stated his intent to begin a series of reforms in the military.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kommersant.com/p777536/Turkmenistan_President_Thaw/|title=Thaw Comes to Turkmenistan – Kommersant Moscow<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=kommersant.com|access-date=March 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065848/http://www.kommersant.com/p777536/Turkmenistan_President_Thaw/|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Berdimuhamedow celebrated his 50th birthday on June 29, 2007. He was awarded the [[Watan Order]] (Order of the Motherland) for his "outstanding achievements" – a gold and diamond pendant weighing about 1 kilogram. The President also published his biography and held a gala birthday celebration. The government also issued 400 gold and silver coins decorated with the president's portrait.<ref>{{cite news |title=Turkmenistan: New President Shows Shades Of 'Turkmenbashi' |url=http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/07/553cbfb1-46aa-4757-ae2b-2069350baf5f.html |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=July 3, 2007 |access-date=2007-07-16 |archive-date=December 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226021040/https://www.rferl.org/a/1077456.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2008, Berdimuhamedow restored the Latin-based names of the months and traditional Persian and Turkic days of the week (Niyazov had [[2002 renaming of Turkmen months and days of week|renamed them after himself and his mother]], among other things),<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7365346.stm | work=BBC News | title=Turkmen go back to old calendar | date=April 24, 2008 | access-date=May 4, 2010 | archive-date=April 19, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419133759/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7365346.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> and announced plans to move the infamous [[Neutrality Monument|gold rotating statue]] of Niyazov from Ashgabat's central square.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7382512.stm | work=BBC News | title=Ex-Turkmen leader's statue moved | date=May 3, 2008 | access-date=May 4, 2010 | archive-date=March 31, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331125108/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7382512.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> He has not, however, moved toward Western-style democracy.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7155476.stm | work=BBC News | title=Fresh optimism in Turkmenistan | date=December 21, 2007 | access-date=May 4, 2010 | archive-date=June 10, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610104533/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7155476.stm | url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2008, a new constitution was accepted by the People's Council.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> [[2008–09 Turkmen parliamentary election|Parliamentary elections]] under this new constitution were held on December 14, 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Turkmenistan Publishes List Of Election Winners |language=en |work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/Turkmenistan_Publishes_List_Of_Election_Winners/1362308.html |access-date=2023-11-02}}</ref>

In December 2008, Berdimuhamedow announced changes to the [[State Anthem of Turkmenistan|national anthem]], which involved removing the repeated references to former President Niyazov. The new version was to take effect on December 21, the second anniversary of Niyazov's death.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7771972.stm "Turkmen anthem set for makeover"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211092219/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7771972.stm |date=December 11, 2008 }}, BBC, December 9, 2008.</ref>

In February 2017, president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov was [[2017 Turkmenistan presidential election|re-elected]] for a third term in office, after receiving 97.69 percent of all votes according to official results, following a tightly controlled and largely ceremonial election. He continued to rule as authoritarian [[political strongman|strongman]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/gurbanguly-berdymukhamedov-re-elected-as-turkmen-president/a-37524932|title=Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov re-elected as Turkmen president &#124; DW &#124; 13.02.2017|website=[[Deutsche Welle]] |access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503141510/https://www.dw.com/en/gurbanguly-berdymukhamedov-re-elected-as-turkmen-president/a-37524932|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 19 March 2022, [[Serdar Berdimuhamedow|Serdar Berdimuhamedov]] was sworn in as Turkmenistan's new president to succeed his father. He was declared the winner of the March 12 [[2022 Turkmenistan presidential election|presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Serdar Berdimuhamedov sworn in as Turkmenistan's new president |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/serdar-berdimuhamedov-sworn-in-as-turkmenistans-new-president/2540192 |work=www.aa.com.tr |access-date=June 4, 2022 |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422134741/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/serdar-berdimuhamedov-sworn-in-as-turkmenistans-new-president/2540192 |url-status=live }}</ref>