Saparmurat Niyazov

Turkmenistan's strongman Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov was sworn in Feb. 17 in a grand ceremony after securing over 97 percent of an almost uncontested vote at the weekend.

Berdymukhamedov, 59, kissed the state flag three times and stood on a white sheep wool carpet symbolizing a "bright path and kind deeds." The ceremony was attended by around 2,500 people.

Turkmenistan's reigning strongman Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov bagged a new seven-year term with nearly 98 percent of a weakly contested vote, electoral officials said on Feb. 13, following a preliminary count.

Turkmen leader Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov was certain to secure a third term in office in yesterday's presidential election, maintaining his grip on power in the isolated gas-rich nation. 

Turkmenistan on Feb. 15 formally launched a "public discussion" over constitutional changes to extend the president's term and drop the age limit for candidates.

State media in the energy-rich ex-Soviet state on Feb. 15 backed moves to boost presidential terms from five to seven years and scrap the 70-year age limit for candidates.

The speaker of ex-Soviet Turkmenistan's pliant parliament has proposed constitutional changes extending the presidential term limit and removing the maximum age for the presidency, state media reported May 29.

The isolated Central Asian state of Turkmenistan on May 25 unveiled a large gold statue of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov riding a horse, in a move echoing his predecessor's cult of personality.