On 13 October, 2021 President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov held the session of Halk Maslakhaty the Upper Chamber of the Parliament, which he heads.
According to the state information agency TDH, Berdymukhammedov told the participants about the celebrations of the 30 anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Independence, celebrated in Turkmenistan on 27 September.
In the course of the session the voting was organized by the head of state to elect the new Chairperson of Halk Maslahaty’s Committee for Human Rights and Liberties.
A member of the Halk Maslahaty Duniyagozel Gulmanova, who had previously held the position of the Deputy Chairperson, was elected the new Chairperson of the Committee. Seidi Jumayev was elected Deputy Chairperson.
The former Chairperson of the Committee Merettagan Taganov was appointed the Minister of Adalat (Justice) on 4 October 2021 replacing Begmyrat Mukhamedov, who was transferred to the Foreign Ministry.
The head of state then reminded that at the Khalk Maslakhaty session amendments to the Constitution were adopted and the two chamber Parliament Milli Gengesh was set up.
It should be highlighted that pursuant to article 73 of the revised Constitution of Turkmenistan, adopted in September 2020, the President cannot be a member of Turkmenistan’s Milli Gengesh.
The National Council of Turkmenistan (Milli Gengesh) is Turkmenistan’s bicameral national legislative body or parliament, which is comprised of the upper chamber, the People’s Council (Halk Maslahaty) and the lower chamber, the Assembly (Majlis).
In other words, the incumbent President can neither be a member of Majlis nor a member of the Halk Maslahaty. Article 78 guarantees all former presidents a seat in the new chamber, but Berdymukhammedov has not resigned.
Also, article 87 prevents a member of the Majlis from concurrently holding the post of a Cabinet member, whereas the head of state is its Chairperson.The post New Chairperson of Turkmenistan’s Committee for Human Rights and Liberties of Halk Maslahaty elected first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.