On 7 July, in the course of the Cabinet session, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov dismissed the Minister of Construction and Architecture Chary Ataev “for grave shortcomings in his work and discrediting himself as an executive”, according to the state information agency TDH.
Deputy of the dismissed minister Charyar Akhmedov was appointed as the acting minister.
The official was dismissed after the head of the financial crime enforcement agency Mammetkhan Chakyev reported on identifying cases of corruption in the agency. According to Chakyev, Ataev appointed cronies to various positions, who took bribes from construction companies executing construction contracts of the ministry.
Moreover, Deputy Prime Minister Dadebai Amangeldiev overseeing construction, energy and public utilities was reprimanded for shortcoming when performing his work responsibilities.
According to TDH, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov expressed discontent as the commissioning of numerous facilities scheduled to be completed this year is delayed.The head of the state ordered the Deputy Prime Minister to get these construction projects under control and take urgent measures to commission the facilities within the set deadlines, complete the construction works related to preparations for the Asian Games-2017 in a timely manner and instructed to make a thorough analysis of all buildings and structures.
A day earlier President Berdymukhammedov once again inspected the progress of the works which are underway in the capital in the run-up to the Asian Games scheduled to be held in September.