“Chronicles of Turkmenistan” continue to monitor changes in the Turkmen political system and their consequences. Serdar Berdymukhammedov still performs ceremonial functions while his father and the Minister of Foreign Affairs conduct negotiations and his mother hosts foreign visitors.
Of more significance is the political activity and posturing in the state governance of Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, who has not only strengthened his political influence, but is also interfering in the social arena and in the private lives of citizens.
Previously it seemed that the Turkmen tandemocracy partially resembled that of Kazakhstan where Kassym-Jomart Tokayev became the president while Nursultant Nazarbayev held on to a broad mandate.
We assumed that in the case of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, who holds the formal position of the Chairperson of the Parliament’s Upper Chamber, would similarly create conditions for the smooth transition of power to his son, and for whom the former would become a spiritual mentor and ensure a smooth transition.
However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the former President is not planning to renounce power.Moreover, he intends to become the spiritual mentor not only for Serdar, but for all Turkmen residents.
One should look for the prototype of the political system not in Kazakhstan, but in Iran where the President coexists together with the Ayatollah, the spiritual leader who holds almost unlimited power and imposes moral standards which should be adhered to by all citizens.
The authorities became increasingly concerned about the moral image of Turkmen residents after Berdymukhammedovs’ reshuffle of power.It all started, as сan be expected in a patriarchal society, with the appearance and behavior of women.
Newspapers published the code of conduct for daughters-in-law; women did not get their driving licenses extended and were even prevented from taking the front seats in cars for some time.
Delegations of law enforcement officers and administration officials pay visits to schools and universities to deliver lectures devoted to morality.
They are critical that young people smoke hookah, have a sex life and female students and school girls even become pregnant.DVDs and office equipment presented to an Ashgabat school by the Ambassador of South Korea were confiscated by police officers to ensure they complied with moral standards.
Morality, spiritual values and national traditions are mentioned more often in the official news media.
Clearly, this initiative does not come from Berdymukhammedov senior who indirectly expressed his discontent with the Turkmen level of spirituality when he was announcing his successor.In transferring power he said that he had reached the age of the Prophet and intended to further use both his political and personal life experience in Parliament.
At that time his words did not attract much attention because they were lost against the backdrop of his other eccentric statements and exploits.
However, Hero-Arkadag, as the former President is now referred to by official media outlets, started vehemently passing on his life experience immediately after the handover, when the state “got into bed with young people” (for the time being).
The Chairperson of the Upper Chamber of Turkmenistan’s Parliament is not officially authorized to direct moral standards, but this did not prevent Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov.He is still summoning meetings with Deputy Prime Ministers who do not report to him pursuant to the Constitution, inspect construction-in-progress of the new Akhal capital and other sites in Ashgabat, hold negotiations with heads of state and foreign companies referring to this as “parliamentary diplomacy”.
However, even the transfer of power was carried out in violation of the Constitution, which had allegedly been prepared for this purpose two years earlier.Thus, it comes as no surprise that a member of Parliament has attempted to become a messiah in Turkmenistan it is not the position that matters, but the person occupying that position.
It cannot be said that Berdymukhammedov senior was “spiritually enlightened” all of a sudden because he had always been committed to national traditions, which are closely entwined with religion in the Turkmen culture, including elements of Zoroastrianism and fire worship, conventional wisdom and superstitions.
However, as was repeatedly emphasized, the newly-minted Turkmen “spiritual leader” is an adherent of each of these phenomena as he forecasts the harvest based on the Muslim calendar, quotes dozens of proverbs, always uses number seven in the registration numbers of his aircraft and on the registration plates of his racing cars, and even officials present him with seven horses for special occasions.
Moreover, these superstitions do not prevent him from considering himself a faithful Muslim who has performed Hajj and reached the age of the Prophet.
It appears that his current mission is to pass on his “life experience” to all Turkmen residents, whether they want it or not.
The obsession of Berdymukhammedov senior with finding solutions in conventional wisdom, traditions and principles is more likely explained by the low qualification level and restricted abilities of his entourage, who are either not capable of handling their responsibilities and tasks independently or who prefer not to demonstrate excessive initiative and zealousness in order not to seem “too smart”.
According to internal correspondence published by Wikileaks, American diplomats described Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov as a mistrustful and suspicious person who does not like people who are smarter than him.
In June 2020 the former President recited several dozens of various proverbs and adages to farmers and agriculture officials because he is convinced that this wisdom should be used as guidance in their work.
The existing political system is not capable of coming up with more rational solutions.
It is difficult to say how far the “return to foundations” can go.Whether the introduction of Turkmen national spiritual values will be down to exercising more zealous control over schoolchildren’s appearance and mass media reports on national traditions and foundations, or whether the authorities will continue to meddle in the private lives of residents largely depends on the response of the international community.
Regrettably, there will no open expression of discontent from the Turkmen society intimidated by special services for thirty years of independence.
A significant part of patriarchal values contradicts the contemporary view of human rights. The restriction of women’s rights in the spring had caused, as they say in diplomatic circles, “the concern” of the European Union and other international organizations. Subsequently, control over women was weakened, although it cannot be claimed that it had completely abated.
It is premature to talk about the establishment of “morality police” in Turkmenistan but there are clear trends towards further imposing of national values as viewed by “Master-mentor” (as Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov was described by poet laureate Gozel Shagulyeva in one of her poems).
Ironically, large-scale demonstrations are currently being held against the interference by the government private in the private lives of citizens and the Ayatollah’s regime in Iran, which Berdymukhammedov senior has allegedly chosen as his role model.
The outcome of these protests might also largely affect the aspirations of Ali Khamenei’s Turkmen “counterpart”.
The post To become Ayatollah. Berdymukhammedov senior attempts the role of a spiritual leader first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.