"Young and enthusiastic leader”: Who is Serdar Berdimukhammedov, a candidate for the presidency of Turkmenistan?

At the start of the pandemic, time seemed to stop. Looking out the window, we expected the world to change. Humanity did appear to learn from all of this, and restrictions taught us many lasting life lessons.  However, against all expectations, time has accelerated again.  The world has gotten worse, more painful and more wounded than ever before. 

Kazakhstan was provoked, while Afghanistan started to struggle in rebuilding its path after a 40-year-old war, which ended not long ago.  The explosion in Almaty shocked the entire region.  It wasn't just a statue of an ex-leader that was pulled down, but rather the tearing down of the country's elite by frustrated citizens.  
We observed Kazakhstan crisis and before we had time to forget it, the conflict in Ukraine escalated. We began to predict how long it would be before a war broke out, making bets on who would win.  Few people dared to say, «stop».

It was only a month and a half into 2022, and every day arrived with a new flaw or new conflict.  Finally, there was good news from Turkmenistan.  Merciful Arkadag (the title of the President of Turkmenistan) had willingly decided to confer power to a young, trusted leader.  Was this not a consequence of the non-transitive state crisis in Kazakhstan?

If President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who will be 65 years old this summer, transfers power to the youth, as he said, who will be that young successful candidate? Is there an active politician in the country who can «see» himself as the next president? Isn’t that young leader Serdar, son of current President?
So is Berdymukhamov’s son ready to sit on the throne? What do we know about him other than his father’s cheapness? That’s what we’re talking about today.

The childhood of heir

It was the first days of autumn 1981. On 22 September, a boy was born to the dentist Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov after two daughters. He was called Serdar which means a leader.
Serdar’s mother, Ogulgerek Berdymukhamedova, was born in 1957. There is little information about her on the internet. Ogulgerek rarely appeared in public. Until recently, there have been no pictures of Berdymukhamedova on the internet. This is because photographing is strictly forbidden. Only after the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his wife Emina Erdoğan to Turkmenistan in November 2021 did a photo of the First Lady of Turkmenistan become accessible to the public.

Serdar Berdymukhamedov has two sisters, Guljamal and Gulshan. His older sister Guljahon lives in London. She is married to Ilasgeldi Amanov, a representative of the State Agency for the Management and Utilization of Hydrocarbon Resources of Turkmenistan. Her younger sister, Gülshan, lives in Paris. Her husband is Derya Otaboev, a Turkmen embassy official in France.

Berdymukhamedov (junior) studied at Ashgabat secondary school 43 from 1987 to 1997. After graduating from high school in 1997, he entered Saparmurat Niyazov Agricultural University in Turkmenistan. In the same year, his father was appointed Minister of Health and Medical Industry.

Family of the future leader

Reports show that Serdar Berdymukhamedov married in 2001 at the age of 20.  But search engines have no information about his wife. They have a son named Kerimguli and three daughters. Serdar Berdymukhamdov’s private life is kept secret.

While working in Geneva, the Turkmen opposition media managed to find out that the children of Serdar Berdymukhammedov were studying at the most prestigious and expensive international school «Ecolint». Because the school system was open, Serdar’s children did not attend school until the end.

Initial steps in politics

Berdymukhamedov graduated from the university in 2001 and for some time worked in the Foreign Economic Relations Department under the Association of Food Industries Enterprises. In November of the same year, he served a two-year military service at the request of his father. In 2003, Serdar returned from military service and began working in the fruit and vegetables department of the Association of Food Industry of Turkmenistan.

Following the death of President Saparmurat Niyazov on 21 December 2006, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov came to power. Arkadag (presidential title), who came to power, sent his only son to study in Russia. From 2008 to 2011 Berdymukhamedov Junior studied at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Faculty of International Relations.

Berdymukhamedov graduated from the university in 2001 and for some time worked in the Foreign Economic Relations Department of the Association of Food Industries Enterprises. In November of the same year, he volunteered for a two-year military service at the request of his father. In 2003, Serdar returned from military service and began working in the fruit and vegetables department of the Association of Food Industry of Turkmenistan.

Following the death of President Saparmurat Niyazov on 21 December 2006, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov came to power. Arkadag, who came to power, sent his only son to study in Russia. From 2008 to 2011 Berdymukhamedov Junior studied at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Department of International Relations.

Political career

After graduating, Serdar Berdymukhammedov worked as a consultant for the United Nations Mission in Turkmenistan in Geneva (Switzerland) from 2011 to 2013.  In 2013, the president’s son, who was studying abroad, returned home.  Arkadag sacrificed a sheep for his only son. After all, this is how kings met the heir to the throne.
Arkadag (Gurbanguly Berdimukhamedov- current Turkmen resident) appointed his son Deputy Director of the State Agency for the Management and Utilization of Hydrocarbon Resources of Turkmenistan. Thus, the heir had grown up in the shadow of the king - his father.

In 2014, Serdar Berdymukhamedov defended his dissertation at the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, and one year later received the degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences. He also headed the National Martial Arts Federation and was awarded the honorary title «Honored Coach of Turkmenistan » by his father.
In 2016 Berdymukhammedov Junior was appointed head of the Department of International Information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

March to presidency

Between July and August of 2019, the health of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov deteriorated sharply. Social media even reported the death of a Turkmen leader. After that, Arkadag, realizing that he was not immortal, started to give his son the important positions of the State one by one.  After the sudden death of Turkmenistan’s first President Saparmurat Niyazov in 2006, his son Murad Niyazov couldn’t take the president's seat despite the fact that he was the son of the President.  Berdymukhammedov realized that if he remained in power for the rest of his life, new hands could take control of the Government.
On February 11, 2021, Berdymukhammedov (junior) was appointed by his father as First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers. He also heads the International Association of Akhalteke Horse Breeding and the International Association of Turkmen Alabay (Alabay- Turkmen dog). Thus, «Arkadag» began to bring his son into power. Events in Kazakhstan in early 2022 accelerated this process.

On February 11, 2022, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov announced that he would hand over his post to young leaders and remain the chairman of the People's Council. The Central Electoral Commission has set the date 12 March 2022 as the day for early presidential elections in Turkmenistan.
It is interesting that the preparation for any presidential election takes at least three months. In Turkmenistan, the process takes 24 days. From this, we see that Arkadag wants to transfer the throne to his son as soon as possible.

On February 14, Serdar Berdymukhammedov, son of the current President, was nominated by the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan which is headed by his father. Serdar, now 41, is the most respected man in the country after his father.

Several political scientists commented on the situation in Turkmenistan. In particular, Stanislav Pritchin, a senior researcher at the Center for Post-Soviet Studies of the National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, reported to TASS reporter:
«The example of Kazakhstan shows that for the transfer of power, it is necessary to prepare in advance and to prevent change of situation», he said. As Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov gradually departs from state affairs, his son will be responsible for the development of the country».

Berdymukhamedov’s candidacy was unanimously endorsed at an extraordinary congress of the ruling Democratic Party on 14 February. Current Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Berdymukhamedov thanked those for their trust and stated that if elected President «he will continue to adhere to spiritual principles and heritage of his ancestors, expending much effort in this direction. He promised to serve for the benefit of the people, take a conscientious and creative approach to the realization of historical promises of the leader of the nation».

In short, Arkadag seems to have planned to rule the country behind the scenes, appointing his son as president and chairman of the People’s Council, as Nazarbayev-the former Kazakh President.  Only time will tell us how effective this plan will be.