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DE RUEHAH #1188/01 2601021
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R 171021Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001188 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV SOCI TX
SUBJECT:  WILL BERDIMUHAMEDOV'S "NEW REVIVAL" PUSH 
ASIDE TURKMENBASHY'S "GOLDEN AGE"? 
 
¶1. Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Public 
Internet. 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY:  The Niyazov era was characterized 
by the official "Golden Age" ideology, whereby Niyazov 
 promoted himself as the "Father of Turkmen Nation." 
His long deceased parents and brothers were recruited 
to become role models for the country.  Community elders 
were employed to support Niyazov's cult and to appease 
minorities.  Photos of a young Niyazov pervaded schools. 
Following Niyazov's death, the period of "New Revival" began, 
indicating a break with the past, but also continuing the pattern, 
so far to a lesser degree, of elevating the 
president's family members.  Time will tell to what 
extent the "New Revival" ideology assumes the scope of 
its predecessor.  The Turkmen government's increased 
sensitivity about international opinion may curb the 
emergence of a new personality cult that would rival 
Turkmenbashy's.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Officially, Niyazov's "Golden Age of the 
Turkmen" is not yet over (It was supposed to encompass 
the entire 21st Century, according to the slogsns). 
Nonetheless, the Turkmen government under Berdimuhamedov 
has introduced a new slogan - "New Revival" - intended 
to characterize a "new" era.  The new slogan begs the 
question why the country needs a new revival after a golden age. 
As explained in the Turkmen press during the first days 
of Berdimuhamedov's rule, the nation "needed new 
revival after the nation suffered the sudden demise of 
Turkmenbashy, the Great Leader."  There was a need for 
"New Revival" for those who felt the nation had been 
left without its "caring father."  Niyazov had managed 
to occupy the minds of an entire generation.  Young 
Turkmen who are now 25-30 years old remember him as a 
figure who built their statehood.  To build this 
father-like image, he used various tools, for example 
copying the practice of past Turkmen leaders and 
prominent Muslims by writing the Ruhnama - an epic 
meant to provide spiritual guidance.  Niyazov 
sanctified his own family, virtually creating a cult 
for his mother Gurbansoltan, father Atamurad, even his 
brothers, who died in Ashgabat's earthquake without 
reaching even adolescence.  All issues involving women 
invoked the name of Niyazov's mother.  His father 
served as an example of the brave soldier and 
excellent accountant, apparently his profession. 
Military schools and economic institutes were named 
after him. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Apart from his family members, Niyazov made 
use of individuals whose prominence dated back to the 
Soviet era.  For example, two collective farm leaders, 
Muratberdy Sopiyev and Sadulla Rozmetov, served the 
ideological purpose of being "respected, industrious 
old men" serving the best interests of their country. 
For more than 60 years, Sopiyev has been a chief of a 
collective farm - "Soviet Turkmenistany" - located 
near Ashgabat.  Because of its proximity to the 
capital, Sopiyev's farm was always pampered by local 
communist party secretaries and was frequently used as 
a showplace for visitors.  Rozmetov, the chief of a 
collective farm located in northern Dashoguz Province, 
is an ethnic Uzbek who, during the Soviet era, was 
close to both Tashkent and Ashgabat, although his 
collective farm was on Turkmen territory.  Rozmetov, 
as well as former Grand Mufti Nasrulla Ibadullayev, 
were used by Niyazov to appease the Uzbek population 
in Turkmenistan's two eastern provinces, Lebap and 
Dashoguz.  Rozmetov is already 90 years old, Sopiyev 
 
ASHGABAT 00001188  002 OF 002 
 
 
is over 80.  Thus, it is only a matter of time before 
these ideological symbols of Niyazov's "Golden Age" become 
a part of history. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The traditions of the old cult, Niyazov's 
"Golden Age," have continued with a lower profile 
under Berdimuhamedov.  Concerning the substitution of 
Niyazov's iconic family members, it seems attempts to 
sanctify members of the Berdimuhamedov's family have 
to date remained cautious.  Only Malikguly, 
Berdimuhamedov's father, seems to have an active role 
in creating a new national ideology.  Attempts by 
government ideologues to create another 'Gurbansoltan- 
Eje' (the cult name of Turkmenbashy's mother) out of 
Berdimuhamedov's mother have fallen short.  In Turkmen 
schools, the Niyazov placards and photos have been 
replaced by those of Berdimuhamedov, depicting the 
life path of the president, especially his educational 
achievements, including his diploma from the Turkmen 
Medical Institute and his PhD in dentistry from a 
medical institute in Moscow.  The figure of 
Berdimuhamed Annayev, Berdimuhamedov's grandfather, 
was also used recently to set an example of a "good 
teacher" when the country celebrated "Knowledge Day" 
on September 1st.  The school in the resident's 
family village of Izgant was named after his 
grandfather.  Also, the practice of rebuilding the 
ancestral village of the sitting president, carried out by 
Niyazov, has continued under Berdimuhamedov for his own 
village. 
 
¶6. (SBU) While Berdimuhamedov has chosen not to put up any 
statues of himself (only of historical figures), and there 
are certainly no more photographs hanging of Berdimuhamedov 
than there were of his predecessor, hagiography of the 
president's accomplishments and exploits have increased over time. 
According to the official press, this president can do 
everything.  He writes medical books, traditional 
cookbooks, and books about the Ahal Teke horse.  He flies jet 
planes, 
drives race cars, tanks, trucks, and performs brain surgery.  He 
is an expert in all kinds of sports, too. 
 
¶6. (SBU) COMMENT:  As Turkmenistan approaches the 
third anniversary of Berdimuhamedov's rise to power, 
the regime is showing signs of heading down an 
ideological path resembling the pattern of the Niyazov 
era.  There still remain significant differences 
between the two eras, especially the attention that 
Berdimuhamedov appears to pay to Turkmenistan achieving 
international 
standards in a variety of areas.  A repetition 
of Niyazov's eccentricities and excesses, many of 
which still color the world's view of Turkmenistan, 
seems unlikely to occur with the current president.  Still, in many 
 
respects, Niyazov era practices remain the model here, 
and Berdimuhamedov continues to substitute his 
predecessor's ideology with his own.  It remains to be 
seen how far it will go.  END COMMENT. 
 
CURRAN