BriefingAsia-Pacific

Death of Leader Brings Little Early Change to Turkmenistan

Death of Leader Brings Little Early Change to Turkmenistan

Hopes for reform in Turkmenistan after the death of its megalomaniacal dictator have faded fast as political machinations in the country appear geared toward a continuance of strict one-party domination.

Less than a week after self-proclaimed "father of the Turkmen" Sapurmurat Niyazov died of reported heart failure on Dec. 21, Turkmenistan's politicians moved to amend the constitution, install pre-selected candidates for upcoming presidential elections, and arrest hundreds of potential political opponents.

"Sadly Niyzaov's passing has been followed by a complete lack of democratic signs and there is yet to be any basis for reasonable optimism," says Erika Dailey, Director of the Open Society Institute's Turkmenistan Project.

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