Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has scrapped a state award named after the mother of the late president in the latest reform to his predecessor's bizarre rule, Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported Tuesday.
The isolated energy-rich Central Asian country was led for two decades by Saparmurat Niyazov, who renamed months and days of the week after himself and family members.
Berdymukahmedov, a former dentist, took over power in the ex-Soviet country after Niyazov died in 2006.
He signed a law dropping an award named after Niyazov's mother Gurbansoltan, Neutral Turkmenistan reported, publishing documents.
Over the last 18 years, Turkmenistan handed the "Gurbansoltan the Mother" medal, which depicts Niyazov's mother, to women who were high-achievers in science, culture, literature or sport.
It has now been replaced with a similar award named Woman's Soul.
Berymukhamedov has dismantled elements of Niyazov's rule including a golden statue of him that revolved to reflect the sun. He also removed Niyazov's mother's name from a district of Ashbagat and the title of a women's magazine.
Berdymukhamedov won a new presidential term in February 2012 polls with 97 percent of the popular vote and is known in Turkmenistan as the "Arkadag" or "Protector".
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has scrapped a state award named after the mother of the late president in the latest reform to his predecessor’s bizarre rule, Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported Tuesday.
The isolated energy-rich Central Asian country was led for two decades by Saparmurat Niyazov, who renamed months and days of the week after himself and family members.
Berdymukahmedov, a former dentist, took over power in the ex-Soviet country after Niyazov died in 2006.
He signed a law dropping an award named after Niyazov’s mother Gurbansoltan, Neutral Turkmenistan reported, publishing documents.
Over the last 18 years, Turkmenistan handed the “Gurbansoltan the Mother” medal, which depicts Niyazov’s mother, to women who were high-achievers in science, culture, literature or sport.
It has now been replaced with a similar award named Woman’s Soul.
Berymukhamedov has dismantled elements of Niyazov’s rule including a golden statue of him that revolved to reflect the sun. He also removed Niyazov’s mother’s name from a district of Ashbagat and the title of a women’s magazine.
Berdymukhamedov won a new presidential term in February 2012 polls with 97 percent of the popular vote and is known in Turkmenistan as the “Arkadag” or “Protector”.
