Security Services Remain Intact

IWPR

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

Wednesday, 11 July, 2007

Security Services Remain Intact

The new Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov has opted not to restructure the security services bequeathed to him by his predecessor, the late Saparmurat Niazov. Agageldy Mametgeldyev remains defence minister in the new administration, and Geldymuhammed Ashirmuhammedov, a professional security officer who has worked for the Soviet KGB and its successor the Ministry for State Security since 1982, continues to head that agency. Akmamed Rahmanov, who used his close association with Niazov to save the Ministry of Internal Affairs from major purges, will carry on as minister.

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