APresident · 2006 – 2022Independent states
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
Turkmenistan's second president (b. 1957), who led the country in 2006–2022 and now chairs the People's Council.
A dentist by training, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow was health minister from 1997 and deputy chairman of the Cabinet from 2001. He took charge after Niyazov's death, was elected president in February 2007 and re-elected in 2012 and 2017.
Under him a gas pipeline to China opened and Ashgabat hosted the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. In 2022 his son Serdar was elected president, and he became chairman of the People's Council with the title Arkadag.
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Updated: October 4, 2026