Putin congratulated the ex-president of Turkmenistan on the anniversary of the republic’s independence

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated ex-President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the father of the current head of state, on the 32nd anniversary of the republic’s independence. Telegram published on the Kremlin website.

“Largely thanks to your personal efforts, relations between our states have reached the level of in-depth strategic partnership. I am confident that further expansion of the entire range of Russian-Turkmenistan ties fully meets the interests of our peoples and is in line with strengthening regional stability and security,” the head of state wrote.

Putin also noted that Turkmenistan now enjoys authority in the international arena. In addition, the Russian leader drew attention to the country’s confident social and economic development. In this regard, he wished Berdimuhamedov health, prosperity and success.

Turkmenistan was declared an independent state on September 27, 1991, the day the Constitution was adopted. Saparmurat Niyazov was appointed the first president of the republic, who led the country until his death in December 2006.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov served as President of Turkmenistan from 2007 to March 2022. In February 2022, he announced his intention to relinquish his post. In early elections that same year, his son Serdar Berdimuhamedov won with 72.97% of the vote. Berdymukhamedov himself took the position of chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Milli Gengesh (upper house of parliament).