Saparmurat Niyazov, Turkmenbashi: The Unconventional Leader of Turkmenistan
Introduction Turkmenbashi, which means “leader of the Turkmen,” was the nickname of Saparmurat Niyazov, the first president of Turkmenistan. He ruled the country with an iron fist for over two decades, from 1991 until his death in 2006. Despite being a dictator who had absolute control over the country, he was often portrayed as a…