FarewellFire
IMG_8918
Gurbanguly Berdymuchamedov overlooks the Saparmurat Haji mosque in Geokdepe, Turkmenistan.
On February 11th 2006 Gurbanguly Berdymuchamedov was elected president of Turkmenistan. Official figures spoke of a 95% voter turnout (and a crushing 90% of the total votes in favour of Berdymuchamedov), meanwhile the opposition have been more sober in their estimates - around 10% of the population voted according to them. Whatever the truth is, a person whom I spoke to added the following sour comment:
"I didn´t vote. None of my friends voted. In fact, I don´t know anyone who voted."
Technically this guy could be gone in two years when the next election takes place. Allthough there´s not a whole lot pointing in that direction. Even though he´s clearly taking on a less repressive role than his predecessor it´s rather clear that he at the same time is in the midst of building a new cult of persona. Signs like the one above would after all be pretty expensive to replace every fifth year.
And finally - yes, that is a big ass sign.
IMG_8918
Gurbanguly Berdymuchamedov overlooks the Saparmurat Haji mosque in Geokdepe, Turkmenistan.
On February 11th 2006 Gurbanguly Berdymuchamedov was elected president of Turkmenistan. Official figures spoke of a 95% voter turnout (and a crushing 90% of the total votes in favour of Berdymuchamedov), meanwhile the opposition have been more sober in their estimates - around 10% of the population voted according to them. Whatever the truth is, a person whom I spoke to added the following sour comment:
"I didn´t vote. None of my friends voted. In fact, I don´t know anyone who voted."
Technically this guy could be gone in two years when the next election takes place. Allthough there´s not a whole lot pointing in that direction. Even though he´s clearly taking on a less repressive role than his predecessor it´s rather clear that he at the same time is in the midst of building a new cult of persona. Signs like the one above would after all be pretty expensive to replace every fifth year.
And finally - yes, that is a big ass sign.