President of Turkmenistan reshuffles security officials

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/president-of-turkmenistan-reshuffles-security-officials/2016/03/02/33f12360-e099-11e5-8c00-8aa03741dced_story.html

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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan — The president of Turkmenistan has reshuffled senior security officials amid continued tension in neighboring Afghanistan.

State media reported Wednesday that Guichgelgy Khodzhaberdiyev was fired as head of the security services, a job he has occupied since October.

It said President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov also replaced the long-serving head of the state border service, Myrat Yslamov.

Little information emerges from the deeply secretive energy-rich former Soviet state, but changes among senior security personnel appear to reflect recurring anxieties about public order, particularly as the economy is experiencing a slowdown.

Despite concerns over unrest across its border with Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, which pursues a policy of neutrality, has rejected all international military assistance.

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