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Turkmenistan President Berdymukhamedov reappears after death rumours | Turkmenistan President Berdymukhamedov reappears after death rumours |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has reappeared after widespread rumours of his death. | Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has reappeared after widespread rumours of his death. |
On Monday Mr Berdymukhamedov opened economic forum attended by regional leaders in a Caspian Sea resort town. | On Monday Mr Berdymukhamedov opened economic forum attended by regional leaders in a Caspian Sea resort town. |
It is his first verifiable public appearance since claims that he had died of kidney failure spread across Russian-language media last month. | It is his first verifiable public appearance since claims that he had died of kidney failure spread across Russian-language media last month. |
Turkmen media had earlier tried to quash speculation by showing footage of the 62-year-old president on holiday. | |
However there was no independent confirmation that that footage was recent. | However there was no independent confirmation that that footage was recent. |
But on Monday the rumours were finally put to rest, with coverage of the regional meeting in the resort town of Avaza. | But on Monday the rumours were finally put to rest, with coverage of the regional meeting in the resort town of Avaza. |
President Berdymukhamedov was shown telling leaders from Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Iran: "Congratulations on the opening of the first Caspian Economic Forum." | President Berdymukhamedov was shown telling leaders from Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Iran: "Congratulations on the opening of the first Caspian Economic Forum." |
Why did people think he was dead? | Why did people think he was dead? |
Reports of President Berdymukhamedov's "death" was thought to have first been carried by a small foreign-based media outlet that opposes the Turkmen regime. | Reports of President Berdymukhamedov's "death" was thought to have first been carried by a small foreign-based media outlet that opposes the Turkmen regime. |
The report was then picked up by Russian media, including mainstream networks like NTV, and Russian-language media across other former Soviet countries. It also went viral on social media. | The report was then picked up by Russian media, including mainstream networks like NTV, and Russian-language media across other former Soviet countries. It also went viral on social media. |
Turkmenistan state TV channel Watan Habarlary attempted to dispel the rumours by broadcasting footage of the president riding a horse, driving a rally car and shooting targets on holiday - although there was no evidence that any of it was recent. | Turkmenistan state TV channel Watan Habarlary attempted to dispel the rumours by broadcasting footage of the president riding a horse, driving a rally car and shooting targets on holiday - although there was no evidence that any of it was recent. |
Information is tightly controlled in Turkmenistan, and Reporters Without Borders says it is the worst country in the world for press freedom - below even North Korea. | Information is tightly controlled in Turkmenistan, and Reporters Without Borders says it is the worst country in the world for press freedom - below even North Korea. |
"In such a situation when information is scarce, rumours (even bizarre ones) like the death of the president can spread like a wildfire," the BBC's Abdujalil Abdurasulov wrote last month. | "In such a situation when information is scarce, rumours (even bizarre ones) like the death of the president can spread like a wildfire," the BBC's Abdujalil Abdurasulov wrote last month. |
Who is Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov? | Who is Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov? |
President Berdymukhamedov came to power in 2006, and has become known for his ostentatious PR stunts and strongman image. | President Berdymukhamedov came to power in 2006, and has become known for his ostentatious PR stunts and strongman image. |
He has written books about tea drinking, herbal medicine and other subjects, and is known for his love of horses. | He has written books about tea drinking, herbal medicine and other subjects, and is known for his love of horses. |
He even wrote a rap song about horses, despite making international headlines for falling off one in 2013. | He even wrote a rap song about horses, despite making international headlines for falling off one in 2013. |
Mr Berdymukhamedov's presidency is officially called the era of Might and Happiness. | Mr Berdymukhamedov's presidency is officially called the era of Might and Happiness. |
State media outlets do not report on the country's chronic food shortages, or the president's critics who disappear in prison. | State media outlets do not report on the country's chronic food shortages, or the president's critics who disappear in prison. |
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