Behind the Bastards

Part Two: Turkmenbashi: The Dictator Who Declared Himself Jesus

Mar 28, 2019
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ANECDOTE

9/11 and US Aid

  • After 9/11, Niyazov allowed the US to use Turkmenistan for Afghanistan invasion staging.
  • This led to a massive increase in US military aid, from $600,000 to $19.2 million annually.
ANECDOTE

Shikmuradov's Resistance

  • Ambassador to China, Boris Shikmuradov, resigned and denounced Niyazov's regime.
  • He exposed torture, rigged elections, and embezzlement, becoming a symbol of resistance.
ANECDOTE

Renaming Time

  • Niyazov renamed all months, often after himself or his mother.
  • He also renamed the days of the week, assigning names like "Beginning Day" and "Mother Day."
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