OREANDA-NEWS. January 16, 2009. President Gurbanguli Berdimukhamedov of Turkmenistan resumed practice of dismissal of governmental officials sacking in a television live broadcast applied earlier by country’s previous leader Saparmurad Niyazov (Turkmenbashi).

During a Cabinet Ministers session it was sacked vice premier and supervisor of economic bloc of the government Khojamyrad Geldimyradov because of state of health. He was replaced with head of Higher Control Chamber Tuvakmammad Japarov. Energy and industry minister Gurbannur Annaveliyev was replaced by his deputy Yazmukhammad Orazguliyev for electricity cut-offs that in the President’s view, “causes perplexity” amid good financial situation of the country and a possibility to buy necessary equipment. Communications minister Resulberdi Khojagurbanov was sacked for low quality of mobile communication and inaccessibility of Internet for general public of the Turkmen population (he was replaced by Lebap company’s chief Ovliyaguli Jumaguliyev). There were also discharged chairmen of state concern Turkmenneft Garagdi Tashliyev and state corporation Turkmengeologiya Sapageldi Jumayev for lack of results in their work despite substantial state investments in staff training and equipment purchases. Besides, there were sacked social security minister Gurbandurdi Kakaliyev, chief of state department Turkmendenizderaellari (Turkmen Sea and River Traffic) Baymirat Kulov, heads of state corporations Turkmenpagt (Turkmen Cotton), Turkmen Atlari (Turkmen Horses) and Turkmenkhali (Turkmen Carpets). Kakamirat Mommadov, the chief of the State Statistics Committee was reprimanded severely.