The sudden death of longtime Turkmen leader Saparmurat Niyazov, who ruled with an iron hand for 21 years and named no successor, has plunged Turkmenistan into political uncertainty. A 2,500-member Public Council was set to convene in Ashgabat to identify candidates for a presidential election expected within two months.
Niyazov governed a country with no democratic tradition, where tribal structures remain influential. Despite his authoritarian style, major powers including Russia, the United States, and European nations tolerated his regime because of Turkmenistan's vast natural gas reserves, estimated at 22.5 trillion cubic meters.
The country had pursued a policy of strict neutrality while negotiating gas prices on its own terms. A 25-year supply agreement with Russia brought economic dependence on Moscow, though it came at the cost of relations with Türkiye and Western partners.
Several competing pipeline projects now hang in the balance, including a potential Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Türkiye corridor that would carry gas to Europe, and a US-backed route extending toward Southeast Asia through Afghanistan.
Analysts note that Niyazov's exit reopens what columnists compare to the 19th-century regional rivalry Rudyard Kipling once called the "great game," this time centered on access to Turkmen energy resources.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in December 2006, in its own words.