Turkmenistan
 

1855 - 12 Jan 1881 Merv                 12 Jan  1881 - Apr  1918                        30 Dec 1922 - 25 Dec 1991                       27 Oct 1991 - 19 Feb 1992                      19 Feb 1992 - 1 Feb 1997                         1 Feb 1997 - 25 Jan 2001                   Adopted 25 Jan 2001   Map of Turkmenistan Hear National Anthem "Garassyz, Bitarap, Türkmenistanyn Döwlet Gimni" (Independent, Neutral, Turkmenistan State Anthem) Adopted 1997 Hear Former Anthem "National Anthem of the Republic of Turkmenistan" (1991-1997) Constitution (18 May 1992) Capital: Ashgabat (Poltoratsk 1919-1927, Ashgabat 1918-1919, Merv 1855-1881) Currency: Turkmen Manat (TMM)  National Holiday: 27 Oct (1991) Independence Day Population: 5,097,028 (2007) GDP: $42.84 billion (2006) Exports: $5.4 billion (2006) Imports: $3.9 billion (2006) Ethnic groups: Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003)  Total Armed Forces: 29,000 (2003) Merchant marine: 8 ships (2006) Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 87%, Russian Orthodox 2.4%, other (mostly non-religious) 10.6% (1995)  International Organizations/Treaties: ADB, APM, BTWC, CIS (associate), CTBT, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, Intersputnik, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, KP, MIGA, NAM, NPT, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Turkmenistan Index Chronology 1855                       Tekke Turkmen tribal confederation defeat the                              Khan of Khiva at Sarahks and proclaim                              independence (Khanate of Merv). 1869 - 1885                Gradually annexed by Russia (Krasnovodsk                               [Turkmenbashi] 1869, Ashkhabad 15 Jan 1881,                              Merv 31 Jan 1884, and Kushka [Gushgy] 1885). 12 Jan 1881                Russians invaded and defeat the Tekke                              Confederation. Apr 1918                   Bolsheviks proclaimed the Turkistan Autonomous                               Soviet Socialist Republic (see Uzbekistan) 23 Jul 1918                Provisional Executive Committee of the Soviet                              Transcaspian Region created in Ashgabat.  July 1918                  Turkmens led by Junayd Khan setup an independent                              administration in Ashgabat under the protection                              of a British garrison. Aug 1918 -  5 Apr 1919     British forces stationed in Transcaspia. Jan 1920                   Bolshevik forces regain control the Turkmen                               territory which is re-incorporated into                               Turkistan A.S.S.R. (see Uzbekistan). 27 Oct 1924                Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic proclaimed. 13 May 1925                Accession to the Soviet Union. 22 Aug 1990                State sovereignty declared. 27 Oct 1991                Independence declared (Turkmenistan). 25 Dec 1991                Independence effective (dissolution of the                               U.S.S.R.). Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic (1924-1991)

Khans of Merv
1855 - 1860?               Kouchid Khan
1860 - 12 Jan 1881         Baba Khan 
                           - jointly with the following two -
c.1871 -  5 May 1880       Nurberdi Khan                      (d. 1880)
 5 May 1880 - Apr 1881     Makhdum Kulu Khan
Apr 1881 - Jan 1884        Guljemal Khanim  
Ruler of Transcaspia
Jul 1918 - Jan 1920        Muhammad Kurban Junayd Khan        (b. c.1860 - d. 1938) 
Chairmen of the Revolutionary Committee
Oct 1924 - Dec 1924        Kaikhaziz Sardarovich Atabayev     (b. 1887 - d. 1937)  TCP
Dec 1924 - Feb 1925        Nedirbay Aytakov                   (b. 1894 - d. 1938)  TCP
Chairman of the Central Executive Council
20 Feb 1925 - Aug 1937     Nedirbay Aytakov                   (s.a.)               TCP
Presidents
 2 Nov 1990 - 21 Dec 2006  Saparmurat Atajevich Niyazov       (b. 1940 - d. 2006) TCP;1992 TDP
                             (from 22 Oct 1993) "Turkmenbashi"
21 Dec 2006 -              Gurbanguly Mjalikulyyevich         (b. 1957)            TDP
                             Berdymukhammedov
                             (acting to 14 Feb 2007)
 
Chairman of Provisional Executive Committee of the Transcaspian Region Soviet
1918 -  1 Jan 1919         Fyodor Andrianovich Funtikov       (d. 1926)            RCP
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
20 Feb 1925 -  8 Jul 1937  Kaikhaziz Sardarovich Atabayev     (s.a.)               TCP
Prime minister
 5 Dec 1989 - 18 May 1992  Khan A. Akhmedov                   (b. 1936 - d. 2006)  TCP/TDP

Commander of British Military Mission to Turkestan (at Mashad)
16 Jul 1918 -  5 Apr 1919  Wilfred Malleson                   (b. 1866 - d. 1946)
British Political Officer in Ashkhabad
1918 - 1919                Reginald Teague-Jones              (b. 1889 - d. 1988)
 

Territorial Disputes: Cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2005, but Caspian seabed delimitation remains stalled with Azerbaijan, Iran, and Kazakhstan due to Turkmenistan's indecision over how to allocate the sea's waters and seabed.

Party abbreviations: TDP = Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (dictatorial, ex-communist -only legal party since 1992);
- Former parties: RCP = Russian Communist Party of Bolsheviks; TCP = Turkmen Communist Party

27 Oct 1924                Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic proclaimed.
13 May 1925                Accession to the Soviet Union.

First Secretaries of the Turkmen Communist Party (TCP)
Oct 1924 - 1924            Khalmurad Sakhatmuradov (acting)   (b. 1898 - d. 1938)
19 Nov 1924 - 1926         Ivan Ivanovich Mezhlauk            (b. 1891 - d. 1938)
                             (acting to 20 Feb 1925)
Jun 1926 - Apr 1928        Shaymardan Nurimanovich Ibragimov  (b. 1899 - d. 1957)
11 May 1928 - Aug 1930     Grigory Naumovich Aronshtam        (b. 1893 - d. 1938)
Aug 1930 - 15 Apr 1937     Yakov Abramovich Popok             (b. 1894 - d. 1938)
Apr 1937 - Oct 1937        Anna-Mukhamedov (acting)           (b. 1900 - d. 19..)
Oct 1937 - Nov 1939        Yakov Abramovich Chubin            (b. 1893 - d. 1956)
Nov 1939 - Mar 1947        Mikhail Makarovich Fonin           (b. 1905 - d. 1974)
Mar 1947 - Jul 1951        Shadzha Batyrovich Batyrov         (b. 1908 - d. 1965)
Jul 1951 - 14 Dec 1958     Sukhan Babayevich Babayev          (b. 1910)
14 Dec 1958 -  4 May 1960  Dzhuma Durdy Karayev               (b. 1910 - d. 1960)
13 Jun 1960 - 24 Dec 1969  Balysh Ovezovich Ovezov            (b. 1915 - d. 1975)
24 Dec 1969 - 21 Dec 1985  Muhammadnazar Gapurovich Gapurov   (b. 1922 - d. 1999)
21 Dec 1985 - 16 Dec 1991  Saparmurad Atayevich Niyazov       (b. 1940 - d. 2006)

Chairmen of the Revolutionary Committee
Oct 1924 - Dec 1924        Kaikhaziz Sardarovich Atabayev     (b. 1887 - d. 1937)
Dec 1924 - Feb 1925        Nedirbay Aytakov                   (b. 1894 - d. 1938) 
Chairmen of the Central Executive Committee
20 Feb 1925 - 21 Jul 1937  Nedyrbay Aytakov                   (s.a.)               TCP
Aug 1937 - Oct 1937        Batyr Atayev (acting)              (b. 1901 - d. 1938)  TCP
Oct 1937 - 24 Jul 1938     Khivali Babayev                    (b. 1902 - d. 1942)  TCP
Chairman of the Supreme Soviet
24 Jul 1938 - 27 Jul 1938  Alla Berdy Berdiyev                (b. 1904 - d. 19..)  TCP
Chairmen of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
27 Jul 1938 - 1941         Khivali Babayev                    (s.a.)               TCP
1941 -  6 Mar 1948         Alla Berdy Berdiyev                (s.a.)               TCP
 6 Mar 1948 - 30 Mar 1959  Akmamed Sariyev                    (b. 1907)            TCP
30 Mar 1959 - 26 Mar 1963  Nurberdy Bairamov                  (b. 1912 - d. 1986)  TCP
26 Mar 1963 - 15 Dec 1978  Annamukhamed Klychev               (b. 1912)            TCP
15 Dec 1978 - 13 Aug 1988  Bally Yazkuliyevich Yazkuliyev     (b. 1930)            TCP
13 Aug 1988 - 19 Jan 1990  Roza Atamuradovna Bazarova (f)     (b. 1933)            TCP
Chairman of the Supreme Soviet
19 Jan 1990 -  2 Nov 1990  Saparmurad Atayevich Niyazov       (s.a.)               TCP

Chairmen of the Council of People's Commissars
20 Feb 1925 -  8 Jul 1937  Kaikhaziz Sardarovich Atabayev     (b. 1887 - d. 1937)  TCP
Oct 1937 - 17 Oct 1945     Aitbay Khudaybergenov              (b. 1909 - d. 19..)  TCP
17 Oct 1945 - 15 Mar 1946  Sukhan Babayevich Babayev          (s.a.)               TCP
Chairmen of the Council of Ministers
15 Mar 1946 - 14 Jul 1951  Sukhan Babayevich Babayev          (s.a.)               TCP
14 Jul 1951 - 14 Jan 1958  Balysh Ovezovich Ovezov (1st time) (s.a.)               TCP
14 Jan 1958 - 20 Jan 1959  Dzhuma Durdy Karayev               (s.a.)               TCP
20 Jan 1959 - 13 Jun 1960  Balysh Ovezovich Ovezov (2nd time) (s.a.)               TCP
13 Jun 1960 - 26 Mar 1963  Abdy Annaliyevich Annaliyev        (b. 1920)            TCP
26 Mar 1963 - 25 Dec 1969  Muhammadnazar Gapurovich Gapurov   (s.a.)               TCP
25 Dec 1969 - 17 Dec 1975  Oraz Nazarovich Orazmukhamedov     (b. 1930)            TCP
17 Dec 1975 - 15 Dec 1978  Bally Yazkuliyevich Yazkuliyev     (s.a.)               TCP
15 Dec 1978 - 26 Mar 1985  Chary Soyunovich Karriyev          (b. 1932)            TCP
26 Mar 1985 -  4 Jan 1986  Saparmurad Atayevich Niyazov       (s.a.)               TCP
 4 Jan 1986 - 17 Nov 1989  Anamurad Khodzhamuradovich         (b. 1935)            TCP
                             Khodzhamuradov 
 5 Dec 1989 - 18 May 1992  Khan Ahmedovich Akhmedov           (b. 1936 - d. 2006)  TCP

Party abbreviation: TCP = Turkmen Communist Party