Serdar Berdimuhamedow
Lieutenant Colonel Serdar Berdimuhamedow (Turkmen: Serdar Gurbangulyýewiç Berdimuhamedow), born 22 September 1981, is a Turkmen politician and the son of the country’s President, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. He has widely been considered to be the apparent successor to his father.[1] Little was known about him until recent times.
Serdar Gurbangulyevich Berdimuhamedow | |
---|---|
Serdar Berdimuhamedow in 2018 | |
Minister of Industry and Construction Materials | |
Assumed office 7 February 2020 | |
President | Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow |
Governor of Ahal | |
In office 17 June 2019 – 7 February 2020 | |
Deputy Governor of Ahal | |
In office 2 January 2019 – 17 June 2019 | |
Member of the Assembly of Turkmenistan for 25th District, Dushak, Ahal | |
In office 23 November 2016 – 2 January 2019 | |
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
In office 2 April 2018 – January 2019 | |
President | Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow |
Minister | Raşit Meredow |
Personal details | |
Born | Ashgabat, Turkmen SSR, USSR | September 22, 1981
Nationality | Turkmenistani |
Children | 4 |
Father | President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow |
Residence | Ashgabat |
Alma mater | Turkmen Agricultural University Named after S.A. Niyazov Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Geneva Centre for Security Policy Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan |
Occupation | Politician |
Military service | |
Allegiance | |
Branch/service | Armed Forces of Turkmenistan |
Years of service | 2001-2003 |
Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
Early Career and Education
Serdar Berdimuhamedow studied at Secondary School No. 43 in Ashgabat from 1987 to 1997. Between 1997 and 2001 he studied at the Turkmen Agricultural University, graduating as an engineer-technologist.[2]
From July to November 2001 he worked in the Directorate for Foreign Economic Relations of the Food Processing Association, followed by two years of mandatory military service.[2][3] From 2003 to 2008 he worked again at the Food Processing Association in the fruit and vegetable department and in the non-alcoholic beer and wine department.[2]
Between 2008 and 2011 Berdimuhamedow studied at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, earning a diploma in international relations. During this period he was assigned to the Turkmen Embassy in Moscow as counselor of embassy.[2] From 2011 to 2013 he studied at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, earning a post-graduate degree in European and international security affairs. He was concurrently assigned to the Turkmen Mission to the United Nations in Geneva as a counselor of embassy.[2][4]
From August to December 2013 he served as head of the European Department of the Turkmen Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2013 to 2016 he was deputy director of the State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources. From 2016 to 2017 he was chairman of the Department of International Information of the Turkmen Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[2]
On 18 August 2014, Serdar Berdimuhamedow defended a dissertation at the Turkmen Academy of Sciences to earn the degree of candidate of science.[5] In July 2015 he was awarded a doctorate in technical sciences.[6]
On 27 October 2017 Berdimuhamedow was promoted from major to lieutenant colonel. His promotion ceremony was broadcast on national television. His branch of service is unknown.[6]
Political Career
Serdar rose to the political spotlight following his appointment as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in March 2018.[7][8][9][10]
In November 2016, he won a seat in the Mejlis representing the 25th parliamentary district centered on Dushak, a town in Ahal Province.[11][12] In March 2018, he was re-elected to the Assembly of Turkmenistan with over 90% of the votes cast in his district.[13][14] He chaired the committee on legislation and norms as of March 2017.[2]
In January 2019, Berdimuhamedow was shifted to the position of deputy governor of Ahal Province, the native region of most of the Turkmen elite.[15][16]
In June 2019, Berdimuhamedow was elevated to governor (häkim) of Ahal Province.[17][3][18][19]
In February 2020, Berdimuhamedow was appointed minister of industry and construction materials of Turkmenistan.[20][21][22]
On 1 May 2020, Berdimuhamedow was elected chairperson of the Turkmen Alabay Dog Association.[23]
Personal Life
Serdar Berdimuhamedow is married and has four children.[2] A classmate at the Russian Diplomatic Academy described him as even-tempered and unassuming.[24] Instructors and other classmates reportedly described him as "modest, responsive, polite, and calm."[6]
References
- "President of Turkmenistan weighs establishment of ruling dynasty: experts: EADaily". Retrieved 3 June 2018.
- "Газета НТ опубликовала биографию кандидата в депутаты Меджлиса Сердара Бердымухамедова" (in Russian). Хроника Туркменистана. 14 March 2018.
- Зверинцева, Татьяна (21 June 2019). "По имени Вождь: Сын президента Туркменистана дорос до губернатора" (in Russian). fergana.agency.
- "Сердар Бердымухамедов получил пост заместителя хякима Ахалского велаята" (in Russian). SNG.TODAY. 3 January 2019.
- "Младший Бердымухамедов стал кандидатом наук" (in Russian). Хроника Туркменистана. 20 October 2014.
- "Восхождение Сердара" (in Russian). Хроника Туркменистана. 30 March 2018.
- "Сердар Бердымухамедов назначен заместителем министра иностранных дел Туркменистана" (in Russian). Электронная газета "Золотой век". 31 March 2018.
- "Authoritarian Turkmen Leader's Son Rises in Foreign Ministry". VOA News. Associated Press. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
- "Turkmen President Appoints Son Deputy Foreign Minister". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
- "Turkmenistan: President's Son Gets Foreign Ministry Job". Eurasianet. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
- "Turkmenistan President's Son Takes Post As Parliamentary Deputy". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
- "Сын президента Бердымухамедова снова баллотируется в парламент" (in Russian). RFE/RL, Inc. 11 March 2018.
- "AKIpress News Agency". m.akipress.com. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
- "Сердар Бердымухамедов назначен заместителем хякима Ахалского велаята" (in Russian). Электронная газета "Золотой век". 2 January 2019.
- "Turkmenistan: President's son and presumed heir gets new top job". Eurasianet. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
- "Turkmen President Hands Son Regional Deputy Governor's Post". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. January 3, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
- "Президент Туркменистана назначил сына губернатором провинции" (in Russian). Reuters. 18 June 2019.
- "Президент Туркмении назначил сына губернатором региона" (in Russian). RFE/RL, Inc. 18 June 2019.
- "Сердар Бердымухамедов назначен хякимом Ахалского велаята" (in Russian). Электронная газета "Золотой век". 17 June 2019.
- Putz, Catherine (13 February 2020). "Turkmenistan President's Son Appointed Minister". DIPLOMAT MEDIA INC.
- "Serdar Berdimuhamedov appointed Minister of Industry and Construction of Turkmenistan". Turkmenistan.ru. 8 February 2020.
- "Сердар Бердымухамедов назначен министром промышленности и строительного производства Туркменистана" (in Russian). Электронная газета "Золотой век". 7 February 2020.
- "В Туркменистане создаётся современная инфраструктура по сохранению и развитию породных качеств алабая" (in Russian). Электронная газета "Золотой век". 7 May 2020.
- Густерин, Павел (26 December 2012). "П.Густерин: Сердар Бердымухамедов - сын Аркадага. Штрихи к портрету" (in Russian). ЦентрАзия.