State Border Service of Turkmenistan
The State Border Guard Service (SBS) (Turkmen: Döwlet Serhet Gullugy, DSG; Russian: Государственная пограничная служба, ГПС) also commonly known by its paramilitary force as the Turkmen Border Troops (Turkmen: Türkmenistan Serhet Garawul; Russian: Туркменские пограничные войска) is a border guard agency of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan. It is currently a public service department of the government of the country and is under the command of the Ministry for National Security of Turkmenistan.
Türkmenistan Döwlet serhet gullugy Государственная Пограничная Служба | |
Emblem of the State Border Guard Service | |
Public Service overview | |
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Formed | August 11, 1992 |
Preceding Public Service | |
Jurisdiction | Ministry for National Security |
Headquarters | Ashgabat |
Public Service executive |
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History
The service was established on August 11, 1992 by order of President Saparmurat Niyazov, on the basis of the Soviet Border Troops in the Turkestan Military District.[2] Until 1997, the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan included the Border Troops of the Ministry of Defense, which were then transformed into the State Border Service. It cooperated with Russian border guards who remained in country until 1999 as a result of a joint Russian-Turkmen agreement on the protection of the state border of Turkmenistan, which was signed in 1993. It slowly evolved to meet the standards of its counterparts, with the DSG being allowed to inspect goods and other items transported across the border of Turkmenistan in April 1998. At the end of 2001, 3 new border detachments were created, with 2 (in Kushka and Köýtendag), being intensified the cover of the Afghan border to prevent Taliban fighters from taking refuge in the country during the War in Afghanistan. Recently, the service created a separate naval border patrol division stationed in Turkmenbashi.[3]
Responsibilities
The main tasks of the service include the following:
- Protecting of the national border of the country
- Combating international terrorism and drug trafficking
- Targeting illegal migration and human trafficking
- Protecting oil and gas platforms and pipelines in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea.
The head of the service is a member of the Council of Border Guard Commanders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).[4]
Breastplate "Valiant Border Guard"
The Breastplate "Valiant Border Guard" is the state medal designed to honour members of the DSG. It consists of medals in both the first and second degrees. It has the shape of a regular green octagon, which is one of the main elements of the State Emblem of Turkmenistan, inscribed in an circle with a diameter of 40 mm. It was created on 20 December 2005.[5]
Leadership
- 1992 - 1999 - Colonel General Akmurad Kabulov[6]
- 1999 - 2002 - Major General Tirkish Tyrmyev
- 2002 - 2003 - Major General Agageldi Mammetgeldiyev (nicknamed, the Grey Cardinal[7])
- 2003 - Major General Annageldy Gummanov
- 2003 - 2004 - Major General Annaur Atzhanov
- 2004 - 2006 - Lieutenant General Orazberdy Soltanov[8]
- 2006 - 2009 - Major General Bayram Alovov
- 2009 - 2012 - Lieutenant General Myrat Islamov
- 2012 - 2013 - Major General Aman Garayev
- 2013 - 2016 - Lieutenant General Myrat Islamov
- 2016 - 2018 - Major General Begench Gundogdyev[9]
- 2018 – present - Colonel Shadurdi Durdiev
See also
References
- "Начальник Государственной пограничной службы Туркменистана - Командующий пограничными войсками". www.skpw.ru.
- "Президент Туркменистана поздравил пограничников | Общество | ИП "ТУРКМЕНинформ"". www.turkmeninform.com.
- "Agentura.ru - Государственная пограничная служба Туркменистана". November 14, 2012. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012.
- "Совет командующих Пограничными войсками". May 18, 2015. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015.
- "Государственные награды". Официальный сайт посольства Туркменистана на Украине. Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
- http://www.centrasia.ru/person2.php?&st=1013880101
- "Exit Of 'Gray Cardinal' Could Be Turkmen Milestone". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
- "Командующий погранвойсками Туркмении отправлен в отставку за пьянство". NEWSru.com. November 3, 2006.
- "Berdymukhamedov replaces heads of National Security Ministry and Frontier Service". vestnikkavkaza.net.