Not long ago, Mr. Niyazov fired Yolly Gurbanmuradov, his deputy prime minister over charges of embezzlement of major state funds, property theft and abuse of his government position. Mr. Gurbanmuradov was also charged with illegally signing contracts with foreign firms. Soon after this, President Niyazov removed Mr. Rejepov, the former Minister of Construction and Construction Materials over similar charges. Now the turn appears to have reached Mr. Veliyev, one of the most senior government officials.

Mr. Veliyev has been President Niyazov’s most trusted and longest serving government official, and did not face major criticisms from the president since he assumed office. For Veliyev’s distinguished work in oil and gas production, Mr. Niyazov personally awarded him with the honorary title “Hero of Turkmenistan.” In Turkmenistan, one needs to go through a demonstrably hard task at work in order to qualify for “Hero” status, and currently ca. five people in Turkmenistan, including ‘President Niyazov himself, hold this honorary award. However, all Veliyev’s state awards and even his personal freedom appear to be lost as ongoing extensive investigations confirm.

So far, Mr. Veliyev has been accused of misappropriating state property and funds, serious flaws at work, and promoting tribalism in his region. Reportedly, he overstated the oil output and sold roughly 100 tns of crude oil to foreign firms. The missing amount was to be delivered to the Turkmenbashi state refinery. In addition, as Turkmanbashi claimed, Mr. Veliyev, with the purpose of accruing personal benefits, provided three foreign firms with 4,000 tons of gas pipes taken directly from President Niyazov’s reserve foundation. “Why do you do this? Why do you betray your country?” furiously asked Niyazov in front of Mr. Veliyev’s colleagues. According to reports given by law enforcement agencies, Mr. Veliyev willingly promoted his own tribe “Chukan” and spread nepotism at major workplaces in the oil and gas sector in Balkan. Mr. Veliyev was also highly criticized for having several wives, which is illegal under the criminal code of Turkmenistan.

Turkmenbashi ordered the office of the Prosecutor General to give a full account of the charges taken against the former minister. In this connection, Mr. Niyazov created a special investigative group consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of National Security, and the Prosecutor General’s office. “What we have here is only 20 percent of investigations yet” said Niyazov. But Mr. Veliyev, after more than half an hour of the president’s criticisms, confessed in front of TV cameras and said that he fully takes responsibilities for the charges against him. “I plead guilty and I will never be able to expiate my guilt. I could not deserve the faith you entrusted to me. You, [Mr. President!] …, please forgive my guilt!” said Mr. Veliev.

“There won’t be any excuse for you, neither will we offer you a job. Go sweep the street and that will be your job now,” said Niyazov. During the Cabinet session of August 22, the Prosecutor General, Ms. Kurbonbibi Atajanova updated the President on ongoing investigations in the case. It was reported that $9.5 million and Manats 1 billion in cash, 21 multi-storey houses, 20 cars, and 5 weapons were confiscated at his residencies. The total amount of the damage Mr. Veliyev is believed to have caused to the state amounts to at least $80 million. After these figures came out, Turkmenbashi deprived Veliyev of all state awards, honorary titles and personally order his imprisonment.

According to President Niyazov, the level of crime in Turkmenistan has gone down immensely during the last years and the only crimes committed are related to abuse of power among government officials. If such is the case, and as Niyazov’s most trusted Cabinet member is sacked, it remains to be seen who is next.