Öwezgeldi Ataýew Explained

Öwezgeldi Ataýew
Order:5th Chairman of the Assembly of Turkmenistan
Term Start:12 November 2002
Term End:22 December 2006
Predecessor:Tagandurdy Hallyýew
Successor:Akja Nurberdiýewa
Office2:Chief Justice of Turkmenistan
Term Start2:6 January 1999
Term End2:12 November 2002
Predecessor2:Ata Rahmanow
Successor2:Ýagşygeldi Esenow
Birth Place:Ashkhabad, Turkmen SSR, USSR
(now Ashgabat, Turkmenistan)
Nationality:Turkmen
Party:Democratic Party of Turkmenistan
Occupation:Politician

Öwezgeldi Ataýew (Russian: links=no|Овезгельды Атаев|Ovezgel'dy Atayev; born 1951) is a Turkmen politician. He was the chairman of the Assembly of Turkmenistan from 2002 to 2006. According to the Constitution of Turkmenistan, he was to become the acting president after the death of Saparmurat Niyazov in December 2006. However, the State Security Council of Turkmenistan reported that Atayev was not appointed acting president due to a criminal case started against him. Atayev was charged with abuse of power and human rights violations.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, who was one of several Deputy Prime Ministers and Minister of Health, succeeded Niyazov instead. According to Kommersant, Atayev was arrested on 21 December 2006.[1] Berdimuhamedow signed an order dismissing Atayev for "committing a deed incompatible with the high position entrusted to him". Atayev was accused in a statement of harassing and humiliating his daughter-in-law and driving her to attempted suicide.[2] He was subsequently imprisoned until March 2012.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Turkmenbashi, "Father of All Turkmen," Dies . . 2006-12-22 . Kommersant.
  2. http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D83F9335-7CCE-46E3-A63E-DFD975155949.htm Al Jazeera English – News – Niyazov Death Sparks Power Struggle
  3. https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/publications/research/2016-03-08-turkmenistan-bohr.pdf