Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Although widely seen as neither free nor fair due to the authoritarian rule within the country and an essential lack of opposition forces, the recent snap Presidential elections in Turkmenistan, which were “won” by Serdar Berdymukhamedov, the son of longtime President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, represent a significant step within the ongoing transition of power in the Central Asian country.

While Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov will continue to stay in supervisory control, the election of his son as Turkmenistan’s President could have a significant and positive impact on the operations of foreign businesses, since his Government appears to recognize the need for socio-economic reforms, at least in the long run. At the same time, businesses could still face risks going forward, particularly in the case of a split within the ruling elite.

Aretera provides further insight and analysis into the aftermath of the recent snap Presidential elections, as well as into the political, economic and business landscape in Turkmenistan.