Turkmenistan’s Former President Flies to Netherlands for Akhal-Teke Event as State Media Amplify His Status

Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, the chairman of Turkmenistan’s Halk Maslahaty and the country’s ex-president, flew to the Netherlands to take part in an international event for Akhal-Teke horse breeders, according to a report by the state news agency Turkmenistan Today. The coverage framed the trip as part of Ashgabat’s declared year “Независимый нейтральный Туркменистан — родина целеустремлённых крылатых скакунов” (Independent Neutral Turkmenistan — homeland of purposeful winged steeds), emphasizing a cultural and national theme surrounding the Akhal-Teke breed.

The state agency did not disclose the cost of the journey but noted that Berdymukhamedov traveled on a separate airliner. It said he was both seen off and received in Ashgabat by “official persons,” indicating a formal state-organized departure and return. In the Netherlands, at a meeting held in Kronenberg, Berdymukhamedov addressed the International Association of Akhal-Teke Breeders and conveyed wishes for “единства, процветания и новых побед” (unity, prosperity and new victories) to the equestrian community.

At the event Berdymukhamedov was presented with a horse of the Frisian breed, which state media described as a gift “in a sign of friendship and mutual respect between Turkmenistan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.” He was also awarded an honorary prize “За большой вклад в развитие коневодства” (For a major contribution to the development of horse breeding) and a corresponding cup by the head of the European Association of Akhal-Teke Breeders, Мариан Велтевреден, Turkmenistan Today reported.

The piece from state media repeatedly referred to Berdymukhamedov by exalted titles — describing him around 100 times as «Национальный Лидер туркменского народа» and «Герой-Аркадаг» — language that illustrates the continued cultivation of his public image in official outlets. Although he stepped down from the presidency in 2022 and the formal head of state role passed to his son Serdar Berdymukhamedov, the report underscores that the elder Berdymukhamedov remains politically prominent.

Berdymukhamedov, 69, continues to hold the chairmanship of the Halk Maslahaty, the country’s highest organ of popular power, a post which, under Turkmenistan’s constitution, assumes presidential powers if the president is unable to perform official duties until a new president is elected. The article also noted that Berdymukhamedov and members of his family enjoy legal protections of inviolability, extending to their property and assets.

State coverage routinely documents the former president’s domestic and international engagements, and the agency’s report fits a broader pattern in which official media amplify his travels, meetings and visits to regions within Turkmenistan. Observers have previously pointed to such coverage as evidence of a persistent personality cult and of blurred lines between state institutions and individual prestige. The state article did not provide independent verification of travel costs or the diplomatic arrangements surrounding the visit.

The report comes amid wider reporting on Turkmenistan’s governance, including mentions elsewhere in state and regional media of internet interruptions during high-profile visits to the country’s regions and of Berdymukhamedov’s statements during other foreign trips, such as declarations of “братских отношениях” (brotherly relations) with Tehran. The Netherlands visit highlights how cultural diplomacy and equestrian ties are used by Turkmen authorities to project international engagement while reinforcing the domestic visibility of a former head of state who retains constitutional clout and legal immunities.