Voting was underway in Turkmenistan Saturday for a tightly-controlled leadership election that is all but certain to yield ex-Soviet Central Asia's first father-son succession.

Nine candidates are in the fray in the republic of six million people, but President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who tolerates no opposition and has dominated public life since the country's founding president died in 2006, is not among them.

Berdymukhamedov senior signalled his decision to step aside last month and allow "young leaders" to govern.

The announcement has seen the role of victor-in-waiting fall to his son, Serdar Berdymukhamedov, 40, who has rapidly risen to the top of government.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkmenistan-one-of-the-worlds-worst-emitters-of-planet-warming-methane-422645">Turkmenistan: One of the world’s worst emitters of planet-warming methane</a>

A state television announcer confirming the beginning of voting at&nbsp;7:00 am (0200 GMT) on Saturday said the elections showed "the irreversibility of the process of democratisation of modern Turkmen society".

Polling stations that will close at 7:00 pm (14:00 GMT) were busy on a cloudy day in the capital Ashgabat, with young Turkmen wearing either suits with black ties or embroidered ankle-length red dresses chatting and giggling in the queues. &nbsp;

Gulya Agayeva, 20, told AFP she had been encouraged to vote by her teachers.

"They said it is our civic duty, that our future depends on our choice," Agayeva said, confirming that she had cast her vote for Berdymukhamedov junior.&nbsp;

Officials contacted by AFP were unable to confirm when preliminary results would be announced.

An inauguration ceremony has been scheduled for March 19, state media said on Friday.

&nbsp;'Most experienced' candidate

Berdymukhamedov senior, 64, benefits from a glitzy leadership cult that includes a golden statue of him on horseback and elicits comparisons to North Korea -- a country that has already witnessed two hereditary successions.

Turkmen state television pays fawning tribute to his hobbies -- horse riding, songwriting and rally car driving to name a few -- and the so-called "protector" is a phenomenon on foreign social media, all of which are blocked.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/this-dog-has-its-day-turkmenistan-observes-a-new-holiday-honouring-the-alabay-breed-380514">This dog has its day: Turkmenistan observes a new holiday honouring the Alabay breed</a>

The leader, who claims Turkmenistan has not suffered a single case of coronavirus, said last month that he wishes to remain in politics in his parallel role as chairman of the parliament's upper chamber.&nbsp;

Much less is known about Serdar Berdymukhamedov, whose government promotions received little public attention until he entered parliament in 2016.

Since then he has been a deputy foreign minister, the head of a province and industry and construction minister.

Last year he won a triple promotion, taking up roles as deputy cabinet chair, auditor general and member of the security council.

Civil servant Selbi Nepesova, 39, told AFP that Serdar Berdymukhamedov's official biography proves he is "the most experienced" of the candidates, despite being younger than his rivals, most of whom are low-ranking government employees.

Quiet on Ukraine&nbsp;

"He will have his father close by," the Ashgabat resident said, explaining her decision to vote for him.&nbsp;

Turkmenistan's economy is almost wholly dependent on natural gas sales, making it vulnerable to external shocks that have crippled the purchasing power of citizens, who have no access to hard currency.

China has come to dominate this trade, with one-time top customer Russia's demand for the fuel now under doubt amid crippling sanctions connected to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/turkmenistan-afghanistan-open-new-rail-and-power-links-356762">Turkmenistan, Afghanistan open new rail and power links</a>

Turkmen state media has almost completely ignored the bloody war taking place in Europe.&nbsp;

But on Friday it referenced "complicated circumstances" in Ukraine in a report on the evacuation of Turkmen students forced to flee the country.&nbsp;

Predictably, the mouthpiece gave the outgoing president credit for ensuring the evacuation.

The returning students "expressed their deep sincere gratitude to the leader of the nation for his truly fatherly care", the state information service TDH claimed.

Turkmenistan's upcoming father-son switch will be the first of its kind in Central Asia, despite erstwhile predictions of family rule in Turkmenistan's larger neighbours Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Watch |&nbsp;Turkmenistan: President Berdymukhamedov instructs officials to extinguish fire at 'Gateway to Hell'

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Across the Caspian Sea in the Caucasus region, Azerbaijan became the first ex-Soviet country to establish a dynasty when its current president Ilham Aliyev took the helm upon father Heydar Aliyev's death in 2003.&nbsp;

Tajikistan, the bloc's poorest successor state, is expected to follow a similar path, with upper house head Rustam Emomali, 34, in pole position to succeed veteran leader Emomali Rakhmon, 69, should Rakhmon retire or prove unable to fulfil his duties.

Voting was underway in Turkmenistan Saturday for a tightly-controlled leadership election that is all but certain to yield ex-Soviet Central Asia's first father-son succession.

Voting was underway in Turkmenistan Saturday for a tightly-controlled leadership election that is all but certain to yield ex-Soviet Central Asia's first father-son succession. Nine candidates are in the fray in the republic of six million people, but President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who tolerates no opposition and has dominated public life since the country's founding president died in 2006, is not among them. Berdymukhamedov senior signalled his decision to step aside last month and allow "young leaders" to govern. The announcement has seen the role of victor-in-waiting fall to his son, Serdar Berdymukhamedov, 40, who has rapidly risen to the top of government. Also read | Turkmenistan: One of the world’s worst emitters of planet-warming methane A state television announcer confirming the beginning of voting at 7:00 am (0200 GMT) on Saturday said the elections showed "the irreversibility of the process of democratisation of modern Turkmen society". Polling stations that will close at 7:00 pm (14:00 GMT) were busy on a cloudy day in the capital Ashgabat, with young Turkmen wearing either suits with black ties or embroidered ankle-length red dresses chatting and giggling in the queues. Gulya Agayeva, 20, told AFP she had been encouraged to vote by her teachers. "They said it is our civic duty, that our future depends on our choice," Agayeva said, confirming that she had cast her vote for Berdymukhamedov junior. Officials contacted by AFP were unable to confirm when preliminary results would be announced. An inauguration ceremony has been scheduled for March 19, state media said on Friday. 'Most experienced' candidate Berdymukhamedov senior, 64, benefits from a glitzy leadership cult that includes a golden statue of him on horseback and elicits comparisons to North Korea -- a country that has already witnessed two hereditary successions. Turkmen state television pays fawning tribute to his hobbies -- horse riding, songwriting and rally car driving to name a few -- and the so-called "protector" is a phenomenon on foreign social media, all of which are blocked. Also read | This dog has its day: Turkmenistan observes a new holiday honouring the Alabay breed The leader, who claims Turkmenistan has not suffered a single case of coronavirus, said last month that he wishes to remain in politics in his parallel role as chairman of the parliament's upper chamber. Much less is known about Serdar Berdymukhamedov, whose government promotions received little public attention until he entered parliament in 2016. Since then he has been a deputy foreign minister, the head of a province and industry and construction minister. Last year he won a triple promotion, taking up roles as deputy cabinet chair, auditor general and member of the security council. Civil servant Selbi Nepesova, 39, told AFP that Serdar Berdymukhamedov's official biography proves he is "the most experienced" of the candidates, despite being younger than his rivals, most of whom are low-ranking government employees. Quiet on Ukraine "He will have his father close by," the Ashgabat resident said, explaining her decision to vote for him. Turkmenistan's economy is almost wholly dependent on natural gas sales, making it vulnerable to external shocks that have crippled the purchasing power of citizens, who have no access to hard currency. China has come to dominate this trade, with one-time top customer Russia's demand for the fuel now under doubt amid crippling sanctions connected to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Also read | Turkmenistan, Afghanistan open new rail and power links Turkmen state media has almost completely ignored the bloody war taking place in Europe. But on Friday it referenced "complicated circumstances" in Ukraine in a report on the evacuation of Turkmen students forced to flee the country. Predictably, the mouthpiece gave the outgoing president credit for ensuring the evacuation. The returning students "expressed their deep sincere gratitude to the leader of the nation for his truly fatherly care", the state information service TDH claimed. Turkmenistan's upcoming father-son switch will be the first of its kind in Central Asia, despite erstwhile predictions of family rule in Turkmenistan's larger neighbours Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Watch | Turkmenistan: President Berdymukhamedov instructs officials to extinguish fire at 'Gateway to Hell' Across the Caspian Sea in the Caucasus region, Azerbaijan became the first ex-Soviet country to establish a dynasty when its current president Ilham Aliyev took the helm upon father Heydar Aliyev's death in 2003. Tajikistan, the bloc's poorest successor state, is expected to follow a similar path, with upper house head Rustam Emomali, 34, in pole position to succeed veteran leader Emomali Rakhmon, 69, should Rakhmon retire or prove unable to fulfil his duties.

Turkmenistan votes for father-son transition

Turkmen leader Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov is certain to secure a third term in office in Sunday&#39;s presidential election, maintaining his grip on power in the isolated gas-rich nation.

Berdymukhamedov, 59, has run the former Soviet republic of five million people with an iron fist for a decade after succeeding equally autocratic president-for-life Saparmurat Niyazov who died in 2006. Berdymukhamedov, a dentist by training, has kept in place Niyazov&#39;s repressive political system which tolerates no political opposition or public expressions of discontent, while refocusing his predecessor&#39;s elaborate personality cult on himself.

While Niyazov was known as Turkmenbashi, the head of all Turkmen, Berdymukhamedov is often referred to as Arkadag, the protector. Gilded statues of both leaders have been erected in Ashgabat, the capital city.

Berdymukhamedov cast his ballot at a downtown polling station after arriving with his family, including his son Serdar who last year became a member of parliament after winning a by-election. &quot;Turkmenistan&#39;s goal is joining the ranks of the industrially developed nations,&quot; Berdymukhamedov told reporters, adding that all candidates had had equal opportunities in the election campaign.

Running against Berdymukhamedov are eight other candidates, all of them public servants, managers of state-owned companies or nominees of political parties completely loyal to the government. In the previous election in 2012, Berdymukhamedov won 97 per cent of the vote.

Turkmenistan has no election threshold, but by 1100am local time (0600 GMT), 51.45 per cent of voters had already cast their ballots, the Central Election Commission said. Last year, Turkmenistan amended its constitution in a way that could allow Berdymukhamedov to stay in power indefinitely, removing the 70-year age limit for presidential candidates and extending the presidential term to seven years from five.

This consolidation of power has been taking place against a background of slowing economic growth and shortages of foreign currency due to Russia&#39;s decision to halt imports of Turkmen gas, Ashgabat&#39;s main source of export revenue.

Moscow had long been the main buyer of Turkmen gas and sales to China, although significant, have not completely offset the loss of Russian money flows.

Faced with budget deficits after years of surpluses, the authorities are considering scaling down a generous welfare system which includes free gasoline rations. Amid the gas row, Turkmenistan has also flatly rejected the idea of Russia providing military assistance to the Central Asian nations in the light of escalating violence in neighbouring Afghanistan; it has also vehemently denied claims of violent incidents at the Afghan border.

(Reuters)

Berdymukhamedov, a dentist by training, has run the former Soviet republic of five million people with an iron fist for a decade

Turkmen leader Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov is certain to secure a third term in office in Sunday's presidential election, maintaining his grip on power in the isolated gas-rich nation. Berdymukhamedov, 59, has run the former Soviet republic of five million people with an iron fist for a decade after succeeding equally autocratic president-for-life Saparmurat Niyazov who died in 2006. Berdymukhamedov, a dentist by training, has kept in place Niyazov's repressive political system which tolerates no political opposition or public expressions of discontent, while refocusing his predecessor's elaborate personality cult on himself. While Niyazov was known as Turkmenbashi, the head of all Turkmen, Berdymukhamedov is often referred to as Arkadag, the protector. Gilded statues of both leaders have been erected in Ashgabat, the capital city. Berdymukhamedov cast his ballot at a downtown polling station after arriving with his family, including his son Serdar who last year became a member of parliament after winning a by-election. "Turkmenistan's goal is joining the ranks of the industrially developed nations," Berdymukhamedov told reporters, adding that all candidates had had equal opportunities in the election campaign. Running against Berdymukhamedov are eight other candidates, all of them public servants, managers of state-owned companies or nominees of political parties completely loyal to the government. In the previous election in 2012, Berdymukhamedov won 97 per cent of the vote. Turkmenistan has no election threshold, but by 1100am local time (0600 GMT), 51.45 per cent of voters had already cast their ballots, the Central Election Commission said. Last year, Turkmenistan amended its constitution in a way that could allow Berdymukhamedov to stay in power indefinitely, removing the 70-year age limit for presidential candidates and extending the presidential term to seven years from five. This consolidation of power has been taking place against a background of slowing economic growth and shortages of foreign currency due to Russia's decision to halt imports of Turkmen gas, Ashgabat's main source of export revenue. Moscow had long been the main buyer of Turkmen gas and sales to China, although significant, have not completely offset the loss of Russian money flows. Faced with budget deficits after years of surpluses, the authorities are considering scaling down a generous welfare system which includes free gasoline rations. Amid the gas row, Turkmenistan has also flatly rejected the idea of Russia providing military assistance to the Central Asian nations in the light of escalating violence in neighbouring Afghanistan; it has also vehemently denied claims of violent incidents at the Afghan border. (Reuters)

Turkmenistan leader certain to win third term in today's presidential election

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Turkmenistan votes for father-son transition

Turkmenistan leader certain to win third term in today's presidential election