History Turkmenistan

 Historical dates

18th Century. Mongolian conquest.
1863-1885. Russian conquest The east of the Caspian Sea is attached to Turkestan.
1895. An earthquake devastates the capital Achgabat.
1924. Socialist Republic of Turkmenistan proclaimed.
1925. Joins USSR.
1940. Russian replaces Turkish.
1948. Achgabat is ravaged for the second time by a violent earthquake.
1990. First free republican elections. The communists with Niazov as leader are victorious.
1991. Independence proclaimed. Turkmenistan joins the Community of Independent States (CIS). Links are strengthened between Turkey and Turkmenistan.
1994. New elections Niazov re-elected with 99.5% of the votes.
2000. The presumed assassination attempt on Niazov leads to harsh repressive action (harrassments, detention, expulsion, torture...). The departure of 200 000 Russians (minorities) has a severe impact on the country's economy.
Niazov combines the duties of Head of State and Head of Government. He takes on the name "Turkmenebashi" (Father of the Turkmens), renames certain places after his surname and wants to be declared a "prophet".
21 December 2006: Niazov dies of heart failure. Gourbangouly Berdymoukhammedov, Deputy-Prime Minister becomes active leader.
14 February 2007. Gourbangouly Berdymoukhammedov is voted president.