Saparmurat Niyazov
Saparmurat Niyazov, President for life of Turkmenistan from 1990 to 2007, is one of the least famous dictators of all time, partly because few people in the Western world even know where Turkmenistan is. He didn?t invade his neighboring countries, commit mass murder or do any of the things that usually win dictators the international recognition they crave. Like most dictators, however, he was absolutely bonkers.
Another thing he had in common with other dictators is the irresistible urge to rename things, towns and cities in particular. Niyazov, however, went one step further, changing the names of the days of the week and renaming calendar months after heros of the state. He even changed the word for bread, naming it after his beloved mother. What a softie.
Of course, Niyazov did more than rename things. He also introduced sweeping medical and social reforms, closing all hospitals outside of his capital and firing 15,000 public health workers. Also closed were all of the country?s internet cafes and all rural libraries. In 2006 one third of all Turkmenistan?s elderly had their pensions cancelled and were ordered by Niyazov?s government to pay back the previous two years payments. The resulting deaths through poverty, sickness and starvation may have been in the tens of thousands if not more, but Niyazov refused to admit that his policies had any ill effect on the populous.
Amongst Niyazov?s most ridiculous laws was the ban on beards, make-up for newsreaders, recorded music and the exclusion of dogs from the capital city. Aparently he didn?t like the way they smell.
Trench
Saparmurat Niyazov, President for life of Turkmenistan from 1990 to 2007, is one of the least famous dictators of all time, partly because few people in the Western world even know where Turkmenistan is. He didn?t invade his neighboring countries, commit mass murder or do any of the things that usually win dictators the international recognition they crave. Like most dictators, however, he was absolutely bonkers.
Another thing he had in common with other dictators is the irresistible urge to rename things, towns and cities in particular. Niyazov, however, went one step further, changing the names of the days of the week and renaming calendar months after heros of the state. He even changed the word for bread, naming it after his beloved mother. What a softie.
Of course, Niyazov did more than rename things. He also introduced sweeping medical and social reforms, closing all hospitals outside of his capital and firing 15,000 public health workers. Also closed were all of the country?s internet cafes and all rural libraries. In 2006 one third of all Turkmenistan?s elderly had their pensions cancelled and were ordered by Niyazov?s government to pay back the previous two years payments. The resulting deaths through poverty, sickness and starvation may have been in the tens of thousands if not more, but Niyazov refused to admit that his policies had any ill effect on the populous.
Amongst Niyazov?s most ridiculous laws was the ban on beards, make-up for newsreaders, recorded music and the exclusion of dogs from the capital city. Aparently he didn?t like the way they smell.
Trench
