The leader of Turkmenistan has died unexpectedly.
This is a loss for those of us who nurse a fascination with nutty national leaders, but probably not for the people of Turkmenistan. Niyazov renamed months after himself and his family members, banned beards and car radios, and kept his nation dirt poor.
The acting head of state is Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. That’s pronounced “Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.”