Turkmenistan leader drives around flaming crater in first new footage since death rumours

Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov circled the so-called 'Gates of Hell' in a rally-car
Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov circled the so-called ‘Gates of Hell’ in a rally-car

Turkmenistan state television has shown the country’s eccentric stunt-loving president driving near a flaming gas crater in the first new footage of him since he disappeared from view last month, sparking rumours of his death.

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who last appeared in public on July 5, was seen on a Sunday news broadcast behind the wheel of a rally car streaking through the desert of the gas-producing former Soviet republic near Iran and Afghanistan.

The car was then filmed spinning in the dust and driving circles around the “Gates of Hell,” a 220-foot-wide collapsed natural gas field that has been burning continuously since scientists set it on fire in 1971. 

The daring exploit was the culmination of 28 minutes of vainglorious footage that also showed the authoritarian leader riding a horse and a bicycle, showing government ministers how to lift weights and apparently shooting bullseyes in a target with an assault rifle. 

<span>Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov circled the so-called 'Gates of Hell' in a rally-car</span>
Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov circled the so-called ‘Gates of Hell’ in a rally-car

He seemed to roll three strikes in row while bowling with the mayor of the capital, although cutaway video edits made it impossible to tell how many of these feats he actually achieved. Admiring officials nonetheless broke into reliable applause. 

Mr Berdymukhamedov’s overblown TV antics with fast cars and high-powered firearms are such a fixture of the media in the repressive Central Asian country that any undue absence is cause for confusion and gossip. 

Hilariously unironic videos like one of him shooting targets while riding a bicycle distract from a increasingly dire economic situation in Turkmenistan, which is suffering from hyperinflation and food shortages, according to a June report by the London-based Foreign Policy Centre.

<span>Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has been credited with books about horses and once rapped an ode to his favourite steed</span> <span>Credit: Igor Sasin/AFP/Getty </span>
Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has been credited with books about horses and once rapped an ode to his favourite steed Credit: Igor Sasin/AFP/Getty

The presidential press service announced in July that Mr Berdymukhamedov was on a month-long holiday and published a video of him playing with cats and grandchildren. 

Less than a week later, however, rumours began swirling on social media that he had died of liver failure. Other reports said his ageing mother was in critical condition in a German clinic.

While officials did not comment on the leader’s absence, state television broadcast footage of him inspecting construction projects. Observers noted, however, that it was almost certainly taken from an appearance in May. 

The latest video, on the other hand, appeared to be entirely fresh. 

In it, the macho yet creative Mr Berdymukhamedov was also seen signing a manuscript about Central Asian shepherd dogs and sipping a well-earned cup of tea. Foreign literature is mostly banned in Turkmenistan, but the president has been credited with writing some three dozen books about topics like horses, tea and medicinal plants.

Dressed in a slightly psychedelic shirt of swirling primary colours, he played piano and drum machine on the recording of a song reportedly written by his grandson called Live, Turkmenistan! Only Forward with the Speed of a Horse!

A horse fanatic, he had previously rapped an ode to his favourite steed in a gaudy music video with his grandson, who has sung Turkmenistan’s praises in English on occasion. 

<span>Mr Berdymukhamedov files an assault rifle and throws knives at targets in a previous television appearance</span> <span>Credit: YouTube </span>
Mr Berdymukhamedov files an assault rifle and throws knives at targets in a previous television appearance Credit: YouTube

The personal dentist of Turkmenistan’s first post-Soviet leader, Mr Berdymukhamedov came to power in 2006 and quickly established his own personality cult, erecting a golden statue of himself on a horse in the centre of the capital. 

Turkmenistan is known as one of the most closed countries in the world, with the authorities enforcing an official ideology and cracking down on dissent. 

It has historically close relations with Russia, which recently resumed gas imports from Turkmenistan after a crippling three-year suspension.

source: yahoo.com