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Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published: Jun:30: 2023:
#AceBreakingNews - Turkmenistan has inaugurated a $7.5 billion "smart" city built in honour of former strongman leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, cementing one of the most extraordinary personality cults in the world.
Serdar Berdymukhamedov, his son who is the current president, unveiled the city around 30 kilometres south-west of the capital Ashgabat during a grandiose ceremony on Thursday.
The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most secretive countries in the world, and access for foreign media is extremely rare.
Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov ran the gas-rich desert nation of 6 million people for 15 years until 2022, becoming the centre of an elaborate personality cult where, for example, all male public servants followed their leader's example when deciding whether or not to dye greying hair.
Arkadag, which translates as Protector, was also an unofficial title by which Turkmen media have long referred to the elder Mr Berdymukhamedov.
"Glory to Arkadag and Serdar, glory to the Turkmen leader," participants dressed in traditional Turkmen clothes chanted during the ceremony.
All the buildings in Arkadag are white, and all apartment blocks are seven storeys high, a number considered lucky in Turkmenistan.
A typical residential building in Arkadag.(AFP: Natalia Kolesnikova)none
Arkadag is about 30 kilometres outside the capital Ashgabat.(AFP: Natalia Kolesnikova)none
Only electric vehicles are allowed in the city, which was built close to Mr Berdymukhamedov's native village in southern Turkmenistan.
Arkadag, which is in an earthquake zone, will eventually have a population of around 73,000, authorities have said.
The city is dotted with monuments including a sculpture in honour of Mr Berdymukhamedov atop an Akhal-Teke horse, his favourite breed.The man the city has been dedicated to was on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia and was not present at the ceremony.(Reuters: Marat Gurt)none
Berdymukhamedov praised for city's construction
The former president, who turned 66 on Thursday, remains the real decision-maker in the country, observers have said.
The elder Berdymukhamedov passed the leadership to his son, but retains many powers as the chairman of the People's Council.
He was making the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia and was not present at the ceremony.
Rights groups have accused Turkmenistan of channelling money from its gas profits on lavish projects promoting Mr Berdymukhamedov's personality cult, with little benefit for the broader population.A portrait of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow hangs at the Palace of Happiness marriage registry office in Ashgabat.(Reuters: Aman Mehinli)none
Officials have billed Arkadag as a "city of the future", adding that "green" technologies were used in its construction.
An employee of the construction and architecture ministry said that Mr Berdymukhamedov had closely overseen the project and provided his "valuable recommendations".
"Thanks to his efforts, a beautiful city has appeared on the land of our valiant ancestors," the employee said on condition of anonymity.
ABC/WIRES NEWS REPORT
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