Myrat Atagarryev, the former Governor of Akhal velayat, of which Ashgabat is the central city, is one of the dozens of state officials currently falling short of efforts to reach the cotton plan. On September 27, President Niyazov held a plenary session of Cabinet members and particularly addressed Mr. Atagarryev’s case regarding underperformance in ongoing cotton production. As a result of the session, President Niyazov sacked Atagarryev citing numerous charges against him, and highly criticized a list of other personnel.

Mr. Atagarryev was appointed as Governor of Akhal velayat in October 2004. Despite his short tenure in the office and entrusted high government position, Atagarryev appears to have committed types of crime that other officials of his rank would find it hard to fathom. President Niyazov deeply deplored the fact that instead of carrying out the cotton plan in the fields, Atagarryev with his deputy Governor on agricultural issues had been drinking vodka in their office. Moreover, the former Governor is also accused of being a large-scale drug addict. According to the report given by the Prosecutor General, Gurbanbibi Atajanova, Mr. Atagarryev made one of the heads of the law enforcement agencies buy heroin and deliver it to him for regular usage. Besides, the former Governor is charged for spreading nepotism and massive corruption. During the ongoing investigations of the prosecutor’s office and the Ministry of Interior, it was revealed that Atagarryev took bribes in the amount of $100,000 and later $10,000 monthly from multiple sub-regional mayors in Akhal as well as in Lebap velayats. While working as a Governor, Atagarryev reportedly brought in many of his relatives and appointed several of them to well-paid positions in Akhal.

Amongst the major flaws during his time in office, Mr. Atagarryev personally bought a $15,000 luxury car to a lady at his reception, said President Niyazov. “Just yesterday, you [also] gave $100,000 to your deputy Governor and offered him to open a studio. [Atagarryev] opened a beauty salon in his girlfriend’s name. It is no joke what he has been doing so far. … it is impossible to forgive this” said Niyazov. In a televised appearance, Mr. Atagarryev confessed and confirmed that he personally takes a responsibility for all the charges made. Up until this moment, Atagarryev was the youngest Governor during his time in the government.

In February of 2005, Turkmenbashi banned the exploitation of child labor in the cotton-picking process in the country. Prior to signing this decree, students of the fifth and higher years at secondary schools and all university students nationwide except the ones in Ashgabat would be officially released from school and spend the next two months in the fields picking cotton. The whole burden of organizing cotton picking on time now remains on the shoulders of velayat Governors. According to this year’s cotton plan, Turkmenistan expects to gather 2,2 million tons of cotton by October 27. As of October 18, the country managed to gather 663,830 tns or only barely 30 percent of the expected total amount.

This failure to meet the cotton plan made that president remove the Governor of Lebap, Geday Ahmedovich (another holder of the “Hero” status), the Governor of Mary and many other sub-regional mayors in Akhal velayat. Some of those sub-regional mayors who had been working with Mr. Atagarryev have also been jailed under the charges of corruption.

All in all, Mr. Atagarryev’s case and the massive removal of other regional Governors not only shows an ongoing cadre problem in Turkmenistan, but also indicates again an element of widespread and unending corruption among state officials. Whether and when this dynamic problem can be solved remains to be seen as the young generation of the Golden Age of the Turkmen grows up with new education inspired by Ruhnama and replaces the old mentality cadres in the country.