KZBlog

Nazarbayev, currently in China, sent a telegram to the acting President, reading in part:

Saparmurat Atayevich was an outstanding leader of the Turkmen people, a politician with foresight, constantly working hard for the good of his homeland. He played a key role in creating and strengthening the independent state of Turkmenistan, and developing the economic potential of the nation. translation mine

Dariga Nazarbayev was also asked her opinion and last night on Khabar said:

We don’t know the facts. We don’t know if there are people in Turkmenistan who were unhappy with his rule. It may be so, but we don’t have those facts. We do know that he was a strong (hard) ruler, and I think that was a good point. I mean that he was strict with government officials, not strict with the people. That I admire.” translation and errors due to bad memory mine

So at least the higher officials are endorsing his rule and his tactics without reservation. In contrast, the US statement, as linked to by Sean Roberts, is much more diplomatic, saying basically that the US is ready to work with the new leader and wishes all the best to the Turkmen people.

Meanwhile, Khabar also quoted Turkmen residents of Kazakhstan as saying that Niyazov did everything for the good of the people. It was a bit frightening to hear one woman sit and just describe what she saw on Turkmen TV: “For half the day they played beautiful music, then they showed the flag in black border and his portrait.” That was the entirety of her commentary.

EDIT: Turkmenistan.neweurasia.net has some less complimentary words from a deputat of the Kazakhstan Parliament.

As Serik Abdrakhmanov, chairman of the committee on international affairs, defence and security in the Kazakh Majlis said: “This is perhaps the time to wish our brother nation of Turkmenistan peace and tranquility, and let those that yesterday grovelled before the Rukhnama think more about the people and help them find the path to stable and peaceful path with the help of the countries natural wealth.”

The post also has some great background information on the acting president