anniversary of Niyazov's death. In February 2017, president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov was re-elected for a third term in office, after receiving 97.69 percent of all votes according to official results, following a tightly controlled and largely ceremonial election. He continued to rule as authoritarian strongman. On 19 March 2022, Serdar Berdimuhamedov was sworn in as Turkmenistan's new president to succeed his father. He was declared the winner of the March 12 presidential election. See also Dissolution of the Soviet Union History of Asia History of Central Asia History of the Soviet Union Human rights in Turkmenistan Magtymguly Pyragy Merv Politics of Turkmenistan President of Turkmenistan Ruhnama Soviet Central Asia Indo-Aryan migration hypothesis Turkic migration Notes Further reading Turkmen History (reprint, edited by Kathleen Hopkirk with foreword and afterword by William Dalrymple) , 565p. The timeline of the Great Game is available online. Turkmenistan Embassy History of Turkmenistan History of Central Asia