 It was founded in 1963 and bore the name Büzmeýin () until October 2002, when its name was changed by Turkmenistan's president Saparmurat Niyazov.The traditional Russian name of the town is Bezmein (Безмейн).The town's current mayor, Orazmyrat Garajaýew, was one of the approved candidates for the 2007 presidential election.