The President Of Turkmenistan Builds A Gold Statue In The Shape Of An Alabai Dog As A Symbol Of National Pride

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - The love of the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov for the alabai dog is so great. His fondness for animals, which are symbols of national pride, prompted him to build a gold plated alabai dog statue.

Citing The Washingon Post, Friday November 13, Berdymukhamedov unveiled the statue in a lavish ceremony this week. The dog statue is perched on top of a pole surrounded by an LED screen while playing footage of another dog playing on the grass.

The video of the grand presentation shows Berdymukhamedov waving to the audience as he walks down a street filled with people holding the flag of Turkmenistan. A band plays live music as well as a group of women dancing and a boy appears to be raising an alabai puppy.

Berdymukhamedov also published a book on alabai breeds in 2020. He also gave Russian President Vladimir Putin an alabai puppy as a gift. Footage from the meeting showed Berdymukhamedov grinning as he raised a puppy he described as a late birthday present for the Russian leader.

A symbol of national pride

Dogs and horses are a source of national pride in Turkmenistan, where they are widely used by many traditional herders among a population of 6 million people. Berdymukhamedov was appointed president of Turkmenistan in 2006 and has since solidified his reputation as a passionate animal lover. Berdymukhamedov praised alabai as an example of national heritage.

The big, stocky alabai is known for his prowess at protecting sheep and goats from wolves. Hence alabai also became a house keeper and in dog fights, a popular form of entertainment in Turkmenistan.

Berdymukhamedov succeeded Saparmurat Niyazov, who led Turkmenistan for 21 years until his death in 2006.Two years later, Berdymukhamedov announced he would cancel Niyazov's decision to rename all calendar months with his name, his family name and based on the book Niyazov had written.

The United States research institute Freedom House described Turkmenistan as a "consolidated authoritarian regime." The agency also reported that the government took tougher measures in 2019.

Berdymukhamedov "shows off his skills as an athlete, equine expert, writer, singer and so on," the institute said in a report. "However, he failed to accept responsibility for the country's economic downturn and instead identified a comfortable scapegoat among the state's public officials."