WORLD
EX-OFFICIALS SENTENCED TO CORRECTIONAL LABOR IN TURKMENISTAN
In all, among some 40 former Turkmen high-ranking officials growing grain or cotton in backcountry districts of the country without quitting the place are: ex-Defense Minister Gurbandurdu Berenjev, deputy Prime Minister Khudaykul Khalykiv, acting Head of Mary Region Amangelgy Atayev and others.
Reportedly, having been informed that grain and cotton were grown in Mary province not by ex-deputy Ministers of Industry and Energy Tore Akhunov and Abdyrahman Berkeliyev themselves but other people hired, the Republican prosecutor’s office has headed them to a “real” prison.
While making the decision on the “obligatory correctional labor” instead of “arrest”, Turkmen President S. Niyazov said appearing on the television: they will have an opportunity to live down their fault with labor, without deprivation of liberty.