Turkmenistan’s former president attends Akhal-Teke horse beauty contest in the Netherlands

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov traveled to the Netherlands to take part in a beauty contest for Akhal-Teke horses, according to Turkmenistan’s state news agency.

Berd Berdimuhamedov, who chairs Turkmenistan’s People’s Council and formerly served as president, attended a meeting of the International Association of Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding in Kronenberg. During the event, he received a Frisian horse.

Marian Veltwreden, head of the European Association of Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding, presented him with an honorary award titled “For an Outstanding Contribution to the Development of Horse Breeding” and handed him a trophy.

The report did not say how much the trip cost. It said Berdimuhamedov traveled on a special aircraft and that “officials” saw him off and welcomed him at Ashgabat airport.

Turkmenistan’s state news agency referred to him around 100 times as the “National Leader of the Turkmen People” and “Hero Arkadag.” Berdimuhamedov left the presidency in 2022, effectively handing power to his son, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, but continues to influence the country’s politics, the report said.