Central Asia coming clean?
DJ Turkmen Oil, Gas Min Fired; Accused Of Embezzlement
31 Oct 15:34
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (AP)--Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov fired his
oil and gas minister Monday and ordered authorities to continue an
investigation that has resulted in embezzlement charges, the natural gas-rich
nation's top prosecutor said.
Guichnazar Tachnazarov, who had only held the post since September, became
the latest in a series of high-level oil and gas industry officials to be
dismissed and accused of corruption by the Central Asian nation's autocratic
leader.
Tachnazarov has been charged with abuse of office and embezzlement of at
least $266 million, chief prosecutor Kurbanbibi Atadzhanova said in televised
comments during a Cabinet meeting. She said he had been embezzling money since
1996, when he headed state gas concern Turkmengaz.
Atadzhanova said the embezzlement of $240 million involved gas deliveries to
Ukraine.
Tachnazarov, who had been a vice-premier since May, was appointed oil and gas
minister after Niyazov fired Saparmamed Valiyev in August.
Valiyev was sentenced to 24 years in prison in September for embezzlement,
while a former head of the state oil and gas exporter received a 25-year term
for bribery.
Niyazov, who holds absolute power in the former Soviet republic, often
publicly fires officials and orders corruption investigations against them.
Also in September, Niyazov dismissed the head of a state-owned oil refinery,
Guichmurad Esenov, accusing him of making money from illegal deals and
vanishing for a 10-day drinking binge.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
10-31-05 1534ET
Copyright (c) 2005 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. |
