Öwezgeldi Ataýew

Biography:

Öwezgeldi Ataýew was Chairman of the Assembly of Turkmenistan from 2002 to 2006. According to the Constitution of Turkmenistan he was to become the acting president after the death of Saparmurat Niyazov in December 2006. However the State Security Council of Turkmenistan reported that Ataýew was not appointed acting president due to a criminal case started against him.