On 13 June 2018, according to video footage by Turkmen television, in the course of a Security Council session to review the performance results of the past five months, the head of the National Security Ministry Dovrangeldy Bairamov was relieved from his post.
The state information agency TDH reports that Bairamov was dismissed with the explanation “for grave shortcomings at work” and was demoted in rank from colonel to major.
Yalym Berdyev, who previously held the position of Defense Minister, was appointed the new National Security Minister.
Let us recall that on 30 May Dovrangeldy Bairamov was severely reprimanded with the final warning by President Berdymukhammedov “for shortcomings during staff recruitment and placement”.
Several hours before the report one of the “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” readers commented on the minister’s dismissal.
According to him, the chief of the NSM 4th department and several of his subordinates were taken into custody. Over $27 million were found in the detainee’s house.
Inspections are underway to identify the interest rates of converted funds to certain legal entities which the aforementioned law enforcement employees “covered”. In fact, the black market was controlled by the chief of the NSM 4th department, — the reader reports.
Pursuant to the detainee’s instructions, the banks converted 20 to 50% of the announced amount at a time. Throughout the month the entire amount was placed on accounts. Then foreign currency was converted into cash and was thrown onto the black market with a 400-500% difference from the official rate, — the comment says.
As of today we are unable to confirm or refute this information. No other details were reported in the television broadcast.