President’s prestige takes a tumble after glorious victory
TURKMENISTAN
THE official story from Turkmenistan was remarkable: the country’s president, a former dentist, had stormed to victory before a delirious crowd in the world’s most valuable horse race.
The unofficial version emerged yesterday is better.
Video footage smuggled out of the Central Asian dictatorship and posted on the internet showed that President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov did indeed finish first in the 1km race on Sunday, although the horses of his rivals appeared to be going at something short of full throttle.
State media were correct to re-
that port that the stadium in Ashgabat was packed, though that may have had something to do with the president making attendance compulsory for all state employees. But as the unsanctioned videos show, the president’s race ended ingloriously.
Moments after he crossed the line to claim the NZ$13 million prize, he fell off his horse, Berkarar. He lay motionless in the dust until security staff bundled him into a waiting ambulance. For 20 minutes the crowd had no idea how serious his injuries were.
There was no mention of the fall on state television or in the state daily newspaper’s coverage. It reported that ‘‘President Kur- banguly Berdymukhamedov has yet again demonstrated not only his high class as a horse rider, but also his strong will, firmness and courage.’’
Security officials tried to prevent footage of the mishap from leaving the country, searching cameras, mobile phones and video cameras in the stadium, at hotels and at the airport.
The videos show there was a round of applause when the ambulance arrived. After about 20 minutes, the president reappeared and waved. Later he handed out prizes. The president, 55, cultivates a heroic image and the people are well used to seeing him in action.