Yesterday, acting president of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov signed a decree relieving Ovezgeldi Atayev of the post of chairman of Mejlis of Turkmenistan, the Ashgabat correspondent of Turkmenistan.ru reports referring to the State News Service (TDH). Mejlis deputy chairwoman Akdzha Nurberdyyeva was appointed acting speaker.

The Mejlis chairman was dismissed at an extraordinary session of Mejlis (National Parliament) with participation of government members and heads of the law enforcement agencies of Turkmenistan. Prosecutor General of Turkmenistan Mukhammedguly Ogshukov familiarized the meeting participants with materials brought by Prosecutor's General office against Ovezgeldi Atayev.

According to him, chairman of the national parliament O.Atayev abused office and flagrantly violated constitutional rights of citizens and even degraded to inciting discord between clans. This, in particular, concerned his stepson's bride, Gulsenem Orazsahatova. O.Atayev objected their marriage. This forced a young couple to secretly have "nika", a Muslim way of marriage. Refusing to recognize Orazsahatova as his relative, O.Atayev created unbearable conditions for her in the house and virtually drove a young woman to commit a suicide. Gulsenem took a big doze of diphenhydramine hydrochloride. She was brought to reanimation in unconscious state.

Thanks to prompt actions of doctors, her life was saved. However, there was made an attempt to change the diagnosis to hide the real situation. As a result of investigation, O.Atayev's was found guilty on the basis of testimonies of a number of doctors, senior staff of the medical establishment and witnesses as well as material and documental evidence.

As the Prosecutor General noted, this is not the first time that the issue of improper behavior of O.Atayev is raised. In the end of September, all above-mentioned facts were reported to President Saparmurat Niyazov who summoned the chairman of Mejlis for conversation. Members of the Cabinet of Ministers and heads of the law enforcing agencies attended this conversation. It was there that the President of Turkmenistan ordered that the law enforcing agencies conduct an investigation into O.Atayev's case.

The meeting participants were offered a videotape recording of conversation with the President of Turkmenistan which took place on September 26. A number of serious violations by O.Atayev were revealed at that meeting.

Prosecutor General Mukhammedguly Ogshukov asked members of parliament to agree to open the criminal case against the Mejlis deputy Ovezgeldi Atayev and arrest him. The parliament deputies unanimously gave their consent to this request.