The Ambassador and the Million-Dollar Scam: Who the Turkmen Authorities Really Promote
In the center of the latest scandal is one of Turkmenistan’s most experienced and influential diplomats — the Ambassador to Germany, Berdymurad Rejepov. According to Russian media reports, he invested about 300 million rubles (approximately 4 million dollars) in a dubious business linked to a well-known fraudulent scheme. The story raises questions not only about the diplomat himself but also highlights a deeper issue: who exactly the Turkmen authorities promote to key government posts.
The case involves Marina Minina — an entrepreneur known in Russia for schemes to attract funds from investors under promises of securing government contracts. According to investigations, she gained the trust of wealthy individuals, convinced them to invest in projects, and then the money disappeared. Berdymurad Rejepov became one of these investors. According to a published audio recording of his conversation with Minina, the diplomat and his entourage handed over hundreds of millions of rubles to her, counting on profits from infrastructure projects. However, he received neither profit nor the return of the invested funds. Judging by the content of the recording, Rejepov not only failed to control the movement of funds but also continued to trust a person who effectively evaded accountability and obligations.
A Diplomat with Decades of Experience Berdymurad Rejepov is not a random figure in the power system. For over three decades, he has held high government positions: he was a deputy minister and vice-prime minister, headed diplomatic missions in Russia, Italy, and several European countries, and since 2020 has once again held the post of Ambassador to Germany. Furthermore, he is linked by kinship ties to other influential representatives of the Turkmen elite, which further strengthens his position in the power system. Formally, it is people like this who should represent the country on the international stage — experienced, influential, with extensive connections. However, this case demonstrates the flip side of the system. A high-ranking diplomat was not only drawn into a dubious financial scheme but, essentially, fell victim to basic fraud. This calls into question his professional qualities, his ability to make balanced decisions, and his level of responsibility in his position. But the main question is not even the fact of losing millions. Something else is much more important — where did a civil servant get such funds? This question directly concerns the transparency of Turkmen officials’ incomes and the lack of real control over their activities.
The situation with Rejepov is not an exception, but a reflection of a general trend. For many years, the Turkmen government has formed the managerial elite not on the principle of professionalism and responsibility, but on the principle of loyalty, personal connections, and belonging to a narrow circle. As a result, people close to the system are appointed to key positions, there is no real verification of competencies, and decisions are made without public control. This is why Turkmenistan is increasingly represented on the international stage not by independent professionals, but by representatives of a closed elite for whom public service becomes a tool for personal enrichment.
Such cases, according to Murad Kurbanov, are a direct consequence of the degradation of the management system in Turkmenistan. It is not just about the mistake of one official. It is about a model of power that does not know how to select professional personnel, does not control the actions of its representatives, and, essentially, reproduces itself by appointing people of similar qualities to key posts.
“When a state trusts people who cannot distinguish an investment from a scam to represent it — this is no longer a private problem, but a systemic crisis,” Kurbanov notes.
In his opinion, such appointments cause damage not only to the economy but also to the country’s international reputation. The story of Berdymurad Rejepov is an indicator of how the current power system in Turkmenistan works. It doesn’t just make mistakes. It creates conditions under which such mistakes become inevitable. And as long as key positions are held by people appointed on the principle of proximity to the system rather than professional qualities, such scandals will be repeated, undermining trust both within the country and abroad.
