The car loving ‘dictator’ of Turkmenistan not only has all of these cars to choose from but also a race track after his country’s Interior Ministry built a brand-new racetrack.
Turkmen politician Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow has been the country’s president since 2007, and is considered one of the most authoritarian rulers in the world.
Video Credit: CEN/Altyn Asyr – hronikaatm.com
And despite being 61 years old, the former dentist has often taken to the racetrack himself where he frequently beats professional drivers sparking criticism from people who point out that his rivals are too scared to beat him, fearing the consequences if they do.
This latest video was filmed at a race track extensively owned the Ministry of Internal Affairs where he tested a new Nissan sports car in the capital city Ashgabat located in south-central Turkmenistan and shown on national television.
According to the NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW), Berdimuhamedow and his family have complete control over public life and he presides over a regime that does not tolerate “alternative political or religious expression”.
It also seems as if no one is allowed to beat him in the racetrack in the country where he also has complete control over the media in the Central Asian country as well as many other aspects of life.
In the footage shown by a local TV channel, Berdimuhamedow is seen speeding around the race track and showing off some serious ‘Fast and Furious’ moves.
According to local media, the race track has recently been upgraded and the president was one of the first people to try out the new facilities.
The Turkmen politician first showed off his driving skills in 2013 during the country’s first racing championship.
Netizen ‘Kira999’ commented: “Just because no one is threatening him with bombs, this guy has all the time in the world to play with his new toys.”
‘Kostya501’ said: “I wonder if he could produce the same smooth skills if he was driving a Russian-produced car?”
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Story By: Anastasia Smirnova, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
