The president regularly casts blame for Turkmenistan’s troubles on his cabinet of lickspittle loyalists. Public arrests like this week's, however, are rare.
After weeks of rumors that the president had died, state television packed its evening news with evidence that the president is not just alive, but positively brimming with energy.
The mere speculation of the president’s death has arguably generated more attention for Turkmenistan than any sports event or international conference ever did.
While the president was busy playing soldier, all his regional peers, as well heads of state from China, Russia and Iran, were mustering in the capital of Tajikistan.