All eyes will be on who gets the nod as chair of the Senate, since that person would be in a position to succeed Berdymukhamedov in the event of his sudden death or incapacitation.
Between the unacknowledged pandemic and economic devastation, protestors said the situation at home is so dire that inaction seems worse than government reprisals.
Families of the dead blame corruption for undermining the healthcare service, and the government for failing to prepare in earlier stages of the pandemic.