Saparmurat Niyazov was born on February 19, 1940 in Ashkhabad, Turkmen SSR, USSR [now Ashgabat, Turkmenistan]. He died on December 21, 2006 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
He has written a book, called the Ruhnama (Book of the Soul) that is
revered by Turkmen people and Niyazov claims if the book is read by a
Turkmen three times, (s)he will go to heaven.
His name is pronounced Thap-ar-muh-rat Nee-ya-dhov. Turkmen Head of
State since 1985. Since independence he was fostered a very large
personality cult and also enacted what many would seem are strange laws
for example, the banning of car radios.
Turkmenbashi was the title awarded to him in 1993, meaning Leader of
the Turkmen.
Was appointed by "Mikhail Gorbachev" to replace then-Secretary
General of Turkmenistan Communist Party, Muhammed Gapusov, over a
cotton-related corruption scandal.