ASHGABAT, July 27: Turkmenistan’s former deputy prime minister Redjep Saparov was sentenced to 20 years in prison for taking bribes of up to $1 million and illegal possession of weapons, state television reported on Wednesday. Mr Saparov, former chief of the presidential administration, was dismissed from his office earlier this month by President Saparmurat Niyazov. Mr Saparov was found guilty during a closed-door trial before the country’s supreme court.

Before his downfall, Mr Saparov was considered a close adviser to President Niyazov. In May, the former deputy prime minister responsible for energy and oil, Yolly Gurbanmuradov, was arrested on charges of treason and corruption.—AFP