自封为“土库曼人领袖”的土库曼斯坦终身独裁总统萨帕尔穆拉特·尼亚佐夫（Saparmurat Niyazov）12月下旬的突然去世威胁到了整个国家的稳定，而现在的土库曼斯坦已经日益成为欧洲重要的能源供应商。
The sudden death in late December of Saparmurat Niyazov, Turkmenistan’s authoritarian president-for-life who declared himself “Turkmenbashi” (Leader of all Turkmens), jeopardizes stability in a country that is an increasingly important supplier of energy to Europe.