new day in Turkmenistan?

[merchimerch]

Wow - I just found out that Niyazov, the totalitarian ruler of Turkmenstan died a few days ago. I'm shocked (I think his death was sudden), and I wonder what will become of Turkmenistan now. Niyazov epitomized the crazy Central Asian dictator, erecting statues of himself, banning ballet and other Western musical forms, making his writings the foundation of the education system, and naming months after his family members.

I really have to wonder what the replacement will be like and what this will do to Central Asian politics in general.