Gurbanguly Myalikguliyevich Berdymuhammedov (Russian transliteration: Курбанкули (or Гурбангулы) Мяликгулыевич Бердымухаммедов, born June 29, 1957) has been the President of Turkmenistan since December 21, 2006, when he became acting president following the death of Saparmurat Niyazov, and the imprisonment of his constitutionally appointed successor, Öwezgeldi Ataýew. Berdymuhammedov and the Halk Maslahaty announced on December 26 that the next presidential elections would be held on February 11, 2007. On February 14, 2007, Berdymuhammedov was named the winner of the presidential election held three days earlier, and immediately sworn into office.