Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov made significant staff changes in the country's power structures .
According to a presidential decree , Colonel Meretgerdi Berdiyev was dismissed from his post as chairman of the State Customs Service. The colonel was transferred to the Ministry of Defence.
According to another decree , Lieutenant Colonel Annamuhammet Hojamgulyev was appointed chairman of the State Customs Service. Earlier, Lieutenant Colonel Hojamgulyev was chairman of the State Migration Service.
According to the signed documents, Colonel Jepbar Akiyev was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense, Department Chief under the Defense Ministry. Colonel Akiyev was dismissed from his post as the Deputy Defense Minister, Chief of Turkmen Main Department for Civil Defense and Rescue Operations. Major Yusuf Muhammetkulyev was appointed to this position instead.
Turkmenistan 's military stance is defensive. It maintains a status of permanent neutrality.