Raşit Meredow

Raşit Meredow
File:Rashid Meredov.jpg
Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan
Incumbent
Assumed office 17 February 2007
President	Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
Preceded by	Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
Personal details
Born	Raşit Öwezgeldiýewiç Meredow 1960 (age 63–64) Ashgabat, Turkmen SSR, Soviet Union
Nationality	Turkmen
Political party	Democratic Party of Turkmenistan
Alma mater	Moscow State University
Religion	Sunni Islam

Raşit Öwezgeldiýewiç Meredow (born 1960) is a Turkmen politician and diplomat who has served in the government of Turkmenistan as Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2001, as well as Deputy Prime Minister since 2007.

Born in a lawyer's family, Meredow studied at Moscow State University in the faculty of law. He made a diplomatic career in the independent Turkmenistan. In 2007, shortly after President Saparmurat Niyazov's death, he was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister responsible for the police and army.

Biography

Raşit Meredow was born in Ashgabat in 1960. In 1977, he entered the Moscow State University, department of law. In 1982, he began as a teacher in the department of civil law and civil process of the Turkmen State University. In 1984-1987, he studied as a post-graduate student at the Moscow State University. He holds a master's degree in law. In 1987-1990, he was lecturer, senior teacher in the department of civil law and civil process of the Turkmen State University. In 1990-1991, he was chief consultant, head of sector, head of department in the Ministry of Justice of Turkmenistan. Starting in 1991, he worked as head of law enforcing agencies department of the council for coordination of law enforcing agencies under the President of Turkmenistan. Starting in March 1993, he worked as head of the law department in the office of the President of Turkmenistan. Starting in December 1994, he was chairman of the law committee of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan. Starting in 1996, he was deputy director of the Turkmen National Institute of Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan.

In May 1999, he was appointed as First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. In December 1999, he was appointed First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan. In May 2001, he was elected as Chairman of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan. In July 2001, he was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. Starting in August 2001, he simultaneously performed duties of director of the Turkmen National Institute of Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan. From 2003 to 2005, he worked as Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan. He was awarded "For the love of Fatherland" and "Gayrat" medals and "Galkynysh" order.