TURKMENISTAN LEADER UNVEILS A STATUE OF HIS FAVOURITE DOG

As a leader of a country, we can only imagine that you have a lot on your plate. There are economic affairs, political stuff, doing deals with other countries, and then looking after your own country and its people.

In fact, most leaders are so busy that they usually don’t have time to sit around and write books. Autobiographies and other types of books are normally reserved for when they are no longer in office and have time to write.

Well, not the leader of Turkmenistan. Yes, it’s a real country and yes, we also had to Google to find out if in fact it is real and where it is located on the world map.

If you’re too lazy to Google, here’s a quick summary: Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow is the president; the country is located in Central Asia and it neighbours Uzbekistan.

Anyway, the leader has managed to not only publish a book on his favourite breed of dog, but he has also just recently unveiled a 15-metre-tall bronze statue of the Alabi canine – a breed native to the country.

The bronze statute, featuring a video screen showing the dogs in action, stands on a traffic circle in the country’s capital Ashgabat. It is covered in 24-carat gold leaf.

The Daily Mail reports that, back in 2017, Berdimuhamedow presented Russian president, Vladimir Putin, with an Alabi puppy during a state visit.

The Turkmenistan government released a press release that described the statue as demonstrating the respect and honour to the exemplary courage and cordial heart of these wonderful animals. The statue will highlight their role in the historical destiny of the nation and the place which Alabis occupy in the life of the nation, the press release stated.

Well, it might be really weird, but at least the statue of the dog has put the country on the world map for most people.

Good dog, Alabi, good dog.

Watch The Guardian video below for more on the golden dog statue in Turkmenistan.

Image credit: LAD Bible