Turkmen people take part in an opening ceremony of the first monument to Turkmenistan's President Berdymukhamedov in Ashgabat on May 25, 2015. (AFP)

ASHGABAT:  Turkmenistan unveiled the first monument to President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov today - a gilded 6-metre-high statue of the leader on horseback perched on a white cliff, reflecting his flourishing personality cult in the reclusive gas-rich nation.

Berdymukhamedov, a 57-year-old dentist, is officially titled "Arkadag" (The Patron) and brooks no dissent.

"Glory to Arkadag!" chanted students as white doves and balloons were released into the sky in a central square in the capital Ashgabat. The president did not attend the ceremony.

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Berdymukhamedov's monument, gilded with 24-carat gold, reflects his fondness for local Akhal Teke horses known for their beauty and stamina.

От так - Азія ....а Путіну тільки в образі імператора....почекаємо "шедевр" ....