Regional Director for Turkmenistan
Foundation for the Defense of Democracy in Central Asia
Murad Klychevich Kurbanov serves as the Regional Director for Turkmenistan at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy in Central Asia (FDDCA). With more than three decades of experience in business leadership, public activism, and international civic engagement, he is recognized as one of the most influential representatives of the Turkmen democratic movement in exile. His work focuses on strengthening democratic governance, supporting civil society networks, combating corruption, and advocating for human rights across Turkmenistan and the wider Central Asian region.
Born on 15 October 1965 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Mr. Kurbanov is married and the father of four children. He built a strong academic foundation, beginning with a degree in civil engineering from the Turkmen Polytechnic Institute, which he completed in 1989. Between 1983 and 1985, he served in the Soviet Army (KVTUU, Kyiv, Ukraine).
In 1999, he earned an MBA in Economics and Corporate Management from the Dutch Business School, followed by a degree in French language teaching from the University of Mirail in Toulouse (France) in 2012.
Professional Career
Mr. Kurbanov began his professional activity in 1989 as a young civil engineer at the TurkmenZapadStroy Construction Trust of the Ministry of Construction of Turkmenistan. Between 1989 and 1991, he worked successively as a site master, foreman, and head of a construction division, contributing to major national infrastructure projects, including the commissioning of the 5th Technological Line of the Bezmein Cement Plant, a facility of strategic importance.
From the early 1990s onward, he became one of Turkmenistan’s leading private entrepreneurs during the country’s first wave of market liberalization:
• 1991–1993 – Founder and Director of the construction enterprise Logos
• 1993–2000 – Founder and Director of Shereket Holding
• 2000–2005 – Founder and CEO of the enterprises Ak Bugday and Shereket Sheker, active in agriculture and food production
After relocating to France, Mr. Kurbanov continued his professional and academic development. From 2008 to 2012, he taught construction materials at a multidisciplinary technical college in Osh (France), sharing his expertise with young specialists. Since 2012, he has been the Founder and Director of Victory Security, a private security and consulting company operating in France.
Public and Political Engagement
Murad Kurbanov is one of the most prominent figures in the Turkmen democratic diaspora:
• Since 2020 – Leader of the National Democratic Movement “Democratic Choice of Turkmenistan” (DWT), officially registered in France
• Since 2022 – Co-founder and one of the leaders of the Assembly of Civil Initiatives of Central Asia “Choice”, France
• April 2022 – Elected as the People’s President of Turkmenistan during alternative electronic elections organized by the Turkmen democratic community in exile
His leadership is marked by the promotion of democratic values, the fight against authoritarianism, and the creation of sustainable civic platforms for Turkmen citizens both inside the country and abroad. He works closely with Central Asian and European partners to address the challenges of political repression, economic monopolization, and human rights violations in Turkmenistan.
Sports Achievements
Mr. Kurbanov is an accomplished expert in martial arts and holds the 7th dan in Eurasia Aikido, reflecting his long-term dedication to physical discipline, strategic thinking, and personal development.
