The Turkmen president-for-life on Saturday sacked the central bank governor on national television, saying he should go off and become a teacher.
Djumannyaz Annaorazov's sacking was the latest in a string of high-level demotions in Turkmenistan, where Sapurmurat Niyazov tolerates no dissent and is officially known as Turkmenbashi (leader of the Turkmen) the Great.
"I cannot trust him with state money. Let him go and work as a common teacher," said Niyazov on state television.
Just a fortnight ago, Niyazov warned Annaorazov that he had better be careful or he would meet the fate of five previous Central Bank governors. "Four... are already in jail and one is on the run," he said at the time.
A decree in the official press named the bank's First Deputy Governor Geldymurad Abilov to succeed Annaorazov and to represent Turkmenistan in the World Bank.
Top officials sacked last month included Culture Minister Maral Bashimova and General Prosecutor Kurmanbibi Atadzhanova who was accused of stealing state property including cars, houses, cattle and 30,000 buckets.
Niyazov tends to sack officials on national television, part of a bizarre personality cult which has seen a town, months of the year, days of the week and a heavenly body named after him or close relatives.