Berdymukhamedov collected close to 98% of the overall vote, with turnout in the gas-rich country at a record high of 97%.

The result was widely expected despite authorities allowing eight other candidates to participate in the presidential race.

It will be Berdymukhamedov’s third term in office after replacing Turkmenistan’s long-serving dictator Saparmurat Niyazov at the end of 2006 after his sudden death.