RECKON MICHAEL D Higgins would like a statue all of his own?

Over in Turkmenistan, they’ve paid tribute to their President in a most grandiose fashion – with a 21-metre gold-leafed statue of him riding a horse while carrying a dove.

The statue of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov – which is perched on a huge tower made of marble – was unveiled today in Ashgabat.

AP says that this isn’t the first time Turkmenistan has created a gold-leaf statue in honour of a leader. It also has such statues dedicated to Berdymukhamedov’s predecessor, Saparmurat Niyazov.

Officials, says AP, say the new statue was built in response to “overwhelming public demand”.

Turkmenistan is an authoritarian former Soviet nation.

- Additional reporting Associated Press

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Turkmenistan has unveiled this MASSIVE statue of its president riding a horse

Read: Guess where Ireland ranks in the world in terms of press freedom…>

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.