Ivan Mezhlauk (19 November 1924 – 1926; acting to 20 February 1925) Shaymardan Ibragimov (June 1926 – 1927) Nikolay Paskutsky (1927–1928) Grigory Aronshtam (11 May 1928 – August 1930) Yakov Popok (August 1930 – 15 April 1937) Anna Mukhamedov (April – October 1937; acting) Yakov Chubin (October 1937 – November 1939) Mikhail Fonin (November 1939 – March 1947) Shadzha Batyrov (March 1947 – July 1951) Sukhan Babayev (July 1951 – 14 December 1958) Dzhuma Durdy Karayev (14 December 1958 – 4 May 1960) Balysh Ovezov (13 June 1960 – 24 December 1969) Muhammetnazar Gapurow (24 December 1969 – 21 December 1985) Saparmurat Niyazov (21 December 1985 – 16 December 1991)