Turkmenistan’s Independence Day, celebrated annually on September 27th, marks the country’s liberation from the Soviet Union in 1991. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Turkmenistan, along with other Central Asian republics, sought to forge its own path. On October 27, 1991, Turkmenistan officially declared its independence, and the Supreme Soviet of Turkmenistan adopted the Act of Independence, marking the end of Soviet rule and the birth of a sovereign nation.
Saparmurat Niyazov, who had already been leading the Turkmen SSR, became the first president of independent Turkmenistan and continued to lead the country as its autocratic ruler until his death in 2006. Under his leadership, Turkmenistan pursued a policy of neutrality, which was later recognized by the United Nations, making Turkmenistan a neutral state in international relations—a unique status that the country still upholds today.
The day is celebrated with grand parades, cultural performances, and speeches that highlight the country’s rich cultural heritage and achievements since independence. Turkmenistan’s independence is also symbolic of its journey to establish a unique national identity, combining its historical roots as part of the ancient Silk Road with modern aspirations.–Worldwide Events