Turkmen Independence Day Parade
The Turkmen Independence Day Parade is one of the main events celebrating the Independence of Turkmenistan from the Soviet Union in 1991. Independence Day is the main holiday of Turkmenistan. The parade is held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan every year and is the largest and most frequent military parade in Central Asia.
The parade in full detail
The President of Turkmenistan arrives on Independence Square at 10:00AM to the tune of the Presidential Fanfare. The president watches proceedings from the first-floor balcony of the Ceremony Field and Protocol Building, while diplomats and officials watch from below. The Minister of Defense first reports to the president on the status of the parade before heading to his white inspection vehicle while the parade commander gives the order to begin the review of the Ashgabat Garrison. The PC then gives his report on the parade's status to the minister before they both conduct a pass-in-review of the troops. While this happens, the troops sound a three-fold hurray until the minister finishes his/her inspection. After this is done, the National anthem of Turkmenistan is played by the massed bands of the Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan and a combined choir. While this happens, a flag raising ceremony is also held on the square. The troops will then take an oath of allegiance to Turkmenistan, the Turkmen people, and the president.The Commander of the Ashgabat Garrison, following the pledge taking, then gives the command to commence the parade proper as the markers take their places. Once the parade is ordered to begin, the Color Guard of the Independent Honor Guard Battalion of the Ministry of Defence of Turkmenistan starts to march down the square, followed by the Corps of Drums of the Military Institute of the Ministry of Defense and the military academies and units of the Turkmen Ground Forces, Turkmen National Guard, Turkmen Naval Forces and the Turkmen Air Force. After this is done, vehicles are then paraded across the square with military aviation flying overhead. At the conclusion of the parade, a drill team from the Independent Honor Guard Battalion of the Ministry of Defence and the massed bands and corp of drums of the military band service perform an exhibition drill. The military parade is followed by the mass procession of representatives of the five Regions of Turkmenistan, the capital of Ashgabat, as well as workers in various branches of Turkmenistan’s economy.
Timeline of notable anniversary parades since 1992
Parades have been held annually since 1997:- 1993 - It celebrated the 2nd anniversary of independence. It was the first military parade to be held since the fall of the USSR. The parade took place on Makhtumkuli Avenue in Ashgabat and was commanded by Minister of Defence, Colonel General Dangatar Kopekov as well as Annamurat Soltanov. Ismail Khan was one of the dignitaries in attendance.
- 1997 - It celebrated the 6th anniversary of independence.
- 2001 - It celebrated the 10th anniversary of independence. It was the last event to be held out of the 10-day celebrations to be held earlier that week. A similar parade was also held on Day of Neutrality that December.
- 2003 - It celebrated the 12th anniversary of independence. The troops marched in new uniforms for the first time.
- 2007 - It celebrated the 16th anniversary of independence. It was the first one for the newly elected president of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. The parade featured a column of officers selected for their merit and a motor rifle battalion that excelled at the Galkan-2007 tactical exercise. It was also the first parade of cadets of the Military Academy of Turkmenistan.
- 2010 - It celebrated the 19th anniversary of independence. It also paid homage to the 65th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War, with a rider in military uniform riding on the Akhal-Teke horse that descended from the horse used by Marshal Georgy Zhukov during a parade in 1945 being the first to appear on the square. The horse had led the Honor Guard Battalion on Red Square during the 2010 Moscow Victory Day Parade earlier that May. A civil defense contingent marched on the square for the first time.
- 2011 - It celebrated the 20th anniversary of independence. A separate parade was also held at Köpetdag Stadium on top Independence Square. During the parade, President Berdymukhammedow was given the honorific title of Arkadag for the first time. They were both commanded by Colonel Kairam Bairamov.
- 2015 - It celebrated the 24th anniversary of independence. The parade was inspected by Minister of Defence Colonel General Yaylym Berdiyev.
- 2016 - It celebrated the silver jubilee of independence. The President of Turkmenistan and Defense Minister Yaylym Berdiyev both inspected the parade white Mercedes while the troops chanted "Glory to Independent Turkmenistan!" as they both passed by. The parade also was commanded by the deputy defense minister, Colonel Shadurdi Durdiev. The parade demonstrated Chinese-made surface-to-air missile systems, and new unmanned air vehicles.
- 2017 - It celebrated the 26th anniversary of independence. The newest infantry fighting vehicles, such as self-propelled artillery towed guns, surface-to-air missiles and reactive artillery complexes "BM-21 BELGRADE" and Orbiter 3B vehicles were participants in the parade for the first time. The parade was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ayazov.
- 2018 - It celebrated the 27th anniversary of independence. It was the first parade held since independence day was moved to September 27.
- 2019 - It celebrated the 28th anniversary of independence. It was the first parade in which female siblings took part in the parade as part of the same contingent. The contingent in question was led by Major Nabat Nurgeldyeva, who was in her 16th parade. Dowamly, a horse that was born in 2017 and presented to President Berdymuhamedov, was shown at the parade for the first time.
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