On 27 September, celebrations were held in Turkmenistan to mark the 35th anniversary of the country’s independence. The main events took place on the square in front of the State Tribune in Ashgabat, according to the news agency TDH.

The centrepiece of the celebrations was a grand military parade featuring personnel from the armed forces, the military and law enforcement agencies, cadets from military academies and representatives of various state bodies.

The President of Turkmenistan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the country’s Armed Forces, General of the Army Serdar Berdimuhamedov, took part in the ceremonial military parade. The Minister of Defence and Secretary of the State Security Council, B. Gundogdyev, reported to the Head of State on the readiness of the personnel. The President congratulated the military personnel and addressed the parade participants.

The ceremony began with the playing of the National Anthem of Turkmenistan and the raising of the National Flag. The military personnel took an oath of allegiance to the Motherland, the people and the President of Turkmenistan.

Representatives from the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of National Security, the State Border Service, the State Customs Service and the State Migration Service took part in the parade. Cadets from the Military Institute, the Naval Institute, the Ministry of the Interior Institute, the National Security Institute, the Border Guard Institute and other military educational institutions also marched in the parade.

Separate columns were formed by motorised infantry units, Air Force pilots, tank crews, artillerymen, signalmen, marines, mountain infantry and special forces. Female service personnel and mounted units from the armed forces and law enforcement agencies also took part in the parade.

A significant part of the parade was devoted to modern military equipment. Armoured vehicles, tanks, artillery systems, multiple launch rocket systems, engineering and specialised vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles and air defence systems were displayed on the square. Among the models on display were the ‘INKAS Titan’, ‘DAGOR’, ‘KIA KLTV’, ‘NIMR’, ‘Typhoon’, ‘T-72M’, ‘T-90S’, ‘BMP-2D’, ‘BMP-3’, ‘SMERCH’, ‘BM 21A BELGRAD’, as well as the ‘FM-90’, ‘KS-1A’, ‘FD-2000’ and ‘FK-2000’ systems.

Signal corps personnel took part in the parade for the first time. New unmanned systems and remotely controlled surface craft were also on display. The naval forces displayed vessels, including the corvette ‘Deňiz han’ and the missile boats ‘Edermen’ and ‘Gaýratly’.

The aerial section of the parade was led by ‘Mi-17V-5’ and ‘Mi-24P’ helicopters. Also taking part were the ‘Eurocopter-145’, ‘Eurocopter-365’, ‘Agusta-139’, the ‘C-27J SPARTAN’ military transport aircraft, and the ‘A-29 Super Tucano’, ‘Su-25’ and ‘M-346’ fighter aircraft. The air display concluded with flypasts by aircraft performing aerobatic manoeuvres in the sky.

A separate highlight was the procession of 35 riders on Ahal-Teke horses. A horse named Watan, presented to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on behalf of members of the Government to mark the 35th anniversary of independence, was also led onto the square.

The ‘Galkynyş’ National Equestrian Games Group and students from the Aba Annayev International Academy of Horse Breeding took part in the festive programme. Participants in the equestrian displays demonstrated elements of horse riding acrobatics and formed the number ‘35’.

The celebrations continued with theatrical performances, shows by artistic groups, and a procession of representatives from the Halk Maslahaty, the Mejlis, civil society organisations, the country’s regions and various sectors of the economy.

The event featured presentations on the development plans for the city of Arkadag, Ashgabat and the five velayats. These showcased achievements in construction, industry, energy, transport, agriculture, education, healthcare, sport, culture and other sectors.

The military parade concluded with an awards ceremony for the heads of the military and law enforcement agencies. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov presented them with the Turkmenistan commemorative medal ‘Türkmenistanyň Garaşsyzlygynyň 35 ýyllygyna bagyşlanyp geçirilen dabaraly harby ýörişe gatnaşyja’ and the corresponding certificates.

Festive events to mark the 35th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s independence were also held in other regions of the country.