Observance guideSource-backed

Independence Day of Turkmenistan2026 · Date · History · Messages

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that 27 September is celebrated as Independence Day in Turkmenistan and lists it among public holidays.

Annual dateReviewed 2026-09-23Sensitive topic

About Independence Day of Turkmenistan

Independence Day of Turkmenistan is currently observed on September 27.

This date is important to distinguish from the former October 27 recurrence: official state material shows Independence Day on October 27 in earlier years and states that 2018 was the first time it was observed on September 27.

Why Independence Day of Turkmenistan matters

The day is Turkmenistan’s national independence anniversary and is listed by the Mejlis among national holidays on which work is not carried out.

The guide focuses on verifiable holiday chronology and law; ceremonial or contemporary political statements in official speeches are not repeated as neutral conclusions.

History of Independence Day of Turkmenistan

The 1991 Constitutional Law on independence and the foundations of Turkmenistan’s state structure created Independence Day as a nationwide holiday; the current consolidated text notes an amendment by Law No. 619-V of October 9, 2017.

Official state material from 2015 documents Independence Day on October 27, establishing the former recurrence before the amendment.

A state news report dated September 27, 2018 said Independence Day was being observed on September 27 for the first time.

Current Mejlis information and the Labour Code list Independence Day on September 27, so the modern date, former date and amending-law chronology can be stated without relying on ceremonial political rhetoric.

Institutional timeline

How the observance developed

This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.

Establishment27 October 1991
Supreme Council of Turkmenistan
Constitutional Law of Turkmenistan on independence and the foundations of state structure, No. 573-XII
Date Change9 October 2017
Amended the 1991 Constitutional Law so the recurring Independence Day is September 27 rather than the former October 27 date; official 2018 material identifies that year as the first observance on September 27.
Turkmenistan · Law of Turkmenistan No. 619-V amending the Constitutional Law on independence and foundations of state structure
RecognitionLater institutional action
Lists September 27, Independence Day, among holiday days when work is not carried out.
Mejlis of Turkmenistan · Labour Code, Article 81
Current stewardshipCurrent
Turkmenistan public authorities / Mejlis
Current parliamentary and legal sources document the modern date and non-working holiday status.

Origins & establishment

What the evidence establishes

Evidence & sources ↓

Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.

Proclaiming / establishing bodySupreme Council of TurkmenistanThe Constitutional Law dated 27 October 1991 was adopted by the Supreme Council and established Independence Day as a nationwide holiday.

Original establishing instrument / decisionConstitutional Law of Turkmenistan on independence and the foundations of state structure, No. 573-XIIArticle 19 of the consolidated 1991 Constitutional Law establishes Independence Day as an annual nationwide non-working holiday; the consolidated text also records the 2017 amendment.

Original instrument adoption / decision date27 October 1991The official Mejlis consolidated law gives the original Constitutional Law date as 27 October 1991 and number 573-XII.

Current facilitator / coordinatorTurkmenistan public authorities / MejlisCurrent parliamentary and legal sources document the modern date and non-working holiday status.

Former date27 OctoberOfficial state sources document Independence Day on 27 October before the 2018 move to September 27.

Why this exact date?27 September is the current recurring Independence Day date after the 2017 amendment to the 1991 Constitutional Law; official material says 2018 was the first observance on that date.The consolidated constitutional law, former-date official material and 2018 first-new-date source establish the lifecycle chronology.

3 fields not established in reviewed sources

Originator / proposerA national independence anniversary is not modeled as a privately originated observance.

First observanceThe first recurring Independence Day overall is not independently established; only the first observance on the current September 27 date is verified for 2018.

Former nameNo former recurring name is asserted.

Later institutional actions

Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.

Date ChangeAmended the 1991 Constitutional Law so the recurring Independence Day is September 27 rather than the former October 27 date; official 2018 material identifies that year as the first observance on September 27.Turkmenistan · Law of Turkmenistan No. 619-V amending the Constitutional Law on independence and foundations of state structure · 9 October 2017The amendment is identified in the official consolidated Constitutional Law; official 2015 and 2018 sources establish the former and new observed dates.

RecognitionLists September 27, Independence Day, among holiday days when work is not carried out.Mejlis of Turkmenistan · Labour Code, Article 81Current legal-status evidence for the modern recurrence.

Source qualityHigh confidence

5 Primary institutional / legal

View all sources ↓

Names

Also known as

Turkmenistan Independence Day

How to Observe Independence Day of Turkmenistan

Use current parliamentary or legal sources when giving the modern September 27 date.

When reading older sources, note that they may correctly refer to the former October 27 observance.

Attend cultural or civic events where appropriate and lawful.

Separate historical or legal facts from ceremonial political rhetoric in speeches and anniversary messaging.

Check current official notices for any year-specific workday substitution or closure rule.

Independence Day of Turkmenistan Facts

Fact 01

Turkmenistan Independence Day is currently observed on September 27.

Fact 02

Official sources show that the observance formerly fell on October 27.

Fact 03

The consolidated 1991 Constitutional Law notes an amendment by Law No. 619-V dated October 9, 2017, and its current Article 19 states the September 27 recurrence.

Fact 04

A 2018 state source describes that year as the first Independence Day observed on September 27.

Fact 05

The current Labour Code lists September 27 as Independence Day and a holiday day when work is not carried out.

Independence Day of Turkmenistan Messages

Wishing people marking Turkmenistan Independence Day a meaningful September 27.

May Independence Day be an occasion for learning about history, culture and civic institutions.

May the day encourage thoughtful learning about Turkmenistan’s history and cultural traditions.

Classification

Topic and context

Civic, Remembrance & History →

Accuracy notes

What this page does not assume

Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Remembrance Civic Context Care.

Evidence

Evidence & sources

Source policy →

Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.

Source 01mejlis.gov.tm