19 February 1992; 33 years ago (1992-02-19) (original version) 24 January 2001; 25 years ago (2001-01-24) (current version)
Design
A green field with a vertical red stripe near thehoist side, containing five carpetguls stacked above two crossed olive branches; a white waxing crescent moon and five whitefive-pointed stars appear in the upper field, to thefly side of the red stripe
27 September 1992 (original version) 14 February 2007 (current version)
Flying flag of Turkmenistan
Thenational flag ofTurkmenistan (Turkmen:Türkmenistanyň baýdagy) features a white crescent and five stars representing the five regions of the country and theFive Pillars of Islam. Placed upon a green field is a symbolic representation of the country's famous carpet industry. It was introduced as the flag ofTurkmenistan on 27 September 1992 to replace theSoviet-era flag. The modified version with a 2:3 ratio was adopted on 24 January 2001.State Flag and Constitution Day is celebrated on 18 May.[1]
While no official explanation has been given for the symbolism of the flag's colors or white symbols, there are several leading theories. Some such as theRussian Centre of Vexillology and Heraldry claim that the green field stands for life, land, grass, prosperity, and peace, while the crescent moon symbolizes the clear sky aboveTurkmenistan's people. They claim the stars represent the fiveprovinces (welaýatlar) of Turkmenistan:Ahal,Balkan,Daşoguz,Lebap andMary.[3] Soon after the flag was adopted, multiple newspapers gave their own explanations of the flag's symbolism, claiming that the color green was chosen to resemble banners historically used by the Turkmen people, and the color white was chosen to represent the brightness of life. They also reported that the five points on the stars represented the fivestates of matter, solid, liquid, gas, plasma, and crystal, while the number of stars represented the five main preconditions of life, light, sound, taste, smell, and feeling. The newspapers stated that stars and crescent moon together symbolized the belief in a bright future.[4]
The five traditional carpet guls represent the five majortribes of Turkmenistan, and form motifs in the country's state emblem and flag. The Turkmen tribes in traditional order (as well as top to bottom) are theTeke,Yomut,Saryk,Chowdur, andErsari.[1]
On October 6, 1926, the Constitution of the Turkmen SSR was adopted, instating the first flag of theTurkmen Soviet Socialist Republic. The flag was a red field, with a gold-bordered red star and golden hammer and sickle in its canton.[5] On March 2, 1937, a new constitution was adopted, changing the flag to a red banner with the gold letters "T.S.S.R." in its canton.[6] On July 19, 1940, theLatin letters in the canton were changed toCyrillic letters, to match the Republic's newalphabet. The letters in the canton were now "T.C.C.P.".[7] On August 1, 1953, a decree from the Presidium of theSupreme Soviet of the Turkmen SSR changed the flag to a red field with two horizontal blue bars in its middle, and a golden hammer and sickle and gold-bordered red star in its canton. The state constitution was amended to address this change.[8] On September 23, 1974, the Presidium again modified the flag, moving the star and hammer and sickle to border thehoist.[9] No modifications would be made to the flag's design until Turkmenistan gained independence.
After independence in 1991, the government of Turkmenistan decided to change its national symbols, including the flag. In early February 1992 an exhibition was held at the hall of the Union of Artists inAshgabat, which displayed proposed flags andcoats of arms from across the country. That same month, members of the 13th meeting of theSupreme Soviet were tasked with choosing a flag from the proposed designs. On February 19, 1992, the new flag was signed into law. On March 21, 1992, the Turkmen New Year, presidentSaparmurat Niyazov raised the flag for the first time.[4]
On January 29, 1997,[10] amendments were made to the Law of Turkmenistan On the State Flag of Turkmenistan. Anolive branch, a common symbol of the United Nations, was added to the national flag following the United Nations' proclamation of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality on December 12, 1995. This was done to commemorate the principles of neutrality in the national symbols of Turkmenistan.[11] The positioning of the crescent and stars was also changed, with the crescent positioned roughly to its current position but with the stars in a much more uneven position.
In 24 January 2001,[12] the flag's proportion was changed from 1:2 to 2:3 and the green field was made lighter.[13]
In 2008,a giant flagpole standing 133 meters (436 ft) tall and flying the Turkmen flag was installed in front ofThe State Museum of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan inAshgabat. The flag measures 52.5 by 35 meters (172 by 115 ft) and weighs 420 kilograms (930 lb). The flagpole was entered into the Guinness World Records. An honorary guard is stationed at its base.[14]
A green field with a 1:2 proportion. A vertical red stripe is near the hoist side, containing five carpet guls. A white crescent moon and five white five-pointed stars are placed to the right of the stripe
1997–2001
Similar to the previous flag, with a golden olive branch added to the bottom of the red stripe
2001–present
Similar to the previous flag, with a lighter shade of green and a 2:3 proportion
^"Государственный флаг Туркменистана" [National flag of Turkmenistan] (in Russian). Russian Centre of Vexillology and Heraldry. 20 January 2018. Retrieved11 May 2024.
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