Turkmenistan

Last modified: 2002-03-15 by phil nelson
Keywords: turkmenistan | turkmen | asia | commonwealth of independent states | crescent | star | five | national ornamentation | carpet |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

by Graham Bartram
Proportions: 2:3
Flag adopted 2001-Jan-24, coat of arms adopted 1992-FEB-19

• Presentation of Turkmenistan
• Flag Description
• 1992 Flag
• 1997 Flag
• Flag Day
• Oath of Allegiance
• Detail of the "Carpet"

See also:

• Turkmenian SSR (Soviet Union)
• Central Asian Khanates

Presentation of Turkmenistan

Notes: One of the last Central Asian regions to be brought fully under Russian control, parts of modern Turkmenistan continued to cling to independence until 1884, when the Khanate of Merv was annexed. This Khanate flew a plain red flag. A Turkmen SSR was created in 1925.
Stuart Notholt 25 November 1995

Flag Description

I have received information on the new Turkmenistan flag from the Turkmenistani Standardization and Measurement Office. Using the information I have redrawn my image of it (if I never see a Turkmeni carpet again it will be too soon). As well as changing the aspect ration, the edge ornaments on the stripe now touch the edge and all the Gulls have been redrawn. The orientation of the stars has changed - they are all now upside-down and lie along two straight lines. The crescent is also shallower.
Graham Bartram, 30 May 2001

The green band at hoist of "carpet" is a little wider (proportions being 4 -6 - 23 horizontal, 22 vertical)
Armand Noel du Payrat 25 May 2001

1992 Flag

A year after independence was regained, in 1992, Turkmenistan adopted a new national flag of extraordinary complexity. In the hoist of a relatively straightforward green flag with a white crescent and stars (symbolizing Islam) are placed five traditional carpet designs or 'guls'. The hoist stripe itself is dark red, while the guls are primarily in black, white and orange. Turkmenistan is famous for its carpets and each tribe has its own distinctive gul. Since the five guls in the flag are reportedly named after five tribes, they presumably stand for the various tribal groupings in the country.
Stuart Notholt 25 November 1995

by Mark Sensen

On 29-JAN-1997, an olive branch motif was added to Turkmenistan's nationalflag. According to a presidential decree, the olive branch is to symbolizethe peace-loving nature of the Turkmen people as well as the country's "neutral" status. Changes to the Turkmen national anthem and alphabet have also been made by presidential decree.
Christian Berghänel 3 February 1997

From the embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Moscow the "Nederlandse Vereniging voor Vlaggenkunde" got a paper flag of the new flag of Turkmenistan. It is very exact; it even tells which exact Pantone colours should be usedin making the flag, which is in fact the most complex present day national flag - in any case for flagmakers.

As shown in the image, the laurel branches are of the same model as in the flag of the United Nations. According to a Dutch diplomat the laurel branches refer presumably to the resolution, adopted January 12, 1995 by the General Assembly of the United Nations, in which is stated that the Republic of Turkmenistan is permanent neutral. In Turkmenistan they were very proud of this resolution. In order to get the laurel branch in the red carpet stripe of the flag, the two corner designs in the bottom of the 1992 flag were omitted. It should be noted that also the crescent and stars in the new flag are of a bigger format than in the former flag. The colours used in the flag are: black Pantone Black green Pantone 342 red Pantone 187 yellow Pantone 1735.
Mark Sensen & Jos Poels, 10 March 1997

Article one of the law on "Insertions and Supplements to the Law of Turkmenistan" states that "The State Flag of Turkmenistan is a symbol of unity and independence of the nation and neutrality of the state." Article two states that in the lower part of the dark red stripe, two crossed olive branches are depicted making a single composition with the carpet gel.
Steve Stringfellow, 4 February 1997

Flag Day

Oath of Allegiance

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty mentions an oath of allegiance that ends with words about the country, flag and president: Zokhra Meredova: Turkmenistan, my beloved Motherland, my beloved Homeland. You are always with me, in my thoughts and in my heart. For the slightest evil against you, let my hand be lost. For the slightest slander against you, let my tongue be lost. At the moment of my betrayal to my Motherland, to her sacred banner, to my President, let my breath be stopped.
Jan Oskar Engene, 26 February 1997

by Graham Bartram
Click on the image for a larger view