The Government of Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Turkmenistan, it was the suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so Turkmenistan literally means the "Land of the Turkmen [people]". The Government system in this country is the presidential republic; authoritarian type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 5 provinces (velayatlar, singular - velayat) and 1 independent city*: Ahal Velayat (Arkadag), Ashgabat*, Balkan Velayat (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Velayat, Lebap Velayat (Turkmenabat), Mary Velayat

National symbols

Akhal-Teke horse; national colors: green, white.

The flag

The National flag of Turkmenistan has green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five tribal guls (designs used in producing carpets) stacked above two crossed olive branches; five white, five-pointed stars and a white crescent moon appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe; the green color and crescent moon represent Islam; the five stars symbolize the regions or welayats of Turkmenistan; the guls reflect the national identity of Turkmenistan where carpet-making has long been a part of traditional nomadic life.

note: the flag of Turkmenistan is the most intricate of all national flags

The National Anthem

Title	"Garassyz, Bitarap Turkmenistanyn" (Independent, Neutral, Turkmenistan State Anthem)
Lyric/music	collective/Veli MUKHATOV

note: adopted 1997, lyrics revised in 2008, to eliminate references to deceased President Saparmurat NYYAZOW

More about the government of Turkmenistan

Constitution
Date of Independence	27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday	Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Legal system	civil law system with Islamic (sharia) law influences
International law organization participation	has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
History	Several previous; latest adopted 14 September 2016
Amendments	Proposed by the Assembly or Mejlis; passage requires two-thirds majority vote or absolute majority approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2023 (changed legislature from bicameral to unicameral Assembly or Mejlis; reestablished People's Council or Halk Maslahaty and named former president Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV as National Leader of the Turkmen people
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	no
Citizenship by descent only	at least one parent must be a citizen of Turkmenistan
Dual citizenship recognized	yes
Residency requirement for naturalization	7 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV (since 19 March 2022)
Head of government	President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV (since 19 March 2022)
Cabinet	Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections/appointments	president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 12 March 2022 (next to be held in 2029); note - on 11 February 2022, President Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV announced his intent to retire, setting up an early presidential election
Election results	2022: Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV elected president; percent of vote - Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV (DPT) 73%, Khydyr NUNNAYEV (independent) 11.1%, Agadzhan BEKMYRADOV (IAP) 7.2%, other 8.7%; note - Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV is the son of previous president Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV 2017: Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV (DPT) 97.7%, other 2.3%
Legislative branch
Legislature name	Assembly (Mejlis)
Legislative structure	Unicameral
Number of seats	125 (all directly elected)
Electoral system	Plurality/majority
Scope of elections	Full renewal
Term in office	5 years
Most recent election date	3/26/2023
Parties elected and seats per party	Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (DPT) (65); Groups of citizens of Turkmenistan (28); Agrarian Party (24); Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (8)
Percentage of women in chamber	25.6%
Expected date of next election	March 2028
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Supreme Court of Turkmenistan (consists of the court president and 21 associate judges and organized into civil, criminal, and military chambers)
Judge selection and term of office	Judges appointed by the president for 5-year terms
Subordinate courts	High Commercial Court; appellate courts; provincial, district, and city courts; military courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Meret ORAZOV (since 14 February 2001)
Chancery	2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone	[1] (202) 588-1500
FAX	[1] (202) 588-1500
Email address and website	[email protected] https://usa.tmembassy.gov.tm/en
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Elizabeth ROOD (since 31 July 2024)
Embassy	9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat 744000
Mailing address	7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 20521-7070
Telephone	[993] (12) 94-00-45
FAX	[993] (12) 94-26-14
Email address and website	[email protected] https://tm.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	5 (4 cultural, 1 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Ancient Merv (c); Kunya-Urgench (c); Parthian Fortresses of Nisa (c); Cold Winter Deserts of Turan (n); Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor (c)