Flag of Turkmenistan

The flag of Turkmenistan (Turkmen: Türkmenistanyň baýdagy) features a white crescent (symbol of Islam) and five stars representing the five regions of the country and the Five 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 of Turkmenistan on 27 September 1992 to replace the Soviet-era flag which consisted of a red background with two light blue bars in the middle. The modified version with a 2:3 ratio was adopted on 23 January 2001. State Flag and Constitution Day is celebrated on 18 May.[1]

Turkmenistan
Turkmen: Türkmenistanyň baýdagy
UseNational flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportion2:3
Adopted19 February 1992 (1992-02-19) (original version)
24 January 2001 (2001-01-24) (current version)
DesignA green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five carpet guls stacked above two crossed olive branches; a white waxing crescent moon and five white five-pointed stars appear in the upper field, to the fly side of the red stripe
UsePresidential standard Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportion2:3
Adopted27 September 1992 (original version)
14 February 2007 (current version)
Flying flag of Turkmenistan

Description
The flag on a Turkmenistan postage stamp, 1992.

It features a green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing rugs) stacked above two crossed olive branches similar to those on the flag of the United Nations; a white waxing crescent moon, typical of Turkic and Islamic symbology, and five white five-pointed stars appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe.

The green and red colors appear in this flag because they have been venerated historically by the Turkmen. The waxing crescent moon symbolizes the hope of the country for a shining future and the stars represent the five provinces (welaýatlar) of Turkmenistan: Ahal, Balkan, Daşoguz, Lebap and Mary.

The five traditional carpet designs along the hoist make the flag of Turkmenistan the most complex national flag design in the world. They represent the five major tribes or houses, and form motifs in the country's state emblem and flag. These Turkmen tribes in traditional order (as well as top to bottom) are Teke (Tekke), Yomut (Yomud), Saryk (Saryq), Chowdur (Choudur), and Arsary (Ersary). The middle design may also represent the Salyr (Salur), a tribe that declined as a result of military defeat before the modern period.

  • Teke
    Teke
  • Ýomut
    Ýomut
  • Saryk
    Saryk
  • Çowdur
    Çowdur
  • Ärsary
    Ärsary

History

The flag of the Russian Empire was the official flag of Turkmenistan until the Russian Revolution.

Before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Turkmenistan had a flag similar to all other Soviet Republics; see flag of the Turkmen SSR.

After independence in 1991, Turkmenistan adopted a flag very similar to the current design, on 19 February 1992. However, the designs on the left were different. On 1 February 1997, an olive branch was added to symbolise the peace-loving nature of the Turkmen people. 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 2001, the flag's proportion was changed from 1:2 to 2:3 and the green field was made lighter.[2]

  • Flag used from 1953-1992
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag used from 1953-1992
  • Flag used from 1992-1997
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag used from 1992-1997
  • Flag used from 1997-2001
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag used from 1997-2001

Military flags

All flags of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkmenistan are based on designs from the Soviet era.

  • Flag of the Ground Forces
    Flag of the Ground Forces
  • Flag of the Air Forces
    Flag of the Air Forces
  • Flag of the Naval Forces
    Flag of the Naval Forces

See also

References
  1. Tenora, Jiri. "The National Flag of Turkmenistan of 1992" (PDF). Raven. 2: 65–78.
  2. "Turkmenistan".
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