← National days · Turkmenistan
December 12 1995· State day
Neutrality Day
On 12 December 1995 the UN General Assembly recognised Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality.
On 12 December 1995 the UN General Assembly adopted a special resolution recognising and supporting Turkmenistan's status of permanent neutrality, making it one of the first states whose neutrality was recognised by the United Nations.
Neutrality is the cornerstone of Turkmenistan's foreign policy: the country joins no military blocs, builds peaceful relations with its neighbours and hosts international talks. In 2017, on Turkmenistan's initiative, the UN proclaimed 12 December the International Day of Neutrality.
The holiday
12 December is celebrated in Turkmenistan as International Neutrality Day. Flowers are laid at the Neutrality Monument in Ashgabat, and international conferences, concerts and folk festivities take place. A new monument marking 30 years of permanent neutrality was unveiled in 2025.
Video
Photos
The Neutrality Monument in Ashgabat · Juris Paiders / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 
View of Ashgabat from the Neutrality Monument · Hans Birger Nilsen / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 
Panorama from the Neutrality Monument · Hans Birger Nilsen / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 
The Neutrality Monument on a banknote · Central Bank of Turkmenistan / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain 
5-manat banknote · Central Bank of Turkmenistan / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain 
Ashgabat at night from space · Astronaut photograph ISS071-E-672006 was acquired on September 16, 2024, with a / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
Turkmenistan: other days
- January 1New Year's Day
- January 27Defenders of the Fatherland Day
- March 8International Women's Day
- March 21National Spring Festival (Nowruz)
- AprilTurkmen Horse Day
- May 9Victory Day
- May 18Constitution and State Flag Day
- May 25Ashgabat City Day
- MayTurkmen Carpet Day
- June 27Day of Culture Workers and Magtymguly Pyragy's Poetry
- September 27Independence Day
- October 3Founding of the Organization of Turkic States
- October 6Remembrance Day (1948 earthquake)
- NovemberHarvest Day
- December 21Memorial Day of the First President S. A. Niyazov
- 10 Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar — the feast of the Hajj pilgrimage; moves about 11 days earlier each yearEid al-Adha
- 1 Shawwal in the Islamic calendar — the end of the Ramadan fast; moves about 11 days earlier each yearEid al-Fitr