The second death anniversary of the late president of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov (Turkmenbashi), who died at the age of 67 on 21 December 2006, is being marked in Turkmenistan today. State flags were lowered all over Turkmenistan in commemoration of the first leader of Turkmenistan, and prayers were performed in mosques for the first president”s soul to rest in peace.
The main memorial ceremony was held in Kipchak (Saparmurat Niyazov”s home village). The leadership of the parliament of Turkmenistan, members of the Cabinet of Ministers, governors of all the five regions and the city of Ashgabat, heads and representatives from leading public organizations, clergymen, and honoured elders gathered at the family mausoleum of Saparmurat Niyazov. Saparmurat Niyazov”s farther, who died in the WWII, mother and two brothers, who died in the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake, were also buried in the mausoleum.
The first wreath of flowers laid to the mausoleum of Turkmenbashi came on behalf of the president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. A grand commemorative meal was offered later in the day according to Muslim customs and national traditions.
