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Change of Names for Days and Months in Turkmenistan - 2002-08-09

Feb 12, 2026 February 12, 2026 1 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

The President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov, is proposing to rename the months of the year and days of the week to honor national figures and themes. This includes naming the first month after himself and changing April to honor his mother. This move reflects a broader trend of personalizing national symbols and could impact national identity.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: Niyazov's renaming initiative underscores his authoritarian governance style and the personalization of national identity in Turkmenistan.

👥 Key Players

Saparmurat Niyazov MENTIONED
President of Turkmenistan
"Niyazov, known as Turkmenbashi, is a significant figure in Central Asian politics, known for his authoritarian rule and efforts to create a cult of personality."

📰 What Happened

The President of Turkmenistan announced plans to rename the months of the year and days of the week to honor national heroes, including himself and his mother. This reflects a trend of personalizing national symbols in Turkmenistan.

  • The first month of the year will be renamed Turkmenbashi.
  • April will be renamed to honor Niyazov's mother.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: Changes in Turkmenistan's national identity could affect its relations with Iran, particularly in areas of cultural and economic exchange.
🌍 Regional: This move may influence other Central Asian states' approaches to national identity and governance.
🌐 International: International observers may view this as a sign of increasing authoritarianism and a focus on personality cults in post-Soviet states.

📚 Background

Turkmenistan has been ruled by Niyazov since its independence from the Soviet Union, and he has implemented various policies to promote his image and legacy.

Authoritarianism in Central Asia Cult of personality in politics
📡 Source: STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence: 70%
This information may reflect the official narrative of the Turkmen government, which tends to emphasize national pride and the president's achievements.

The President of Turkmenistan has announced plans to change the names of the months of the year to honor national heroes, including himself. Saparmurat Niyazov, who is officially known as Turkmenbashi or 'Father of All Turkmen', stated in a meeting of the People's Council in Turkmenabad that he proposes the first month of the year be named Turkmenbashi and that April be renamed after his mother. Other months are also suggested to be renamed to reflect themes of flag, independence, and neutrality. Additionally, the President intends to change the names of most days of the week: Monday will be called 'Main Day', Tuesday 'Youth Day', Wednesday 'Good Day', Thursday 'Day of Blessing', Saturday 'Day of Spirituality', and Sunday 'Day of Rest'.

🌐

Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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