Fergana.ru, Ashgabat, 16 Dec 2008 – RIA-Novosti reports indicate that the parliament of Turkmenistan passed a law “On the state anthem” amending the text of the anthem.
The word “Turkmenistan” that stands for “the father of all Turkmens” (the term previously applied to late President Saparmurat Niyazov) in the first line of the refrain was replaced with “halk” or “people”. The Turkmen state is now extolled in the anthem as “the great accomplishment of the people” which sounds more democratic.
The name of the Great Turkmenbashi is gradually dropped from official memory. Niyazov is no longer mentioned in the official oath. Studies of his book Rukhnama at colleges are less thorough, portraits of the late president were removed from some banknotes, and the name itself was removed from the presidential standard.
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