On February 20, 2026, a gala event was held at the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the Russian Federation dedicated to the motto of 2026, «Independent neutral Turkmenistan − the homeland of purposeful winged horses», the 35th anniversary of Independence of Turkmenistan, and the presentation of the new book by the President of Turkmenistan, «The Neutrality of Turkmenistan – The Bright Path of Peace and Trust».
The event brought together representatives of the public and academic circles, horse breeding experts, equestrian professionals, representatives of the Turkmen diaspora in Russia, students from Turkmenistan studying at higher educational institutions in the Russian Federation, and media representatives.
In his welcoming address, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the Russian Federation E.Aydogdyev emphasized that the year 2026 in Turkmenistan is celebrated under the motto «Independent neutral Turkmenistan − the homeland of purposeful winged horses». The image of a determined steed reflects the country’s current pace of development. The motto sets the direction for the near future, becoming a guideline for Turkmenistan’s political and cultural events throughout 2026.
As noted, in the new historical era, thanks to the tireless work and efforts of Hero Arkadag and Arkadagly Hero Serdar, who are true connoisseurs and admirers of the «heavenly» horses, excellent riders and popularizers of equestrian sports, the Akhal-Teke horse has become one of the main symbols of Turkmenistan, personifying the inextricable connection between times and generations.
Speaking about the significance of the President of Turkmenistan’s new work, «The Neutrality of Turkmenistan – The Bright Path of Peace and Trust», E.Aydogdyev emphasized that the publication reveals the legal and political foundations of neutrality, its role in ensuring regional and global stability, and Turkmenistan’s contribution to promoting a culture of peace and trust.
During the ceremony, Turkmen students from the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation presented a literary and musical composition based on the poem «Rovach» by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Hero-Arkadag.
Then the meeting was attended by a member of the International Association of Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding, Honored Horse Breeder of Turkmenistan, Head of the Department of the Scientific and Artistic Museum of Horse Breeding, Editor-in-Chief of the information and analytical almanac «Akhal-Teke Inform» Y.Kuznetsova, Senior Researcher of the All-Russian Research Institute of Horse Breeding named after Academician V.V.Kalashnikov N.Abramova, head of the Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding Center and chief registrar of the State Stud Book of Akhal-Teke Horses, and P. Lazdyn, a student at Lomonosov Moscow State University, a professional athlete, horse owner, and co-founder of the MediaHorse equestrian entertainment media project.
As noted in the presentations, Turkmens have nurtured and refined the Akhal-Teke horse for centuries, preserving its unique qualities. The horses’ distinctive silky sheen, their elegant and refined exterior, their light, swift, bird-like gait, and their inexhaustible power and energy are the result of the painstaking work of masters who have achieved great heights in their craft, tireless horse trainers, and hardworking horse breeders.
The inclusion of the Akhal-Teke horse breeding art and horse-decorating traditions in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as one of the outstanding areas of Turkmen art further enhanced the prestige of these «heavenly» horses – a phenomenon of national and world culture.
The song «Melegush» concluded the celebration.
As part of the event, a thematic exhibition was held in the Embassy building. The exhibit included books by the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, works by the National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and a variety of photographs taken in Turkmenistan and Russia, capturing the beauty of the «heavenly» Akhal-Teke horses.
