Public holiday in Turkmenistan
The Memorial Day is an official holiday of Turkmenistan, commemorated on 12 January. It honors those who fell on 12 January 1881 defending the Geok Tepe fortress against the Russian troops. It is one of two mourning days in Turkmenistan. The country has marked Memorial Day since its independence in 1991 in commemoration of all those who gave their lives. The holiday is celebrated as a national day of mourning, with the resistance often being cited as a source of national pride.