On 6 October 2018 Turkmenistan marked the Memorial Day. On this occasion the large-scale events were held in the memorial complex “People’s memory” located on the outskirts of Ashgabat.
Despite heavy rain which had been pouring from 4 a.m. until midday, public sector employees and students were forced to convene by 6 a.m. at the venue of the commemorative ceremonies to take part in the flower-laying ceremony.
Students are prevented from bringing umbrellas and warm clothes at such events as all of them are supposed to wear uniforms and hold identical bouquets of flowers.
The participants of the crowd scene had to stand for 2 to 3 hours until the official flower-laying ceremony with President Berdymukhammedov, officials and staff of foreign missions in attendance was completed.
Bad weather and cordoned off roads caused problems with public transport. Many residents failed to get to the cemetery and the mosque in the Upper Keshi to pay respects to family members who died.