Saparmurat Niyazov Memorial Day is observed in Turkmenistan every December 21 to commemorate the death anniversary of the country's first president, Saparmurat Niyazov, who died of a heart attack on this date in 2006. Niyazov, born on February 19, 1940, became the leader of Turkmenistan in 1985 and was appointed as the first president after the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. His presidency was marked by a strong personality cult, with strict limitations on press freedom and opposition. Niyazov's book, Ruhnama, was promoted as the "spiritual guidance of the nation." He is buried in the Gypjak Mosque, also known as the Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque, which he constructed in anticipation of his death. While the memorial day is significant, it is not a public holiday, and government offices, educational institutions, and businesses remain open.