On October 8, a concert by masters of the arts from the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States was held at the fountain complex of the Avaza National Tourist Zone. The cultural event was attended by President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the heads of high-level delegations who arrived to take part in the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State.
At the start of the celebration, Russian director Robert Frantsev, winner of the Interstate Television Film Competition “Flight of the Steed: Power and Grace” with his film “The Akhal-Teke Horse – Treasure of the Nation”, was presented with the competition’s special commemorative statuette, a diploma and a cash prize of USD 10,000 from the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Care.
During the concert, organized as part of the international events taking place on the Caspian coast, the grand prize of the international contest “Tatar Kyzy – 2026” was awarded. The winner was A. Makhmudova, representing Uzbekistan, who was presented on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan with the keys to a ZEEKR X9 car. She received the most heartfelt congratulations.
The contest, a vivid embodiment of beauty and grace, ended with the victory of the Tatar girl, who expressed her sincere gratitude to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Hero-Arkadag and the people of Turkmenistan for the warm welcome on Turkmen soil in keeping with national traditions of hospitality, and for the high level of organization of the events. As she emphasized, taking part in an international contest held on the picturesque Caspian coast was a great honor for her, and her victory will forever remain one of the happiest and most memorable events of her life.
The gala concert opened with the song “Arkadagly Serdarym bu gün uly toý tutýar”. The performance by the folklore ensemble “Dokmaçylar”, combining singing and lively dance, reflected the impressive achievements of the Motherland, confidently advancing to new heights of progress under the wise leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
The literary and musical composition “Awazanyň kenarynda, ýaňlanýar dostluk aýdymy” was dedicated to Turkmenistan’s growing friendship with the countries of the world and to Avaza’s significance as a unique hub bringing peoples together.
The concert program also featured vibrant performances by well-known pop artists and dance groups from CIS countries. Each number seemed to transport the audience into the atmosphere of another country, introducing them to its culture and art. Performers included the Pyatnitsky State Academic Russian Folk Choir, the Belarusian State Ensemble “Pesniary”, the Belarusian State Academic Choreographic Ensemble “Khoroshki”, the dombra ensemble of students of the Kazakh National University of Arts, the State Dance Ensemble “Saltanat”, and renowned masters of culture and art from the Commonwealth countries.
Performances by People’s and Honored Artists of Turkmenistan, well-known singers, musicians and folklore groups added special color to the concert. The audience’s thunderous applause was a high tribute to the artists’ talent and professional skill.
The music and dance numbers were accompanied by video footage of picturesque places and landmarks of cities around the world, the distinctive traditions and customs of different peoples, and their cultural and spiritual values, celebrating peace, friendship, brotherhood and unity.
The festive program continued with the ancient Kushtdepdi dance, an integral part of the national and world cultural treasury, inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This unique example of Turkmen folk art, reflecting the historical and cultural traditions and spiritual world of the people, is being filled with new meaning in the modern era.
The concert concluded with a joint performance of the song “Öňe, öňe, diňe öňe, jan Watanym Türkmenistan!”, with words and music by Hero-Arkadag. Its solemn sound is a symbolic anthem to the rapid development of the Motherland, its bright future and great goals.
