As the Soviet Union came apart, a desert republic on the Caspian Sea stepped out on its own.

On October 27, 1991, Turkmenistan declared its independence from the Soviet Union, following a referendum the day before. Within weeks the USSR itself ceased to exist.

In 1995 the UN General Assembly recognized Turkmenistan's status of permanent neutrality. Rich in natural gas and home to the ancient Silk Road city of Merv, it is one of Central Asia's least-visited countries.

What do you know about Turkmenistan?

#TheHistoryDecodedChannel