The ceremony in Anıtkabir started at 08.50 with the march of the state officials from the Lion Road.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan chaired the cortege, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa Şentop, Vice President Fuat Oktay, members of the Presidential Cabinet, CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, IYI Party Chairman Meral Akşener, heads of high judicial organs, force commanders, political parties. representatives, bureaucrats and other state officials.
Erdogan left a crescent-star wreath consisting of red and white carnations on Atatürk’s mausoleum. At 09:05, when Atatürk passed away 84 years ago, a moment of silence was observed and then the National Anthem was sung.
During the moment of silence, the Turkish flag was lowered at half-mast. President Erdoğan and the state officials involved in the protocol then went to the National Pact Tower.
Signing the Anıtkabir Special Book here, Erdoğan wrote the following:
“Dear Atatürk, on the 84th anniversary of your death, we once again commemorate your death, your heroic comrades in arms and our martyrs who defended our independence at the expense of their lives. We commemorate the Republic of Turkey, which you call ‘my greatest work,’ as 85 million, to the future with the vision of the ‘Century of Turkey’. We are preparing it in a stronger and more prestigious way. We will not stop until we realize the centuries-old dreams of our nation, we will not give up in the face of attacks, we will continue our struggle with determination. May your soul rest in peace.”
Due to the ceremony, intense security measures were taken around Anıtkabir. After the state ceremony, Anıtkabir was opened to the public.