After several concert performances (including a performance on Turkmen television together with singer Aziza), he was awarded the title ‘‘Honorable Traditional Musician of the People‘‘ by the newly independent Republic of Turkmenistan. Ashkhabad was soon formed as a Muslim wedding music supergroup, naming itself after the capital of Turkmenistan. After one of the band's shows was recorded at a studio in Germany and given a tour in Europe, Charykuliev said that he owed all that he had to the President of Turkmenistan at that time Saparmurat Niyazov. In March 21, 2009, Charykuliev died in Ashgabat.