Turkmen Post (Russian: Туркменпочта, Turkmenpochta), is the national postal operator of Turkmenistan. The company is responsible for the delivery of mail and issuing postage stamps. It has been a member of the Universal Postal Union since January 26, 1993. Its headquarters are located in Ashkabad. Mail service has existed in Turkmenistan since the time of the Russian Empire. However, since October 1991, the country organizes its own postal service functions.