Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Feb.8 / Trend, H. Hasanov /
The CIS Observer Mission welcomes the measures taken by the Turkmen government, including the executive authorities and the country's Central Election Commission "to ensure free, fair and democratic elections", the mission said.
Presidential elections in Turkmenistan are scheduled for Feb.12, the list includes eight candidates, including President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov.
The CIS mission includes 63 observers, representing Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of Belarus-Russia Union, as well as CIS Executive Committee.
According to the report, the CIS observers believe that during preparation for the elections a high level of organization and congruence in the work of election commissions was ensured. "The measures within the election campaign took place in a calm atmosphere."
About 3 million voters are included in the voter lists. According to the CIS observers, the procedure for drawing up and clarifying voter lists guarantees realization of the general suffrage principle.
Observers stress "openness and transparency in the activity of election commissions, as well as the desire of the commission members to hold elections at the highest organizational level".
"The pre-election campaign is carried out within the electoral law and ethic norms, in the correct form, given the national mentality and traditions," the CIS mission stress.
The CIS Observer Mission will present final conclusions and evaluation of the results of monitoring of the election campaign in Turkmenistan in its final document after the elections.
According to the Constitution, the President of Turkmenistan must be a citizen of and born in Turkmenistan, aged at least 40 and no older than 70 years, know the state language, have resided in Turkmenistan over the past 15 years and have worked in state bodies, public associations, enterprises, institutions and organisations. The presidential term is five years.