INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS: ELECTIONS WERE HELD AT A HIGH ORGANIZATIONAL LEVEL

On March 26, 2018, the Observer Mission of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which monitored the election campaign and elections of the Mejlis deputies, held press conferences. The events were attended by representatives of national and foreign media, as well as members of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda in Turkmenistan.

Speaking to the audience, the Heads of Missions, expressing gratitude to the country's leadership and the Central Election Commission for the invitation to participate in the most important socio-political event, noted with satisfaction that the elections in Turkmenistan were organized on a broad alternative basis, open and transparent, with high activity electorate. According to the participants of the meeting, the invitation of international observers is seen as the desire of our country to ensure maximum transparency of the current campaign and the democratic nature of the election process.

In the opinion of the speakers, the conclusions and findings are based on an analysis of the national electoral legislation, direct observations and factual material collected during the time of the Mission members in our country. It was noted that the national electoral legislation has been improved in recent years, the Electoral Code of Turkmenistan corresponds to the universally recognized norms of international law and is a reliable legal basis for ensuring free and open expression of will of citizens.

A special emphasis was placed on the fact that, for the first time in the elections, three political parties were represented, as well as candidates from groups of citizens. Organizational work of the Central Election Commission and electoral commissions of all levels, competent legal and information support of the process of preparation and holding of elections was noted. The increased level of the democratic character of the election campaign was underscored.

Members of the Missions noted the high-quality information support of the election campaign by the domestic media. It was stressed that the elections in Turkmenistan were held in a calm atmosphere, in a correct form and at a high organizational level.