CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION OF TURKMENISTAN: PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN TURKMENISTAN WERE HELD AT A HIGH LEVEL OF VOTERS' ACTIVITY

On March 26, 2018 a briefing of the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan G. Muradov, on the results of the elections of the deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the people’s councils and local councils was held in the conference hall of the Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan.

The briefing was attended by international observers, foreign journalists accredited in the country, as well as representatives of local media.

The Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan G.Muradov noted that the elections of the deputies of the Mejlis of the sixth convocation took place at a high level of voters' activity. The right to represent their constituents in the national parliament was claimed by the most worthy citizens of the country who are highly respected and trusted by their compatriots. The elections were held on a broad alternative basis on the principles of democracy and glasnost: for each seat in the Mejlis, several candidates for deputies claimed.

In these elections for the first time cameras were installed at the polling stations in the velayats and the city of Ashgabat, and the voting process was broadcast on the CEC website on-line.

The Chairman of the Central Election Commission stressed that 4072 national observers and 142 international and foreign observers from the UN, CIS, ODIHR OSCE, SCO, OIC, as well as from the United States, the Republic of Austria, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Turkey, the PRC, Pakistan and CIS countries observed the elections process.

Elections of the deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the people’s councils and local councils were covered by representatives of foreign mass media accredited in Turkmenistan and journalists who arrived in our country by invitation.

It was also noted that in the elections of the deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the people’s councils and local councils all over Turkmenistan, out of a total of 3,291,312 registered voters, 3,017,801 people voted, which amounted to 91.69 percent.

G.Muradov stated that on March 25 at 19.00 in the evening the voting at the polling stations was over, and counting of votes began, information from foreign polling stations continues to flow. He stressed that the final information on the results of the elections, in the terms determined by law, will be brought to the attention of the population.