The presidential elections in Turkmenistan are over. At 19.00 97.12% of voters voted, the CEC of the country reported .
A total of 3,435,950 voters were registered, for whom 2,577 polling stations were organized.
Acting President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov voted at secondary school No. 68 named after Annaniyaz Artyk in Ashgabat, TASS writes .
He arrived at the site with his 85-year-old mother, whom he drove in a wheelchair. He called the elections "historic".
The president's son and candidate from the ruling Democratic Party, Serdar Berdimuhamedov , also voted at Secondary School No. 68.
Correspondents of "Chronicles of Turkmenistan" report low activity of citizens. To follow the elections online, as the authorities promised the day before at a special meeting of the Cabinet, it is possible only while in the country.
Russian Ambassador to Ashgabat Alexander Blokhin commented on the elections in an interview with TASS as follows: “Elections are always held here without any incidents. I am sure that this time everything will be absolutely worthy. There are observers, they will make their conclusions, but, in my opinion, already ten years of experience, all elections are held in an exceptionally organized manner . It should be noted that the Turkmen side knows how to organize everything at the highest level , from visits to major events.”
Meanwhile, on March 8, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights recommended that an observer mission not be sent to Turkmenistan to assess early presidential elections. The Bureau's statement refers to a "short time frame" between the announcement of the election and the holding of the election. This decision is also due to Turkmenistan's disregard for the recommendations of the organization to ensure pluralism in the electoral process and respect for basic human rights , Radio Azatlyk reports .
Source: Chronicles of Turkmenistan