CENTRAL COMMISSION FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS IN TURKMENISTAN
The elections held in the country inherit their roots from ancient traditions that have reached perfection on the basis of the mature practice of our fathers and continue in accordance with the requirements of today.
One of the important tasks in permanently Neutral Turkmenistan is to improve the electoral system, electoral legislation, compliance with generally accepted norms of international law, conduct and organize elections based on democratic principles, clarity, and publicity.
Under the leadership of the distinguished President in the Independent, permanently Neutral Turkmenistan, along with all other systems, special attention is also paid to the electoral system. The country is undergoing fundamental changes aimed at ensuring the constitutional rights of citizens, strengthening the principles of genuine democracy and the democratic foundations of the state.
In recent years, the attention focused on strengthening democratic principles in accordance with international election observation standards, in order to achieve democracy in public life.
In fact, the provision of all opportunities for observation at the international and local levels is one of the main conditions for holding democratic elections, and these conditions are reflected in generally accepted international documents.
The main purpose of election observation is to protect the citizens' electoral rights and to support the implementation of international electoral obligations on democratic principles.
The Constitution of Turkmenistan and the Electoral Code of Turkmenistan are the legal basis for holding elections in the country.
In accordance with Article 6 of the Electoral Code of Turkmenistan, the control within their powers is realized by proxies, national observers, observers of foreign states and international organizations.
Citizen of Turkmenistan who has the right to vote can be a national observer, with the exception of heads of state powers and local self-government bodies, judges, prosecutors, members of election commissions, candidates and proxies of candidates.
The right to appoint national observers belongs to political parties, public associations and groups of citizens and candidates.
National observers are appointed by political parties, public associations at meetings of their local bodies and meetings of groups of citizens.
A meeting of a group of citizens designated by national observers is legally qualified if at least thirty citizens with voting rights participate in it.
Candidates may appoint one national observer at each polling station within their constituency.
The work of appointing national observers begins on the day of announcing of the election campaign.
The registration of national observers at the elections of the President of Turkmenistan is carried out by the Central Election Commission, and the registration of deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the halk maslahaty and the Gengesh, by the election commissions of velayats and the Ashgabat city.
The power of national observers begins on the day of their registration and cease on the day of the official publication of the election results.
In order to conduct an orderly election, in accordance with part 31 of Article 26, Central Commission for holding elections and referendums in Turkmenistan is organizing a commission to interact with national observers. The commission includes members and specialists of the Central Commission for holding elections and referendums in Turkmenistan, responsible persons of political parties and public associations.
The composition of the commission for cooperation with national observers is approved by the Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan and is issued a certificate of the established sample.
Members of the commission for cooperation with national observers participate in all meetings of the Central Election Commission and get acquainted with all decisions and resolutions.
Democratic elections occupy an important place in the political life of each state. Due to this, are determined the future direction, political and state structure of the development of the state and the rights of citizens. Free elections are one of the democratic ways to improve socio-political relations and the development of democracy. In the implementation of these important areas, an important role is played the improvement of electoral legislation, the practice in the conduction and organization of democratic elections.
In accordance with Article 6 of the Electoral Code of Turkmenistan, invitations to international observers may be sent by the President of Turkmenistan and the Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan after the appointment of Election Day.
In addition, in accordance with this article, the official accreditation of international observers, if invited, is provided by the Central Election Commission.
Their activities are regulated by this code and other regulatory legal acts of Turkmenistan, generally recognized norms of international law.
Election commissions, bodies of state power and local self-government, officials within their competence, provide the necessary assistance to a foreign (international) observer.
An international observer conducts its business independently.
International observers are not entitled to carry out activities not related to the observation of the preparation and conduction of elections.
The rights of international observers begin on the day of their registration, and end on the day of the official publication of the election results.
In the elections held on March 25, 2018, political parties, public associations and groups of citizens appointed 4,072 national observers to ensure the transparency of the election of members of the velayat, etrap and city halk maslahaty and Gengesh, as well as deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan. Including: from the Democratic Party - 591; Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs - 311; Agrarian Party - 392; Trade unions - 665; Women's Union - 253; Youth organization - 525, representatives of groups of citizens - 226, from candidates - 1109.
In addition, on the elections of members of the velayat, etrap, city halk maslakhaty and Gengesh, as well as deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, at first time there was installed dozens of cameras, hundreds of citizens had the opportunity to observe the voting in online systems and on the Internet; on the site of Central Election Comission - saylav.gov.tm.
Paying attention to the above information, you can be sure that the elections are held under the supervision of a wide circle of the public.
Along with national observers, following for holding elections arrives also representatives of international organizations, such as the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Islamic Cooperation Organization, as well as international observers of foreign countries, independent observers and representatives of foreign mass media.
During their stay in Turkmenistan, they familiarized themselves with the work carried out in Ashgabat and the velayats of the country, and also held meetings with candidates, candidates' proxies, voters, members of electoral groups, leaders of political parties, and civil groups.
Also, in accordance with national legislation and international standards by the Central Election Commission were prepared special leaflets to support the work of international observers.
Through the organization of special trainings during the election campaign, international observers carry out work on the rules of observation, their powers and rights.
Observers write their opinions and comments about the preparation and conduction of elections in specially prepared notebooks, called "Voters and Observers Offers".
Holding elections in accordance with democratic principles, international norms, and national legislation and under the control of the whole society is evidence of the formation of a perfect level system, the Institute of National Observers in permanently neutral Turkmenistan. This indicates that Turkmenistan fully adheres to democratic principles and fulfills international election observation obligations.
Maksat GELDIYEV,
Chief Specialist of the Organizational Department of Central Election Commission for holding Elections and Referendums in Turkmenistan.