CENTRAL COMMISSION FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS IN TURKMENISTAN

A delegation from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) visited the capital from 14 to 18 September 2025. The purpose of the visit was to discuss possibilities for bilateral cooperation.

Within the framework of the delegation’s visit program meetings were held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, the Institute of State, Law, and Democracy of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Justice of Turkmenistan, the State Committee on Television, Radio Broadcasting and Cinematography of Turkmenistan, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan and with political parties of Turkmenistan. A meeting was also held at the Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan with the participation of Deputy Head of the Elections Department of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Ulvi Fikret oglu Akhundli; Senior Adviser in the Elections Department of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Ksenia Dashutsyna and Adviser in the Elections Department of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and Representative on Turkmenistan Martina Barker-Tsygannikova. The meeting was also attended by Chairman of the Central Election Commission Gulmyrat Myradov, as well as representatives of the Central Election Commission’s staff.

During the meeting Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission noted: “One of the main directions of the foreign policy of our esteemed President Hero Arkadagly Serdar founded on the initiative of the National Leader of the Turkmen people Hero Arkadag is development of cooperation with international organizations.”

The meeting participants emphasized that Turkmenistan maintains effective relations with the OSCE and consistently develops cooperation in relevant fields.

Guests were given a comprehensive overview of the implementation of digital technologies across all sectors of the national economy, as well as the work carried out by the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums in Turkmenistan and use of the digital system’s potential in the relevant election commissions. A comprehensive review of the recently adopted Law of Turkmenistan “On the Unified State Register of Voters” was also presented, which defines legal and organizational basis for the creation and maintenance of a unified state register of Turkmen citizens right to vote in elections and referendums.

During the meeting, Deputy Head of the Elections Department of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights expressed gratitude for the hospitality, noted the importance of ongoing work to hold democratic elections and emphasized that the work being done in Turkmenistan in this area deserves high praise. He also noted that the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has been cooperating with the Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan on election-related issues for many years.

He also noted that the Office’s delegation also participated as an expert in the parliamentary elections held in March 2023. In this regard, he noted the advisability of discussing prospects for future cooperation between the Central Election Commission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, as well as the necessary joint measures in this direction.

In addition, the importance of seminars and trainings organized by international organizations for those involved in electoral activities was also discussed. In particular, attention was drawn to the seminars and trainings organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

At the end of the meeting Chairman of the Central Election Commission G. Myradov congratulated the participants on the beginning of a new stage of cooperation between the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Central Election Commission, once again expressed his gratitude to Ulvi Fikret oglu Akhundli wished him success in his work and concluded the meeting.

The participants of meeting expressed gratitude to our esteemed President Hero Arkadagly Serdar for the opportunity to hold such a consultation meeting, which will be useful for holding future elections in our country based on democratic principles.