Ashgabat, March 2 (TDH). Today, according to the Electoral Code, early voting for the election of the President of Turkmenistan began.

As previously reported, the Central Election Commission, having considered the documents submitted by political parties and initiative groups, registered nine candidates for the President of Turkmenistan. These candidates are:

Serdar Berdimuhamedov - Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers (from the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan),

Agadzhan Bekmyradov - Deputy Hyakim of the Mary Velayat (from the Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan),

Perhat Begendzhov - director of the financial and economic secondary vocational school of the Lebap velayat (from the initiative group of citizens of the Lebap velayat),

Berdymammet Gurbanov - chief physician of the Avaza sanatorium of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, deputy of the Mejlis Milli Gengesh (from the initiative group of citizens of the Balkan velayat),

Maksatmyrat Ovezgeldiev - Head of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Service of the Babadaykhan etrap, Akhal velayat (from the initiative group of citizens of the Akhal velayat),

Kakageldi Sariyev - Director of the Research and Production Center "Renewable Energy Sources" of the State Energy Institute (from the initiative group of citizens of the Mary velayat),

Babamyrat Meredov - Director of the Economic Society "Wepaly gurluşyk" (from the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan),

Hydyr Nunnaev - Vice-Rector for Research of the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences (from the initiative group of citizens of the city of Ashgabat),

Maksat Odeshov - Chairman of the Committee of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan of the S. Turkmenbashi etrap (from the initiative group of citizens of the Dashoguz velayat).

Candidates for the President of the country were nominated on a free and equal basis, and the procedure for nomination and registration itself was open in compliance with the requirements of national legislation.

In accordance with the Electoral Code, the early voting procedure is primarily provided for citizens who, for one reason or another, on Election Day March 12, will not be able to come to their polling station and vote for the most worthy candidate. You can vote from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Speaking in general about the course of the election campaign, it is necessary to note the active work these days of all precinct election commissions, which included the most worthy representatives of labor collectives, political parties and public organizations.

As TDH was informed by the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums in Turkmenistan, all stages of the election campaign were organized in a timely manner, in accordance with the requirements of the current national legislation and generally accepted international standards.

All 2577 polling stations of the country are fully prepared for work. There are also 41 polling stations, formed abroad at the diplomatic missions of Turkmenistan, waiting for their voters.

At the moment, monitoring of elections, in addition to national ones, is carried out by foreign observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States.

In particular, today they visited some polling stations in the city of Ashgabat, where they got acquainted with the work of election commissions, technical equipment of polling stations, methodological support of commissions, work with voter lists and directly observed the progress of early voting.

All of them were given the opportunity to visit the polling stations of the capital and all velayats of the country both before the elections and on the voting day.

The elections of the President of Turkmenistan are in the center of increased media attention. Currently, the publication of biographical data and keynote speeches of each of the candidates continues. Voters can also familiarize themselves with their electoral programs through organized meetings or at polling stations. Equal airtime for candidates for the highest state post was provided by national television channels.

Thus, the stage of early voting in the elections of the President of Turkmenistan that started today confirms the readiness on the ground to conduct this important socio-political campaign, which is designed to enter the modern history of Turkmenistan as a new evidence of our country's unwavering commitment to the democratic path of development, the goals of well-being and prosperity of the Turkmen people.