The most important stage of preparation work unfolded everywhere in connection with the upcoming elections of deputies of Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the Khalk Maslakhaty and gengeshes from velayats, etraps, cities - registration of candidates  to be held on March 26 was completed in Turkmenistan. 

A total of 14872 candidates were nominated and registered by the country. Of them, 258 are for deputies of the national parliament, 515 for members of the Khalk Maslakhaty from velayats and Ashgabat city, 2001 for members of the Khalk Maslakhaty from etraps and cities as well as 12098 for members of gengeshes. Among contenders are qualified specialists of all branches of economy, representatives of different professions and nationalities. 

All candidates were nominated on a free and equality basis, the procedure for nomination and registration itself bore an open character with observation of requirements of national legislation. The pre-election propaganda activities and highlighting of the election campaign in mass media, which started from the moment of announcement of the elections, will continue until March 25.

For one place in all constituencies, 2-3 candidates were nominated and it meets principles of alternativeness outlined by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, which are necessary conditions of elections and provide nominees with equal rights and opportunities.

Thus, the Democratic Party nominated 6241 contenders, Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs -523, Agrarian Party -3576 as well as groups of citizens -4532 where their candidates were nominated by the general meeting of electors, who live in the territory of a definite constituency. 

Soon, everywhere meetings of electors with candidates for legislative bodies of the country, local representative bodies and local self-governing bodies will start.

In the course of an interested and open dialogue with electors candidates will present their pre-election programs, answer their questions concerning their visions of upcoming work to justify the trust made by their compatriots as competent, initiative and true patriots. 

In accordance with the Electoral Code, political parties, pubic organizations, contenders and their representatives, initiative groups of citizens will have free agitation work. Candidates will be ensured with equal conditions of access for mass media.

Openness and impartiality of election process will facilitate participation of international and national observers in it.

A great deal of work carried out recently and the character of the pre-election campaign, which has entered into an active phase itself and goes on in the atmosphere of openness and transparency, attest to the fact that elections of a new group of deputies of the country, members of the Khalk Maslakhaty and gengeshes will be held strictly in accordance with the national election legislation and standards of international law. 

By the country, a total of 125 deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan will be elected. Election of members of the Khalk Maslakhaty from velayats will be held in 240 constituencies, members of the Khalk Maslakhaty from etraps and cities in 960 and members of gengeshes in 5897 constituencies. 2644 polling stations were set up for voting.