Turkmenistan elects new president

Early presidential elections have started in Turkmenistan. Nine candidates are participating, including the son of the incumbent leader, a candidate from the ruling Democratic Party of the Republic, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who holds the post of deputy head of government. Polling stations opened at 7:00 local time.

More than 2,500 polling stations have been organized in the republic. Another 41 sites have been created in 30 foreign countries, including Russia (three sites). In total, more than 3.4  mln voters are registered, the Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan reports.

It is noted that 2,726 national observers are monitoring the elections. Also, at the invitation of the Turkmen side, missions of observers from the CIS, the Organization of Turkic States, the SCO, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as from a number of neighbouring states arrived in the country.