Turkmenistan plans to hold presidential polls on February 12. The Central Electoral Commission registered Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the Incumbent President, Recep Bazarov, deputy head of the Dashoguz District for agriculture, Karageldy Abdyllayev, head of the Maryhazchykarysh Department of the Turkmengaz State Concern, Gurbanmamed Mollanyazov, manager of the Nebitgazduypliabatlaysh Group of the Turkmennebit State Concern, Annageldy Yazmyradov, Minister for Water Economy, Esenkuli Gayipov, head of Lebapgurlushyk Industrial Group of the Construction Ministry, Saparmyrat Batyrov, Director of the cotton factory in Geotepinsk and Yarmuhammet Orazgulyev, Turkmen Minister for Energy and Industry.
Myrat Charygulyev, Director of the Maryazot Idustrial Group of the Turkmenkhimiya State Concern, and Nikita Rejepov, head of the Turkmennebitgeofizika Department of the Turkmennebit State Concern, abandoned their presidential campaigns. Five other candidates presented their documents to the CEC.
Sergey Mikheyev, Director of the Center for Political Environment, told Vestnik Kavkaza that, despite many candidates running for president, the winner is obvious - Incumbent President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Yevgeny Minchenko, Director of the International Institute for Political Expertise, told Vestnik Kavkaza that the pre-electoral campaigns will stress on economy, which is not very advanced and unemployment is high, and foreign pressure. The first period of praisal of Berdimuhamedov's regime ended. There were scandals with investors, MTS left business in Turkmenistan.
Leonid Gusev, a scientists from the Institute for International Studies of MGIMO, said that the big list of candidates is to demonstrate democracy and freedom of vote in the country. He added that Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov would not give his power away. No surprises are expected. There should not be any protests. Local stability is a lot higher than in other Middle Asian states. There is no confrontation between clans in Turkmenistan such as the ones in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
