OSCE/ODIHR opens election assessment mission for parliamentary elections in Turkmenistan

ASHGABAT, 3 December 2013 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today held the opening press conference for its election assessment mission for the 15 December parliamentary elections in Turkmenistan.

The mission's deployment follows an invitation from the Turkmenistan authorities.

The mission is led by Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky, and consists of 15 international experts from 14 OSCE participating States, based in Ashgabat. Experts will visit a number of regional centres across the country.

The mission will assess these elections for compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as national legislation. Observers will, in particular, look into issues such as the legal framework, political party and campaign finance, and media coverage of the campaign.

In line with ODIHR’s methodology for assessment missions, the mission will not carry out systematic or comprehensive observation of the voting, counting and tabulation on election day. Mission members will, however, visit a small number of polling stations to follow election day procedures.

The mission will remain in Turkmenistan until 19 December and will issue a final report approximately two months after the completion of the election process.

The OSCE/ODIHR has not previously observed or assessed elections in Turkmenistan, although it sent election support teams for the presidential elections in 2007 and 2012, the parliamentary elections in 2008, and the local elections in 2010.

The OSCE/ODIHR election assessment mission and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat operate separately under their specific mandates.

For further information, please contact Gillian McCormack, mission media analyst, on +993 62 758 809, or at media.analyst.tkm@gmail.com