On 27 March 2023, members of the SCO Observer Mission – Head of the mission and SCO Deputy Secretary-General Grigory Logvinov, Member of the Russian Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building Nikolai Vladimirov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan Akmalzhon Kuchkarov, Member of the Russian Central Election Commission and Dean of the Department of Political Science at Lomonosov Moscow State University Andrei Shutov, Member of the Central Commission on Elections and Referenda of the Kyrgyz Republic Aidana Zhupuyeva, and Advisor to the SCO RATS Executive Committee Li Keming – held a press briefing following the elections for the deputies of Turkmenistan’s Mejlis, members of the People’s Council (Halk Maslakhaty) from provinces, districts, cities and local councils (gengesh).
It was noted that on the voting day, the mission visited 15 polling stations in Ashgabat and the Ahal Region.
Members of the mission noted the responsible civic stance of citizens during the voting and the high professional level of workers at local election commissions.
No incidents were recorded at polling stations. On the contrary, the voting took place in a festive, positive atmosphere. No obstacles were created to hinder the work of national and international observers.
During the voting period, the SCO Observer Mission worked together with observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Organisation of Turkic States, the United Nations, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and others.
Overall, 91.12 percent of voters took part in the parliamentary elections.
The Mission did not find any violations of national legislation that could call into question the legitimacy of the election. The Mission recognises the elections as transparent, valid and democratic.
The Mission’s statement following the elections has been published.
The mission comprises 15 accredited observers: representatives of legislative and executive bodies and diplomatic missions of the SCO member states (nine people) and officials from the SCO permanent bodies – the Secretariat and RATS (six people).
The mission comprises 15 accredited observers: representatives of legislative and executive bodies and diplomatic missions of the SCO member states (nine people) and officials from the SCO permanent bodies – the Secretariat and RATS (six people).