Azernews.Az

A mission of OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE / ODIHR) for assessment of the parliamentary elections in Turkmenistan to be held on December15 has started its work in Ashgabat.

The mission headed by Ambassador Alexander Keltchewsky (France) has been invited by Turkmenistan.

The OSCE/ODIHR mission for assessment of the elections in Turkmenistan will carry out its activity on the basis of the generally accepted international norms and standards in this sphere, the Turkmen government reported.

At the current stage the delegation became familiar with the list of constituencies and the schedule of events worked out by the CEC, with the list of constituencies and polling stations and prepared samples of election documents.

Recently, a mission from CIS states headed by the chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Sergei Lebedev has started its work.

The election campaign in Turkmenistan started on October 5. According to the legislation, the agitation will be completed a few days before the elections.

In accordance to the Article 60 of Turkmenistan's constitution, the Majlis includes around 125 deputies since 2008. The MPs are elected for five years term on territorial constituencies with approximately equal number of voters.

There have been created some 125 constituencies in Ashgabat - 15, Akhal province - 15, Balkan - 10, Dashoguz - 27, Lebap - 28 and Mary province - 30.

The distinctive feature of the parliamentary elections of 2013 is that for the first time the struggle for the mandate of national parliamentarians are conducted by two political parties, the Turkmen CEC said.

Totally, around 283 candidates will participate in the parliamentary elections. About 99 candidates have been registered from the Democratic Party, Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs - 21 candidates, Federation of Trade Unions - 89 candidates, the Women's Union - 37, Magtumguly Youth Organization - 22, as well as groups of citizens - 15.