The CIS mission is positively assessing measures taken by Turkmenistan''s authorities to ensure free, fair and democratic election of deputies of the Mellis (parliament) of Turkmenistan scheduled for 14 December. This was stated in an interim report of the CIS observer mission which is monitoring the election campaign in Turkmenistan.

CIS observers noted that Turkmenistan "created all necessary legal and organizational-technical conditions for the monitoring of the election campaign." "After visiting district and precinct election commissions, observers assessed their work as open and transparent," the report says.

According to the mission, the Central Election Commission and district election commissions ensured equal status for the candidates to conduct the election campaign.

The mission notes that Turkmenistan "is taking steps aimed at creating free atmosphere of the election campaign that allows candidates to openly state their election programmes and for electorate to study these programmes, discuss them and make their deliberate choice."

"The election campaign is being held in line with the election legislation and characterized by free exchange of opinions and transparency," the interim report says.