OREANDA-NEWS. December 3, 2008. The CIS mission of the observers arrived to Turkmenistan to monitor the 14 December election to the Mejlis of the fourth convocation. Chief of the mission headquarters, First Deputy of the CIS Executive Secretary Vladimir Gorkun visited the Dashoguz Velayat for this purpose. In the northern region the guest had the meetings with the local authorities and visited several polling stations. Together with the heads of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda of Turkmenistan V. Gorkun visited the Kunya Urgench Etrap where he attended a meeting of the parliamentary candidates with electors.

Drawing international observation mission is a new phenomenon in the practice of holding elections in Turkmenistan. As is known on the initiative of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov the observers are drawn from the European countries and the authoritative international organisations to observe the parliamentary elections in the country. The observers from the CIS countries were the first to arrive to Ashgabat. The CIS mission of observers had the meetings at the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Over 40 international observers representing the CIS Executive Committee, the CIS Inter-parliamentary Assembly, national parliaments and diplomatic missions of the CIS are expected to arrive in Turkmenistan.