OSCE To Discuss Dissident's Complaints With Turkmen Election Commission

Gurbandurdy Durdykuliev

BALKANABAT, Turkmenistan -- The OSCE mission in Ashgabat says it will inform the Turkmen Central Election Commission about concerns expressed by a Turkmen dissident who was not allowed to register as a candidate for parliament.

Gurbandurdy Durdykuliev, who lives in the western city of Balkanabat, told RFE/RL's Turkmen Service that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's mission has received a letter with his concerns about the December 14 parliamentary elections in Turkmenistan.

In his letter, Durdykuliev asks the OSCE to pay attention to the election campaign in his hometown, which he says has not taken place, and to the Central Election Commission's rejection of his application to run as a candidate.

Durdykuliev says the OSCE mission in Ashgabat told him it will raise such issues with the Central Election Commission.