In Turkmenistan, on Thursday, all meetings of presidential candidates with the electorate on the presentation of election programs officially ended, the website of the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums (CEC) in the country reported.

 It is noted that in total about 55 such events were held in Turkmenistan on equal terms.  Campaign work also took place in the media and on television – the election programs of the candidates and their biographies were covered in detail.

 It is also reported that on March 11 came the «election silence», during which it is forbidden to carry out campaigning work.

 The CEC has registered 9 candidates for the post of head of state.  From the initiative groups of five regions and the city of Ashgabat – 6 candidates, as well as 3 candidates – from the Democratic Party, the Agrarian Party and the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan.

 On Saturday, March 12, from 7:00 to 19:00, voting will be held at all polling stations, during which the head of the Turkmen state will be elected.

 2,618 polling stations have been created in Turkmenistan and 30 foreign countries.

 The CEC of Turkmenistan has registered 2,726 national observers.  In addition, monitoring of the presidential elections is carried out by foreign observers from the CIS.  Observers from the Organization of Turkic States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and a number of neighboring countries are also expected to attend.