Working Session 8: Democratic elections and electoral observation, Friday, 30 September, 2011 APPEAL On Turkmen presidential election in February 2012

CIVICUS and the Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights welcomes the intention of Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to democratize the process of presidential elections in Turkmenistan. We welcome his July 2011 invitation to opposition parties living abroad to participate in future elections.

In turn, oppositional political formations and civil society abroad supported the intention of G. Berdimuhamedov and stated their readiness to enter the country and to participate in the elections.

Thus, for the first time since the independence of Turkmenistan, there is a real opportunity to host a normal democratic election.

Under these conditions, CIVICUS and the Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights call on the OSCE and other international organizations and democratic states:

• To support these efforts of Berdimuhamedov and the Turkmen political opposition • Due to the limited time, to reach out to render practical assistance • To support the arrival of the political opposition in the country and other civil society representatives living in exile • To support elections monitoring by civil society

Sincerely, Will Lasky CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation

Tadzhigul Begmedova Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights