AKIPRESS.COM - "Turkmenistan’s appalling human rights record undermines the possibility of a free and fair presidential election on February 12, 2017," Human Rights Watch said today.

The rights organization said that the election climate in Turkmenistan "denies its citizens the ability to choose their president freely or enjoy freedom of expression or access to information."

“Turkmenistan has never held a free and fair election and this one is no exception,” said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director for Human Rights Watch. “Genuine elections are impossible where authorities maintain tight control over all aspects of public life, violating basic rights relating to freedom of the media, expression, and civil society.”

The incumbent president, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, 59, who has served for two terms, is running for re-election as one of nine candidates.