Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (AP) — Election officials in Turkmenistan have registered the Central Asian nation's president to run in next month's vote against eight other candidates, all of whom have voiced support for his policies.
The authoritarian ex-Soviet republic's election commission on Wednesday announced the names of the candidates who will stand against President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, for the first time including representatives of non-government parties. The contest is considered a formality, however. Berdymukhamedov won the 2012 election with 97 percent of the vote, beating seven other members of the ruling party.
The president maintains a firm grip over power through intimidation and welfare subsidies.
Turkmenistan is heavily reliant on its large natural gas reserves and is struggling economically because of a slump in global prices for energy commodities.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.