Turkmen Leader Berdymuhamedov Wins Election, Securing Third Term


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Turkmenistan's Central Election Committee said that President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has won his third presidential term with 97.69% of the vote.

Berdimuhamedov was largely expected to secure his post when voting in the Central Asian republic got underway on Sunday.

Eight contenders competed against the Turkmen president-elect in the latest election, whose turnout stood at 97.27 percent of the population, according to Sputnik.

Last year, Turkmenistan amended its constitution in a way that could allow Berdymuhamedov to stay in power indefinitely, removing the 70-year age limit for presidential candidates and extending the presidential term to seven years from five.