Kazakh customs and border guard officials in the western Manghystau region said on February 8 that the Turkmen side “has tightened security measures due to the presidential elections and therefore the border will be closed for the period between February 8 and February 15.”
Permanent residents of the Manghystau region have a right to enter Turkmenistan’s Balkan Province for five days without visas.
In mid-December in the region, at least 16 people were killed in the city of Zhanaozen in clashes between striking oil workers and police.
Eight members of Turkmenistan’s only legal party, including incumbent Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov, are seeking the presidency in Sunday’s election.
Berdymuhammedov is expected to win.
Source Article from http://www.rferl.org/content/turkmen_kazakh_border_shut_down_for_turkmen_presidential_elections/24478462.html
