The presidential elections on 13 April were efficiently conducted and the election campaign was active. The process of registration of candidates was inclusive and the candidates had the opportunity to freely carry out their election campaigns, said OSCE/ODIHR Head of Mission Geert-Hinrich Ahrens at the press conference Monday.

He also said that despite the fact that the fundamental freedoms were honored, the biased media coverage and the failure to separate state and party activities did not provide for an equal contest among candidates.

Ambassador Ahrens praised the election administration and the State Election Commission for successfully completing their job and said the ODIHR final appraisal of the presidential election would be presented following the second round on 27 April.