Turkmenistan citizens have voted in an election that could establish a political dynasty for the gas-rich Central Asian nation's leader.

The son of Turkmenistan’s authoritarian leader will run in an early presidential election next month, a move that lays the foundation for a political dynasty in the gas-rich Central Asian republic.

Turkmenistan will hold snap presidential elections after the country's authoritarian leader announced he is ready to relinquish power to a new generation.