DUSHANBE, October 31, 2011, Asia-Plus — In Tajikistan, some 100 Kyrgyz nationals cast votes in Kyrgyzstan’s presidential election on October 30.
A polling station has been opened at the Kyrgyz Embassy in Dushanbe. “In Tajikistan, there are about 100 Kyrgyz nationals eligible to vote,” said the source in the Kyrgyz diplomatic mission. “Most of them are Kyrgyz students studying at Tajik universities.”
The election followed the 2010 Kyrgyz riots, during which the incumbent President Kurmanbek Bakiyev was ousted by protesters and an interim government led by Roza Otunbayeva was formed. An election and reform plan was unveiled on April 19, 2010. However, Ata-Zhurt, which backed Bakiyev, won a plurality in the Kyrgyzstan’s parliamentary election, 2010 amid a platform of rolling back constitutional changes enacted by the interim administration.
The incumbent Otunbayeva has stated she will not run in the election. Under the new constitution, the presidential term is six years long, but barred from re-election.
Meanwhile, international media outlets report Kyrgyzstan”s prime minister has claimed victory in the country”s presidential election. With nearly 90% of the votes counted, Almazbek Atambayev, has 62.5% of the vote, the BBC reports. His two main rivals, who are each polling about 15%, claimed the election was marred by fraud. If his lead is maintained, it will avoid the need for a second round.
Sixteen candidates were standing in the election in the former Soviet republic of 5.3 million people.
Mr. Atambayev, 55, is a wealthy businessman from the north of Kyrgyzstan, who promised to bring prosperity and stability to this impoverished Central Asian nation. He had the best-funded campaign and enjoyed significant public exposure by serving as prime minister until last month.
His two leading rivals are both nationalist politicians from the country”s south – Kamchibek Tashiyev and Adakhan Madumarov.
