Tajikistan holds presidential elections
By Aynur Jafarova
Tajik voters are going to the polls as the Central Asian country holds the presidential elections on November 6.
Head of the Tajik Central Commission on elections and referendums Shermuhammad Shohien told journalists that the voter turnout in the elections hit 2,862,163 million or 68 percent of the voters by 2 p.m. [local time].
The polling stations were opened in Tajikistan at 6 a.m. and the voters will be able to cast vote until 8 p.m.
According to the Tajik legislation, above the 50 percent threshold needed to declare the election valid.
According to the statistics, over 4 million citizens have the voting right. The voting process will take place at over 3,100 polling stations in the country and 60 polling stations outside the country.
Six candidates are competing for the top job, including incumbent President Emomali Rahmon, Secretary of the Communist Party, Member of Parliament Ismoil Talbakov, chairman of the Democratic Party Saidjafar Ismonov, leader of the Socialist Party Abduhalim Gafforov, representative of the Agrarian Party Tolibbek Bukhoriev and chairman of the Party of Economic Reform Olimjon Boboev.
President Rahmon is expected to win a fourth term in office, as the five other candidates are relatively unknown figures.
The election process is being observed by over 6,000 local and 500 international observers, including OSCE/ODIHR, OSCE Parliament Assembly, CIS, Parliamentary Assembly of CIS and SCO.
The head of the OSCE/ODIHR observation mission said that no incidents were recorded by the mission yet.
According to Paraskiva Badesku, the voting process goes smoothly.
Foreign observers will make their preliminary statement at a press-conference on November 7.
The country's Interior Minister personally follows ensuring the public order and security during the Election Day in the country.
Minister Ramazon Rahimov promised that the country's law enforcement bodies will not allow any provocations to take place.
Tajik citizens living abroad also cast their votes.
Tajik citizens temporarily residing in Azerbaijan cast their vote at a polling station set up under the Tajik embassy in Baku.
According to the diplomatic mission, around 80 Tajik citizens have been registered by the consulate.
The election commission will announce the initial results on November 7 at 10 a.m.