Presidential election campaign starts in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Oct. 28 By Demir Azizov– Trend: Election campaign of presidential candidates has started in Uzbekistan, Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the country Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov said Oct. 28 at a briefing in Uzbekistan. It was reported that to date, the CEC of Uzbekistan registered presidential candidates nominated by four political parties to participate in the presidential election in the country to be held December 4, 2016. “All the presidential candidates can start election campaign since the date of their registration by the CEC of Uzbekistan, October 28, in accordance with the appropriate decision made by the CEC,” Abdusalomov said. He added that equal rights to use mass media outlets for the election campaign are given to the presidential candidates in accordance with the CEC decision. In particular, each presidential candidate is provided with almost 900 minutes of airtime on TV and radio channels of Uzbekistan’s National Television and Radio Company. Meanwhile, it is planned to broadcast videos about the candidates and their pre-election programs. Moreover, during the election campaign, the country’s Khalk Suzi (People’s Word) and the Russian-language The Truth of the East newspapers are to provide the same number of pages for each candidate. These materials will also be published by the regional press. According to the CEC, 9,378 polling stations have been created in the country for holding the presidential elections, including those 44 at Uzbekistan’s representative missions in foreign countries. As it was reported earlier, candidates from four political parties of Uzbekistan participate in presidential election - Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party (UzLiDeP), Uzbekistan’s People's Democratic Party (PDPU), Milly Tiklanish (National Revival) Party, Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party. Uzbekistan is to hold an early election due to the death of Islam Karimov, who passed away after suffering a stroke at the age of 79 on Sept. 2. Among the presidential candidates are the country’s Acting President Shavkat Mirziyoyev from UzLiDeP, Sarvar Otamuratov from Milly Tiklanish Party, Nariman Umarov from Adolat Party, and Hotamzhon Ketmonov from PDPU. Uzbekistan presidential election is scheduled for Dec. 4, 2016.