Over 57 percent of voters go to polls at Uzbek general elections.

TASHKENT, December 27 (Itar-Tass) - More than 57 percent of the
electorate went to the polls on Sunday at the general elections in
Uzbekistan, chairman of the republican Central Election Commission
Mirzo-Ulugbek Abdusalomov told reporters.

"According to data at 13.00, more than eight million Uzbek citizens
already voted to elect the lower chamber, which is 57.3 percent of the
total number of registered voters," he noted. Thus, the CEC chairman
stated "we pronounced the elections as valid, since according to present
legislation, the threshold is 33 percent".
According to Abdusalomov, no incidents have been recorded. "The voting
is passing in compliance with operating legislation," he emphasised. "We
have not received so far any information on violations or non-observance
of election legislation."
All the polling stations opened exactly at 06.00," the CEC head
continued. He explained that to hold elections to the national parliament,
the CEC set up 135 constituencies and 8,447 polling stations, including 44
at Uzbek missions abroad. Over 270 foreign observers from 36 states and
missions of four international organisations - the OSCE, the CIS Executive
Committee, the SCO and the OIC -- monitor progress in elections.
"To ensure transparency of elections, the voting is also monitored by
authorised representatives of political parties; more than 30,000 of them
are now on duty at polling stations all over the country," the CEC
chairman noted.
International observers that visited on Sunday polling stations
expressed opinion that the general elections in Uzbekistan are passing in
compliance with national legislation and stepped-up activity of voters.
"I arrived at polling station No. 166 in Tashkent early in the
morning, and it was already packed with voters. Such activity instils me
with joy," Azerbaijan legislator Aydin Abbasov shared his impressions with
reporters. He added that the republic created convenient conditions for
invalids, patients and the aged for visiting polling stations. This points
to "attention, given by the country to questions of ensuring human rights
and interests".
Director of the institute of practical policy Bogdan Babich of Ukraine
pointed to "well-thought, balanced and systemic work on improving and
liberalising election legislation" in Uzbekistan. "The concept of the
republican CEC for preparing and holding the elections helped to organise
this important event in full compliance with national legislation, openly
and transparently," he underlined.
This opinion was echoed by an Austrian observer, head of a building
company Helmut Kruns. "The general elections in Uzbekistan are passing
openly, on a multi-party basis and in line with national election
legislation as well as international standards. It's indicative that
voters started voting early in the morning.
"Law and order as well as benevolence are reigning at polling
stations. Citizens understand well responsibility for future development
of their country," he stated.
International observers, including representatives from international
organisations, monitor the entire election process and will make their
statements on December 28.
-0-bur/kud