Presidential vote begins in Tajikistan

Voting has begun in Tajikistan’s presidential election, which appears almost certain to see incumbent President Imomali Rahmon win a new seven-year term.

The election started at 0600 local time (0100 GMT) on Wednesday.

Some four million people in the impoverished central Asian country are eligible to vote.

The 61-year-old president has been in power since 1992, when he was appointed by the Tajik Supreme Soviet. He enjoyed easy victories in 1994, 1999 and 2006.

With the former Soviet republic’s presidential mandate now seven years, Rahmon could lead the country until 2020.

Five other presidential candidates are also participating in the country’s presidential election. However, opposition candidate and female human rights activist Oynihol Bobonazarova, is banned from the vote.

Bobonazarova, who represents the moderate opposition Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan, could not gather the 210,000 signatures required to register her candidacy.

Tajikistan’s other main opposition party, the Social Democratic Party, said last week it decided to boycott the polls because of “violations of the constitution, organized falsifications and a lack of democracy and transparency.”

Rahmon warned candidates before the election not to disrupt the country’s stability, asking them to behave “with full patriotic responsibility.”

Polls will close at 20:00 local time (1500 GMT) and preliminary results are expected on Thursday.

Tajikistan is grappling with an energy crisis, unemployment and rising poverty. Several thousands of people leave Tajikistan for Russia and other countries each year in search of employment.

Moreover, electricity shortage prevents foreign investors from doing business in Tajikistan. Power supplies in all towns and villages, except the capital city of Dushanbe, last only a few hours a day.