Thursday, 23 July 2009
President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and 6 candidates compete in the elections. However, it is expected that the real competition will be between the incumbent candidate, Bakiyev, and the former Prime Minister Almazbek Atambaev, a challenge from the leader of the Social Democratic Party.
At least 49 polling stations in 23 districts have been established for 147 thousand Kyrgyz citizens living abroad.
About 221 polling stations have been reportedly formed in Bishkek. According to the Bishkek city administration, over 338 thousand voters are registered in the capital.
The presidential election will be monitored by 516 international observers from 48 countries, while about 85 representatives of mass media have been accredited to cover the main political event of the republic in 2009.
The first results of the elections are expected to be open tonight or tomorrow.
By Gülay Kilic (JTW)
