Head of the Commission, Zainiddin Nizamkhodzháyev, said that the elections in the most populated country in Central Asia (34 million inhabitants) passed without incident and with a turnout of 80.8 percent.

A total of 9,925 polling stations opened their doors yesterday for about 19.9 million voters, according to lists.

The process was monitored by more than a thousand international observers, and executive secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Sergey Lebedev, said the elections were free and democratic and the five candidates had good opportunities to run.

Over the telephone, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the Uzbek leader on his ‘convincing victory,’ a statement from the Kremlin press service reported.

The heads of state reiterated their mutual desire to continue developing cooperation in all fields of Russian-Uzbek partnership and strategic alliance relations, the text said.

At the same time, Putin sent a message to Mirziyoyev, wishing him success in his state activities, as well as good health and prosperity.

‘Results of the vote fully confirmed his high political authority, as well as support for Uzbekistan’s path of socio-economic development and the protection of its interests in the international arena, he emphasized.

pgh/lcr