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Kyrgyz PM hopes front-runner to win presidential office at first round

“All votes will be thoroughly calculated at the present elections, and nobody at the CEC will rig up them”

BISHKEK, October 30 (Itar-Tass) — Kyrgyz incumbent premier Almazbek Atambayev, the favourite at the presidential elections, now in progress in the republic, hopes that only one round will be needed to single out the winner.

He said this on Sunday to reporters after the voting at one of polling stations in Bishkek.

He said that all accusations of rivals at his address on using the administrative resource are groundless. “I have never used the administrative resource. People, accusing me of this, are also members of the coalition government and also can use such levers,” the candidate said.

Atambayev reckons that despite the fact that people have got accustomed over the past 20 years “that no matter how we voted, nobody took into account our opinion”. “All votes will be thoroughly calculated at the present elections, and nobody at the CEC will rig up them”.

In the premier’s opinion, the present parliamentary form of rule in Kyrgyzstan is very suitable for the country, but “clear-cut division of powers is necessary between all arms of government”. The premier assured that if he carries the presidential elections, he “would like to leave only a good impression of his activities”.

There are 16 presidential hopefuls in the present elections in the country. Experts note that Atambayev is the favourite among them.

The republican CEC told Itar-Tass earlier that all the 2,289 polling stations opened at 08.00 local time and will close at 19.00. Another 29 polls will work on Sunday in 23 countries, including Russia.

Over 700 observers monitor progress in the presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan. Another several thousands of representatives were delegated by local non-government organisations, political parties and headquarters of candidates.

Preliminary results of the Sunday elections are expected to be known already on Monday.

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