Scientist Akbar Ilham Aliyev, 64, intends to run for president of Uzbekistan too. Aliyev became the fifth would-be candidate for president, after Jahongir Shosalimov, Ahtam Shaimardanov, Abdulla Tajiboi-ugli, and Valery Galkin. Activists of the Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan, they all made their plans with regard to the presidential race known months ago.

The presidential election in Uzbekistan will culminate on December 23. The campaign will be officially launched on September 21, and registration of candidates 65 days before the election (in other words, it will be a race without participants the first month). The Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan has lots of activists to nominate for president. Only a technicality remains: persuading the Central Electoral Commission to officially register the nominating group and collecting signatures of 5% of the population.