Special squads to enforce safety and order during the presidential election scheduled for December 23 have been established in the republic, RIA Novosti reported with the reference to the Uzbekistan deputy minister of interior Kuldashev A.

”Minister of Interior’s separate squads will maintain public order and peace, prevent emergency situations, provide fire safety and traffic control in each region of Uzbekistan, including minor villagers and settlements with polling stations,” Kuldashev A. added.

The Uzbek authorities have resorted to nearly extraordinary measures to enforce security during the presidential election. Uzbekistan has unilaterally closed borders with neighboring countries. Private hotels in Uzbek cities were “advised” not to lodge any foreign guests till early January of 2008. Many international printed media were denied accreditation in Uzbekistan. International and Russian TV networks were denied broadcasting rights during the election.

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Uzbekistan authorities will call in public sector workers to enforce the security of the election process as well. Ferghana.ru sources reported that a day ahead of December23 activists of Khorezm oblast were ordered to head for the polling stations and stay there till the balloting would end and the preliminary results be announced. Regional heads of economical and social institutions, enterprises, public organizations and charity funds were ordered to ensure public order and control “free expression of will”.

Informal institute of vyakil (the Uzbek “vyakil” means the “authorized representative”) has existed in Uzbekistan since the Soviet time. It is usually called into action during some mass campaigns. For example the head of a local health care institution mobilizes pickers, mainly subordinate employees, during a cotton-picking campaign.

However, participation of the vyakil in this election campaign is considered a “khorezm know-how” in modern spin technologies.

On December 21 the head of a small economic entity of some average rank was ordered to head for a far-distant region to provide a high voter turnover in cooperation with local authorities. Besides, he was asked to fetch his xerox. The information was provided on the condition of anonymity.

The same day employees of some trade company were engaged in packaging of foodstuff for “voters from low-income families”. The vyakil were charged with the fair distribution of the foodstuff as well.

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Four candidates are expected to run for the presidency in Uzbekistan: a member of the National Democratic party Asliddin Rustamov, a member of the Social Democratic party Diloram Tashmukhamedova, a member of the voters’ initiative group Akmal’ Saidov and the present head of the state Islam Karimov. Islam Karimov, a member of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen Movement and the Liberal Democratic party of Uzbekistan has been in power for about 20 years.