Uzbekistan Central Election Commission Chairman Mirzo-Ulugbek Abdusalomov conducted a briefing for journalists and foreign observers on December 21.

“The Constitution of Uzbekistan, laws on electoral rights, the law On Election of the President of Uzbekistan and other legal acts guarantee electoral rights of citizens,” the chairman said.

According to the law On Election of the President of Uzbekistan Article 7 it is prohibited to conduct opinion polls, publish opinion polls’ outcomes, forecasts of election results and other election related studies five days ahead of the Election Day and on the Election Day, Abdusalomov added. The results shall not be published in information and telecommunication public networks, including Internet.

It implies no exit poll results to be made public during the election. The preliminary results of the presidential election will be voiced at the Central Election Commission official briefing on December 24. Central Election Commission will make three brief overviews of the balloting on December 23.

264 accredited observers representing 30 countries, CIS, OSCE, SCO, EurAsEC and Organization of the Islamic Conference will monitor the election.

Neither of the experts doubts the incumbent Islam Karimov will become the next head of the state. Islam Karimov has been in power for about 20 years.