Voters in Uzbekistan are taking part in a presidential election on December 23. According to the Uzbekistan authorities about 60% have cast their vote by midday, the Svobodanews reported.

Vote claimed to be valid as more than the required legal minimum of 33% of the electorate has taken part in the election.

Uzbekistan electorate makes up over 16M voters. Four candidates are runing 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.

The election is monitored by observers from 30 countries and 5 international organizations, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe with a 26-strong team. Western journalists have been refused the permission to cover the election. The agency has reported earlier that leading Russian TV networks were denied accreditation to broadcast during the election. Thus the First Channel broadcasts a spot of some Uzbek TV network. To view the spot click here.

It is worth noting that exit polls are prohibited by law. The preliminary results of the presidential election will be voiced at the Central Election Commission official briefing on December 24. Central Election Commission has made three brief overviews of the balloting on December 23.

"We received no information about violations of the Election Code from polling station," the chairman of the Uzbekistan Central Election Commission Abdusalomov A. said.

Neither of the experts doubts the incumbent Islam Karimov will become the next head of the state. He faces three virtually unknown candidates who have all praised him and have not explicitly asked Uzbeks to vote for them.

Karimov has voted today. In an interview with the Ahborot TV program Islam Karimov said "I believe people know what they are voting for. For tomorrow, for peace in our country, for our country's development and prosperity of the people."