UZBEKISTAN OBSERVES 'SILENT DAY' AHEAD OF SUNDAY'S POLLS

By Rohani Mohd Ibrahim

SAMARKAND (Uzbekistan), Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Uzbekistan observed a "silent day" on Saturday, marking the close of a months-long election campaign that began in July, ahead of Sunday’s polls.

On this day, all forms of campaigning – across television, radio, social media, and physical banners – are strictly prohibited.

For Munisa Karimova, a 36-year-old English translator in Samarkand, the day provides a chance to reflect and decide who to vote for.

Approximately 20 million eligible voters in Uzbekistan will head to the polls to elect 150 deputies to the Legislative Chamber and 56 members of the Senate, as well as deputies to regional, district and city councils.

An observation by Bernama at two polling stations in Samarkand, 360 km from Tashkent, showed they are ready to receive voters beginning at 8am on Sunday.

Nasimov Ikrom Xusanovich, an officer at the polling centre set up at the Faculty of Psychology and Social Political Sciences of Samarkand State University, said the voting process will be witnessed by eight observers.

They are representatives from the five political parties contesting, one international observer, media observer and representative from the local community, he added.

Otakulov Bekzod Nuriddinovich, polling centre manager at the Samarkand State University Institute of Biochemistry, said they had sent out reminder letters to more than 1500 registered voters earlier this week.

A voter, who is not listed at the centre, can still vote there with an acknowledgement from their original polling station, he added.

Earlier this month, Uzbekistan's ambassador to Malaysia, Karomiddin Gadoev, told Bernama that polling stations would be set up in 59 Uzbek diplomatic missions worldwide, including the embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Five political parties are contesting in the election: Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businesspeople - Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (O’zLiDeP), “Milliy Tiklanish” Democratic Party, Ecological Party of Uzbekistan, People's Democratic Party, and “Adolat” Social Democratic Party.

-- BERNAMA