The early presidential election is taking place in Uzbekistan this Sunday. It has already been recognized as valid (by 5 pm about 70 percent of voters had voted). No one doubts that the incumbent president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who, thanks to recent changes to the Constitution, has received the right to zero out, or to be elected for two more terms — now each time for seven years — will win.
Any opposition has not been admitted to the election, and three other candidates are not known to the wide public. They can receive, according to the most optimistic forecasts, no more than a few percent.