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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Fear and loathing as Uzbek poll looms |
| 2009-12-27 |
| Uzbekistan is holding parliamentary elections, but some people do not even seem to have noticed. Nevertheless the streets of the Uzbek capital Tashkent are lined with banners, posters and flags to remind people that 27 December is election day, when up to 16 million eligible voters are being asked to choose members of the Oliy Majlis - the lower house of parliament. President Karimov seems keen to use these elections to showcase what he sees as his country's democratic credentials. "Freedom of speech and freedom of choice indeed exist in our lives. This process means that a multi-party system is gaining strength," he said in a national address in early December. |
| Posted by:Steve White |