Kyrgystan began voting on Sunday in a presidential election with no candidate expected to win outright.<br /><br />Observers are predicting a close run-off between two pro-Russian candidates, one of whom is backed by the outgoing leader.<br /><br />Polls close at 8pm and preliminary results may be published a few hours later. There is no set date for the second round, which takes place in the event that none of the 13 candidates wins more than 50% of the vote.<br /><br />DHM Richard Dewell observing #historic presidential #election at one of the biggest polling stations National University #Bishkek. #freekg pic.twitter.com/EfMTANLbFh— UK in Kyrgyzstan (@ukinkyrgyzstan) 15 octobre 2017<br /><br /><br />A “boisterous democracy”<br /><br />The mainly-Muslim nation of six million is already a close ally of Moscow and hosts a Russian military base.<br /><br />However, in contrast to its Central Asian neighbours, mostly run by autocrats, Kyrgystan is a boisterous democracy that produces sometimes chaotic changes of leadership.<br /><br />After its first two presidents after the Soviet Union’s demise were ousted by violent riots, the country restyled itself as a parliamentary republic where presidential power are mostly limited to foreign policy and security matters.<br /><br />Who is Almazbek Atambayev?<br /><br />The outgoing president. He strengthened executive powers last year by calling a referendum on constitutional changes.<br /><br />Constitutionally barred from seeking a second six-year term, Atambayev is backing an ally, former prime minister and experienced bureaucrat Sooronbai Jeenbekov. <br /><br />Analysts say victory for the 58-year-old would allow the outgoing leader to remain a powerful figure. <br /><br />Their Social Democratic party has the biggest faction in parliament and dominates the coalition cabinet.<br /><br />Highly informative Interview with outgoing #Kyrgyzstan President Almazbek Atambayev https://t.co/Vhr5WKjQ9X ht IanBremmer/Time pic.twitter.com/IoCeW10s64— OSCE Academy (@OSCE_Academy) 10 octobre 2017<br /><br /><br />What about the opposition?<br /><br />It is quite stiff. Oil tycoon Omurbek Babanov is close behind with his Respublika-Ata Zhurt (Fatherland) party. It is the second-biggest parliamentary faction.<br /><br />Babanov, also a former prime minister, has accused the government of abusing its power to ensure Jeenbekov’s victory. The authorities charged some of his campaign supporters with plotting a coup and planning to bribe voters.<br /><br />Babanov has denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the charges against his supporters as dirty election tactics.<br /><br />Atambayev and his cabinet have also accused Kazakhstan, a bigger and wealthier neighbour, of backing Babanov. Both Babanov and the Kazakh government deny this.<br /><br />CEC decides fate of Omurbek Babanov todayhttps://t.co/mBmTMMDYLU pic.twitter.com/lgsYSjii6C— eng24.kg (@Eng24Kg) 10 octobre 2017<br /><br /><br />What they are saying<br /><br />“I am absolutely sure that tonight we will know the name of the new president and that name will be Babanov,” a smiling Babanov told reporters as he cast his ballot in Bishkek.<br /><br />One of his supporters, Fatima Akchokoyeva, a 25-year-old kindergarten teacher, said: “He is young and ambitious, I think he will be able to change Kyrgyzstan for the better.”<br /><br />Jeenbekov’s voters, on the other hand, saw him as a safe pair of hands who would keep Atambayev’s team in place.<br /><br />“I think he will be able to maintain stability. Stability is all we need,” said district government employee Saltanat Temirova.<br />
