Former premier leads race for Kyrgyzstan presidency

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Voters in the turbulent Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan cast their ballots Sunday in a presidential election that many hope will set a democratic example for authoritarian neighbors.

While international observers have hailed the wide range of candidates and recent improvements to electoral legislation, several presidential hopefuls are crying foul and saying they will take all measures to combat what they have described as violations.

Kyrgyzstan, an impoverished nation of about 5 million people on China’s western fringes, is home to both U.S. and Russian military air bases, making its fortunes the subject of lively international interest.

Outgoing President Roza Otunbayeva, who has been running the country as interim leader since 2010 when the nation’s previous leader was driven from power, will step down later this year to make way for the winner. That sets the stage for the first peaceful transition of power in the economically struggling ex-Soviet nation’s history.

The election pitted frontrunner Almazbek Atambayev against two popular nationalist politicians — Kamchibek Tashiyev and Adakhan Madumarov. In the event that nobody garners more than 50 percent of the ballots, a runoff will have to be held within a month between the two top vote-getters.

With more than 88 percent of precincts counted, Atambayev was leading the field with nearly 63 percent of the vote, but the figures can change later as the vote count proceeds. A little more than 60 percent of the nation’s 3 million eligible voters cast ballots, election officials said after polls closed.

Atambayev, who had the best-funded campaign and enjoyed significant public exposure by serving as prime minister until last month, voiced hope for an outright victory.

“It is time for our country to live, achieve harmony and flourish. People are tired of political battles and meetings,” he said after voting.

The election is the culmination of a movement for political change away from the strong authoritarian model that has prevailed in the country since independence in 1991.

While the election has been praised by many as a victory for democracy, Atambayev’s opponents argued that he has drawn on state resources to ensure his victory.

Information for this article was contributed by Leila Saralayeva of The Associated Press.