“90.92 percent of voters has cast their ballots for Rahmon, who will secure another seven-year term, according to preliminary results,” the Commission said.

The voter turnout was realized as 85.4% in the election, the chairman of CEC Bakhtiyor Khudoyorzoda noted.

The President of Tajikistan is elected for a seven years term using the two-round system; if no candidate receives over 50% of the vote, a second round is held between 15 and 31 days later between the two candidates who received the most votes.

For the result to be validated, voter turnout must exceed 50%; if it falls below the threshold, fresh elections will be held.

Emomali Rahmon has served as President of Tajikistan since 1992. His rule is regarded by Human Rights Watch as a dictatorship, citing the jailing of government critics, a campaign to force the return of exiled political dissidents abroad and crackdowns on freedom of expression and freedom of belief. (ILKHA)