DUSHANBE, November 26, Asia-Plus  -- 238 Russian citizens living in Tajikistan have taken part in an early voting to Russia’s State Duma (Russia’s lower chamber of parliament).   

Kamil Magometov, Press Secretary, Russian Embassy in Dushanbe, told Asia-Plus that 124 Russian citizens working on construction of the Sangtuda-1 power plant and 124 Russian nationals living in Hissor and Tursunzoda districts participated in the early voting yesterday.  Portable ballot boxes were brought to Sangtuda, Hissor and Tursunzoda, the press secretary said.   

The remaining Russian citizens living in Tajikistan will participate in parliamentary voting on December 2, 2007.  According to the Russian Embassy in Dushanbe, 11,600 Russian nationals have to date been registered with the consulate department of the Russian Embassy.

“If to take into consideration that at present Russian servicemen, persons on business trips, businessmen and tourists are currently in Tajikistan, one may expect some 20,000 Russian citizens to participate in the voting on December 2,” Magometov said.   

According to him, six polling stations have been opened in Tajikistan” two in Dushanbe (one polling station was opened at the consulate department and another one at the headquarters of Russian military base 201); and Qurghon Teppa, Kulob, Norak and Khujand have one poling station each.