DUSHANBE, March 1, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Two polling stations were set up in the United States to allow Tajik citizen residing in the United States to vote – one polling station was set up at the Tajik Representative Office to the United Nations in New York and the other one at the Tajik Embassy in Washington.

Employees of International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) who acted as observers came to the polling station set up at the Tajik Embassy in Washington already at 5:00 am.

Tajik citizens residing in the so-called Big Washington, which includes the District of Columbia and States of Maryland and Virginia, voted at the polling stations opened at the Tajik Embassy in Washington.  Among them were students studying at U.S. universities, representatives of intelligentsia, entrepreneurs and employees of international organizations,

Akobir Ahmadov, student at NOVA (Northern Virginia Community College) College, in particular, noted, “Further fate of our country depends on vote of each of us.  I am studying political science and on graduation from the college, I want to return to Tajikistan.  Tajik authorities should realize that Tajikistan’s future is in hands of youth and it is necessary to create good working conditions for them.  Only we and not any other nation should revive our country,” Akobir said.