DUSHANBE, October 23, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Olim Salimzoda, head of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Committee on International Affairs and Public Associations, has been registered as authorized representative of the presidential candidate of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), incumbent President Emomali Rahmon, Abdumannon Dodoyev, head of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER)’s office said.

According to him, Olim Salimzoda has replaced Gulnazar Keldi, known Tajik poet and author of lyrics of Tajikistan’s national anthem.

“To-date, the CCER has registered 130 international election observers from the CIS, CIS Inter-parliamentary Assembly and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR),” Dodoyev said, adding that more than 700 international observers are expected to monitor the 2013 presidential election in Tajikistan.

The CCER has decided to establish polling stations at diplomatic missions in France and Kuwait.  To facilitate out-of-country voting, additional polling stations will be established in 26 countries of the world.  The polling stations that are established outside of Tajikistan are subordinate to Constituency # 3 (Dushanbe’s Shohmansour district).