Uzbek president heading toward landslide win in election

By AGNIESZKA PIKULICKA-WILCZEWSKA
Associated Press

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (AP) — Uzbeks have voted in a presidential election that the incumbent is expected to win in a landslide against weak competition. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has relaxed many of the policies of his dictatorial predecessor. But he has made little effort at political reform. He took office in 2016 upon the death of Islam Karimov and faces four relatively low-visibility candidates who didn’t even show up for televised debates. They instead sent proxies who failed to engage in substantial discussions. Independent candidates weren’t allowed in Sunday’s election.