BISHKEK, Oct.15 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev on Sunday warned that anyone who try to arrange disorders to the current presidential election will be punished by law.
Atambayev cast his ballot in the No. 1209 polling station in the capital city of Bishkek. Answering reporters' questions after voting, Atambayev said that the presidential election will be clean and open, the press service of the Kyrgyz president reported.
"I promise you honest elections. For those who are trying to arrange disorders, there will be enough places for them in prisons," said the head of state, adding that the Kyrgyz people have the right to choose any of the candidates to be their next president.
Atambayev stressed that until December 1 he remains president and he has enough time to teach those troublemakers a lesson.
The president urged citizens not to be afraid of anything, and calmly go to the polls and cast their votes.
"My duty is to put things in order for the elections to take place in a clear atmosphere, and that after the voting there should be no riots. If there are riots, it's good, I would like to clean up everything to the end, " he said.
The Central Election Commission said that about 3 million citizens will be eligible to vote for their future leader at 2,375 polling stations, including 37 outside the country.
A total of 11 presidential candidates are competing for the presidency after two of the 13 registered candidates withdrew from the pre-election race.
The voting began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) and will end at 8:00 p.m. local time (1400 GMT). After that, preliminary results will be summed up.
About 800 international observers from 58 countries and 46 international organizations will oversee the voting.
According to the Constitution of Kyrgyzstan, the country's president is elected for a six-year term and will not be allowed to run for re-election. Atambayev's term will end on Dec. 1.
