DUSHANBE, October 11 (Online): Central Asian Tajikistan goes to the polls Sunday in a presidential election expected to make incumbent Emomali Rakhmon the longest-ruling strongman in the former Soviet space. Few are anticipating any hiccups for Rakhmon as he closes in on three decades in power and looks to overtake Kazakhstan’s recently retired Nursultan Nazarbayev in the regional longevity stakes. Authoritarian Rakhmon faces four other candidates, all of whom are viewed as token opponents, in his bid for a fresh seven-year term. Polling stations opened at 6 am local (0100 GMT) and will close at 8 pm (1500 GMT), with results expected the following morning. Voters in the capital Dushanbe interviewed by media overwhelmingly stated their intention to cast their ballot for Rakhmon — and struggled to name the other candidates. Student Abdukholik Faizov said that this was to be expected and predicted with a smile that “the one who always wins will win again.” “It is obvious! We are still waiting for free elections,” Faizov explained. While disputed votes in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan and fellow former Soviet republic Belarus have triggered massive upheavals in those countries, similar developments appear unlikely in Tajikistan. Rakhmon is portrayed by state media as bringing … Continue reading Tajikistan vote seen as easy win for strongman