Dushanbe, 05.12.2016. /NIAT “Khovar”/. Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister and acting President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was elected the country’s president in Sunday’s presidential election with an overwhelming vote, the Chairman of Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov said at a press briefing held at 4:00 p.m. local time.

According to Abdusalomov, Mirziyoyev won 88.61 percent of the votes, well above the required over 50 percent of valid ballots to become a president.

About 18 million people or some 88 percent of the registered voters cast their ballots, which outnumbered the validity threshold of 33 percent, said the chairman of the commission, Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov, adding that no violations were reported in the presidential election.

About 500 observers from nearly 50 countries, particularly from Tajikistan monitored the election, along with several international organizations including the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Mirziyoyev, 59, has served as Uzbek Prime Minister since 2003. After late President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov died on Sept. 2, he was named as the country’s acting president by the Legislative Chamber and Senate of the Oliy Majlis, the Uzbek parliament.