(ANSA) - MOSCOW, 10 JAN - Sadyr Japarov - outgoing prime minister of Kyrgyzstan, often defined as a 'populist' - is headed in early presidential elections with 79% of the votes.
This was stated in a note from the Central Electoral Commission (CEC).
Japarov is followed by the opposition candidate AdakhanMadumarov with 6.47% of the vote and Babyrzhan Tolbayev with 2% of the vote.
Interfax reports it.
The head of the CEC, Nurzhan Shaildabekova, said that more than 81% of the ballots were processed and that the number of people who voted reached 1,137,357.
The data continue to come from the polling stations.
Seventeen candidates are running for presidency in Kyrgyzstan.
Sadyr-Japarov came to power in the country after protests in October against the results of parliamentary elections and the riots that followed.
He resigned as interim head of state and quit his duties as prime minister on 14 November in order to stand for election.
In Kyrgyzstan, in conjunction with the early presidential elections, a referendum is being held on the question of the country's form of government.
More than 80% of Kyrgyzstan's voters voted for a presidential form of government, the CEC said on its website.
(HANDLE).