Kyrgyzstan to elect new president in November

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan will elect a new president on Nov. 19, the office of current President Almazbek Atambayev announced Wednesday.

"For the nine months remaining before the election, it is necessary to eliminate all shortcomings and ensure a fully transparent and fair election," said a statement from the office, citing remarks by Atambayev to Nurjan Shaildabekova, the head of Kyrgyzstan’s electoral authority.

Atambayev added that "only" free and fair elections can ensure legitimacy and stability in the country.

Sixty-year-old Atambayev was elected president in 2011 for a six-year term which ends this year.

Under the Kyrgyz Constitution, no person can be elected president twice. To date there are no announced candidates.

Reporting by Nezir Aliyev; Writing by Diyar Guldogan