On July 23, 2009 presidential elections are held in Kyrgyzstan. Six candidates ran for the race, including the incumbent President Kurmanbek Bakiev and the Leader of Opposition, Chairman of Social Democratic Party, the former Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev.

The voting started at 8 a.m. local time and ended at 8 p.m. Overall 2251 polling stations are open and another 49 are operating for Kyrgyzstan citizens abroad.

Under Kyrgyzstan legislation, the elections are effective if over 50% of the votes are provided. Total number of the votes is 2,8 mln people, at that 140 thousand – residing abroad. The candidate polling over 50% of votes in the first round wins the race.