Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Central Election Commission of Kyrgyzstan reported that Sadyr Japarov is leading in the first round of the presidential elections after counting 98% of ballots, RIA Novosti reports.

As of 8.00 (5.00 Moscow time), votes were automatically counted from 2425 polling stations out of 2476. There, more than 1.117 million people, or 79.2% of voters, cast their votes for Japarov.

According to the manual counting of votes from 71% of the polling stations, Japarov is also in the lead, having received more than 80% of the votes.

On 10 January, early presidential elections were held in Kyrgyzstan. The previous head of state resigned amid massive protests in October 2020. 17 people apply for the post of President of Kyrgyzstan.

Together with the election of the head of state, a referendum was also held to determine the form of government in the country.