Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been re-elected after winning 80,1 per cent of the vote in Sunday's election, which Western observers say was marked by a lack of "real competition" despite improvements made by recent reforms.  

The expected victory for the president will allow him to deepen his reform-based campaign and is likely to result in further opening up to Uzbekistan for investment and foreign trade, while still maintaining the country's centralized political system. writes the Moscow Times.  

Mirziyoyev lifted some restrictions on religious practices, reduced the powers of the powerful state security service, and oversaw the release of some political prisoners held by his predecessor, Islam Karimov.  

He also renewed the ties of this resource-rich country with both Russia and the West.  

In 2016, Mirziyayev won the election with 88,6 percent of the vote and 87 percent of the vote, and took power from Karimov, who has been in power in Uzbekistan for 27 years, making the country one of the most authoritarian in the world.  

Forced labor  

He also promised to reduce the poverty rate through accelerated economic growth and gradually decentralize decision-making by delegating some powers to regional administrations.  

This landlocked former Soviet republic of about 34 million people was once the mainstay of the ancient Silk Road, contributing to the development of cities such as Samarkand and Bukhara. Five years after Karimov's death, Uzbekistan undoubtedly looks freer. 

Mirziyayev put an end to forced labor in cotton fields, involving thousands of children, and his move was hailed by the world.  

Democratic standards  

Observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe comment that recent political reforms have not yet resulted in a truly pluralistic environment. In a statement, they called the reforms undertaken by the incumbent president an "encouraging sign" but at the same time condemned "prisons, intimidation and pressure" on journalists during the campaign.  

"Although several politicians ran in the election, there was no significant political engagement among themselves or with voters, and candidates refrained from challenging or criticizing the incumbent president," the observer mission said in a statement. 

Central Election Commission Chairman Zayndin Nizamodyaev said the vote was in line with democratic standards, so he declared Mirziyayev the winner on Monday, citing preliminary results.  

Shortly after the results were announced, the newly elected president spoke to reporters.  

"I am grateful and deeply devoted to our mothers, sisters, daughters and fellow party members who trusted me and chose me," he said.