An initiative group of voters of Uzbekistan has held a meeting and officially nominated Akmal Saidov for the presidency, Uzbek TV reported on 8 November.

Akmal Saidov is the director of the Uzbek National Centre for Human Rights and the head of the parliamentary committee on democratic institutions, NGOs and local governments.

"For the first time in the history of Uzbekistan, an initiative group is nominating a candidate for the presidency," the report said.

"Now, in line with the law `On the election of the president of the Republic of Uzbekistan’, the official representative of the initiative group of voters will appeal to the Central Electoral Commission asking his registration," it added.