Presidential elections will be held in Uzbekistan on December 23, the head of the Central Asian country’s Central Election Commission announced Tuesday.

Mirzo-Ulugbek Abdusalamov told RIA Novosti that the election campaign would kick off on 21 September.

December 2007 marks the end of President Islam Karimov’s tenure, which was extended by parliament from five to seven years in 2002 after a national referendum.

The election commission’s press secretary, Beruny Alimov, said no candidates had yet announced their plans to stand for the presidency. No official announcements have been made on whether Karimov will seek to remain in power, and no likely contenders for the leadership have emerged in the country.