Irina, from the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, said Russians have been paying attention to the election campaign because it matters who leads a country as powerful as the United States.

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Mr. Kirby decided to explore his Slavic roots he says his grandparents were Polish and after college he joined the Peace Corps, which sent him to the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan.

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The Republic of Ireland scores twice in the last two minutes to beat Kazakhstan.

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He grew up partly in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, which borders Kazakhstan where both Mr. Tazhayakov and Mr. Kadyrbayev come from.

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But the pull-out of Spain, Honduras and the Dominican Republic, combined with wavering comments from Poland, Thailand, Kazakhstan and the Philippines, suggest this may not be enough.

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He also provoked the ire of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni after expressing disgust at being left out of the team for the Republic's World Cup qualifier in Kazakhstan in September, for which he later issued an apology.

BBC: James McClean