The main award of the Tajik Association of Political Writers – the award named after Muteullo Najmiddinov in the amount of 500 Somoni is given to Bakhtiyor Murtazayev.

The documentary novelette “Nakbi Istiklol” written by Bakhtiyor Murtazayev is acknowledged the best publication of this genre among the Tajik writers and journalists in 2007.

The second award in the amount of 350 Somoni was given to Vladimir Vorobyov, editor of the Tajik weekly Narodnaya Gazeta for his series of publications about the relations between Tajikistan and Russia.

The third award in the amount of 200 Somoni was given to Jurakul Ajibov, correspondent of Khalk Ovozi weekly.

Kamil Magomedov, third secretary of the Russian Embassy to Tajikistan gave a special award of the Embassy to Vladimir Frolov, correspondent of the newspaper Courier of Tajikistan.

The contest among journalists and writers on the best political publication was launched in February 2007 by the Tajik Association of Political Writers, and was supported by the Russian Embassy.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

Mayor’s office announced a contest for the media

Shavkat Saidov, press secretary to the Mayor of Dushanbe told Asia Plus correspondent that the contest was launched at the recently held XII session of the city authorities.

The year of 2008 is declared “The Year of Creative Initiatives”, and before the 1-st of February, the Tajik media can publish articles on this topic.

The winner will get a reward in the amount of 3,5 thousand Somoni.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

On 30 December, the Tajik Parliamentarian Committee on International Affairs, Public Organizations and Information held a round table in Dushanbe on the necessity of reforms in the Law “On printing and other mass media”. Olim Salimzoda, chairman of the Parliamentarian Committee says that the necessity of development of a new draft law is based on numerous reports in the domestic media on the lack of access to public information and the reluctance of authorities and ministerial officials to share information with journalists.

Speaking about the contents of the new draft law, Salimzoda said that the new document indicates the timeframes within which information should be provided to the media upon their requests.

“The amended law will contain special provisions guaranteeing provision of publicly important information not only to the media, but also to any applicants, — said Salimzoda. — Besides that, there are certain provisions in the law concerning the representatives in every government institution in charge of public information”.

Among the participants of the round table that was held in the Tajik Union of Journalists were representatives of the Parliament, the President’s Office, the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT), the Tajik National Press Center, the Tajik Media Alliance, and other public organizations.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

Contest on the best coverage of creative initiatives in the media is launched in Dushanbe

Shavkat Saidov, press secretary of the Mayor of Dushanbe told Asia Plus correspondent that the contest was launched at the recently held XII session of the city authorities.

The year of 2008 is declared “The Year of Creative Initiatives”, and before the 1-st of February, the Tajik media can publish articles on this topic.

The winner will get a reward in the amount of 3,5 thousand Somoni.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

Tajik parliament develops a draft law on access to information

On 30 December, the Tajik Parliamentarian Committee on International Affairs, Public Organizations and Information held a round table in Dushanbe on the necessity of reforms in the Law “On printing and other mass media”. Olim Salimzoda, chairman of the Parliamentarian Committee says that the necessity of development of a new draft law is based on numerous reports in the domestic media on the lack of access to public information and the reluctance of authorities and ministerial officials to share information with journalists.

Speaking about the contents of the new draft law, Salimzoda said that the new document indicates the timeframes within which information should be provided to the media upon their requests.

“The amended law will contain special provisions guaranteeing provision of publicly important information not only to the media, but also to any applicants, — said Salimzoda. — Besides that, there are certain provisions in the law concerning the representatives in every government institution in charge of public information”.

Among the participants of the round table that was held in the Tajik Union of Journalists were representatives of the Parliament, the President’s Office, the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT), the Tajik National Press Center, the Tajik Media Alliance, and other public organizations.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

On 29 December, Tajik media organizations held a round table where they discussed the necessity of amendments to the media legislation. The event was initiated by the Tajik National Association of Independent Media, and attended by representatives of the Tajik Union of Journalists, the National Press Center, the Tajik Media Alliance, the Tajik Parliament, the President’s Office, and public organizations.

Akbarali Sattorov, chairman of the Tajik Union of Journalists told the participants about the necessity of reforms in the Law “On printing and other mass media”. Nuriddin Karshibayev, chairman of NANSMIT stressed that Tajik media experts have been working on proposals on amendments to the media law for several months. The initiators set up a working group comprising well-known Tajik journalists and lawyers. The current version of the Law “On printing and other mass media” was endorsed on 14 December 1990.

Karshibayev said that the law has been amended several times (in 1992, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2002); however, the law needs new changes in order to be in compliance with the new realities. Ibrohim Usmonov, a well-known Tajik scholar told the participants about the activities of the working group, and the shortcomings in the existing media legislation. Usmonov said that the Tajik Law “On printing and other mass media” meets the international standards, but still, some provisions in the Law should be improved.

In particular, Usmanov touched upon the articles of the law concerning the registration of the media in several government bodies. Professor also underlined the significant social and political changes that have taken place since the endorsement of the existing law, i.e. new types of media have emerged, such as the Internet outlets, etc. Besides that, the Tajik media have changed essentially.

Olim Salimzoda, deputy chairman of the Parliamentarian Committee on International Affairs, Public Organizations and Information said that the Tajik Parliament is ready to consider the proposals presented by the working group.

Participants of the round table expressed a unanimous opinion that the reformation of the Tajik media legislation is timely and necessary. The Tajik legislation should be brought into sync with international standards by means of joint efforts of the Parliament, the Government and the public.

NANSMIT Monitoring Service

Tajikistan’s media environment registered a slight but perceptible deterioration in 2005, as mounting government attempts to strengthen control eroded constitutional guarantees of free speech. With parliamentary elections looming on February 27, police closed the Kayhon printing company in January 2005, seizing the print run of the independent newspaper Nerui Sukhan. Immediately before the elections, the authorities shut down the nongovernment television stations Somoniyon and Guli Bodom. The government kept up the pressure after the elections and Somoniyon remained closed at year’s end. Nerui Sukhan was briefly allowed to publish in July before its publication was once again suspended. In August, the independent weekly Ruzi Nav, which had been effectively shut down in 2004, managed to print 99 copies of one issue. The same month, independent newspaper Odamu Olam reappeared in print after an 11-month hiatus. For all practical purposes, the independent press was sidelined in 2005.
Two high-profile cases of jailed journalists dominated the news in 2005. Jumaboi Tolibov, a journalist and government official in Soghd province, received a two-year jail term after publishing articles critical of a local prosecutor. Tolibov was freed only in December-the country’s Supreme Court had earlier ordered his release, but prosecutors initially overruled that order on dubious legal grounds. Mukhtor Boqizoda, editor in chief of Nerui Sukhan, was sentenced to two years of partial wage garnishment for «stealing» electricity for his printing press from a streetlight. President Emomali Rakhmonov signed a decree in March ordering officials to hold regular press conferences, but independent observers charged that officials avoided tough questions and used these as forums primarily for touting their own achievements.
The country sustains numerous print media outlets and private television and radio stations, as well as six government television stations. However, the government also maintained a near freeze on the registration of new media outlets; in 2005, the Justice Ministry registered only one newspaper, Millat, which published materials on political issues, and two new radio stations. In September, a second national governmental television station, Safina, began broadcasting. Coverage on state-controlled broadcast media provided a favorable backdrop to authorities’ actions. The state maintained a strong presence on the media landscape through direct and indirect ownership, licensing requirements, control of printing facilities, and subsidies. International media were allowed to operate freely, even to the extent of offering rebroadcasts of Russian television and radio programs. Internet services are limited to less than 1 percent of the population, and websites with political content experienced attacks by hackers.

Freedom House

Источник: Freedom House

Necessity of changes in the media legislation to be discussed in Dushanbe

On 29 December, Tajik media organizations will discuss the necessity of amendments and changes in the Law “On printing and other mass media”.

Nuriddin Karshibaev, chairman of the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT) told Asia Plus correspondent that the media organizations are going to convene a round table. Among the organizers of the discussion are the Tajik Union of Journalists, NANSMIT, the National Press Center, the Tajik Media Alliance, and other public organizations and human rights watchdogs.

It is expected that among the speakers will be Akbarali Sattarov, chairman of the Union of Journalists, Mukhiddin Kabiri, chairman of the Tajik Islamic Renaissance Party, Saidmurod Fattoev, State Advisor to the President, and Professor Ibrahim Usmonov.

“In October 2007, we set up a working group in order to develop proposals on amendments to the media law, — said Karshibaev. — The group comprises well-known Tajik media professionals and lawyers”. Professor Usmanov will make a presentation on the working group’s outcomes, and the lawyer Farrukhsho Junaidov will present comments on legal issues.

The Law “On printing and other mass media” was endorsed on 14 December 1990. Amendments to the Law have been made several times – in 1992, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2002.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

Freedom House says the situation in the sphere of the Tajik mass media has deteriorated.

Tajikistan has the 166-th position in the traditional rating of Freedom of Speech annually published by the US-based human rights watchdog Freedom House.

The recent report of this organization contains outcomes of an assessment conducted in 195 countries around the globe. All countries are divided into three categories – “free” “relatively free” and “not free”.

Freedom House placed Tajikistan in the group of “not free” judging the number of points, which the country has to gain in terms of political and civil freedoms. Tajikistan received 6 points for political freedom, and 5 points for civil freedom. The “free” countries are those who gain 1-2 points; the “relatively free” get 3-5 points; and “not free” receive 6-7 points. According to the report, the worst situation is in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

In the last year report, Tajikistan was at the 165-th position, which meas that the situation has deteriorated.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

The U.S. Embassy IN DUSHANBE requests PROJECT proposals for the 2008 DEMOCRACY COMMISSION SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: January 7, 2008

The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe announces a new request for proposals under the 2008 Democracy Commission Small Grants Program. The purpose of the program is to award small grants for specific projects that support the development of democratic institutions in Tajikistan. Primarily, grants will be awarded to non-governmental, non-profit organizations (NGOs). The amount of a grant must not be more than 12, 000 dollars but the Commission will give priority to the applications that offer the implementation of the similar project with lower budget. To be eligible for consideration, every applicant must be engaged in, or propose to carry out, a project whose purpose is to promote the development of democratic institutions in Tajikistan. The Democracy Commission Small Grants Program has existed in Tajikistan since 2001.

The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe will accept proposals for consideration of the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program for the following themes:

§ Fostering a Strong and Independent Media
§ Human Rights including Religious Freedom, children’s rights; women rights, etc.
§ Fighting TIP;
§ Respect for the Rule of Law including anti-corruption awareness; transparency in government; etc.
§ Increasing Environmental Awareness including use of alternative sources of energy;

Proposals must be received no later than January 7, 2007. Proposals should contain clearly formulated goals and target groups, and show the ability of the applying organization to carry out the project aims. Proposals should be submitted in English or in Tajik/Russian languages with an English translation to:

U.S. Embassy, Public Affairs Section

109 A Ismoili Somoni Avenue

Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Tel: (992 37) 229 2315, 229 2000, fax: (992 37) 229 2050

Email: kadirovak@state.gov,

Contact person: Abdumalik Kadirov

Note: Projects with a computer based English translation will not be accepted.

The U.S. Embassy Democracy Commission Grant Program is limited to organizations based in Tajikistan. Projects NOT funded by the U.S. Embassy Democracy Commission Program include those requested by non-Tajikistani organizations, those relating to partisan political activity, charitable activity and humanitarian aid, fund-raising campaigns, commercial projects, those involving individuals not affiliated with an organization that can provide long-term sustainability to the project, and those that duplicate existing projects.

Grant application forms are available on our web site http://dushanbe.usembassy.gov/demcom.html. They can also be obtained in the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe or by email. If you have additional questions or need consultation on your project proposal please contact the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy by the numbers above on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 to 12:00.

US Embassy to Tajikistan