Coordinator of the Monitoring Network in Tajikistan:
Abdufattokh Vokhidov
Head of the Legal Service:
Orifjon Azimov
Head of the Project in Tajikistan:
Nuriddin Karshibayev

Freedom of Speech in Tajikistan
April 2009

In April 2009 the NANSMIT Monitoring Service received 30 reports. Nineteen of them describe the factual situation in the media in the light of socio-legal and political environment; six reports describe direct violations of rights of media professionals; and five reports describe conflicts and accusations against the media and journalists.

I. PECULIARITIES OF POLITICAL, SOCIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL CLIMATE IN THE COUNTRY DEFINING THE FACTUAL SITUATION IN THE MEDIA

1. Public speeches and statements of superior officials defining the factual situation in the mass media

2 April
All media, Dushanbe

Draft Declaration of facilitation to mutually beneficial exchange of printing products among the CIS countries was adopted at the 12-th Interstate Council of CIS on Cooperation in the Sphere of Publishing.

The Interstate Council also assumed a decision on creating a joint printing body for the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The 12-th Council took place in Dushanbe, on 1-2 April. Members of the Council are Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia and Tajikistan.

2. Factual status of media and freedom of speech

1 April
Mirzoshohrukh Asrori, Minister of Culture, Dushanbe

Speaking at the 12-th Interstate Council of CIS on Cooperation in the Sphere of Publishing Minister of Culture Mirzoshohrukh Asrori said that Tajikistan has all conditions for democratic development of the media. There are 133 printing houses, 44 publishing firms, 6 news agencies, 74 magazines, and 176 newspapers.

14 April
TV and Radio Committee under the Government, Dushanbe

The State TV and Radio Committee under the Tajik government has installed 15 transmitters in the most densely populated regions of the country to ensure proper broadcasting of the TV stations Safina, Bakhoriston, and Jahonnamo.

17 April
OSCE Center in Dushanbe

Speaking at a regional seminar on labor migration in Dushanbe, Ambassador of the OSCE Center in Tajikistan Vladimir Pryakhin said that “Tajik guest workers are described in a lop-sided manner in the media; the image of a labor migrant looks like a caricature…”

“However, we often forget that these people create values worth of billions of dollars, bringing benefits to the recipient countries where they work”, — he added. Pryakhin said that the OSCE Center in Dushanbe is going to launch a contest on the best story about labor migrants and their positive input in development.

28 April
Iranian news agency Fors, Dushanbe

Iranian information agency Foros has opened its office in Dushanbe.

According to Muhammad Siddikifar, regional representative of Fors in Central Asia, “The Iranian media can become a bridge connecting te countries of the region that have common cultural and historical roots”.

Fors is planning its activities on the basis of integration and close cooperation among the countries in the spheres of information, scientific, cultural and economic exchange.

30 April
Davlat Nazriev, head of Information Department, Misistry of Foreign Affairs, Dushanbe

“Twenty four representations of foreign media with about 100 journalists are working currently in Tajikistan”, — said Davlat Nazriev, head of the Tajik Foreign Ministry’s Information Department. He added that the Tajik authorities have always had a positive attitude to the media, especially the foreign press covering domestic and foreign policy of Tajikistan.

4. Journalists protecting their civil and professional rights

6 April
All media, Dushanbe

The Tajik National Association of Independent Mass Media (NANSMIT) is celebrating its tenth anniversary. On this occasion NANSMIT held a press conference in Dushanbe to present the results of its activities and tell the media about its plans and strategy for the future.

14 April
All media, Dushanbe

The British Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) conducted a one-day seminar on “Writing news and analytical articles”.

29 April
All media, Dushanbe

A seminar on interrelations between NGOs and the media was held in Dushanbe on 28-29 April in Dushanbe. The seminar was organized by the Tajik public organization “Umedbakhsh” within the framework of the project on promotion of public interests under support of the Aga Khan Foundation.

II. VIOLATION OF RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA

1. Impediments to professional activities in the media

1 April
Radio Khatlon, Kurgan-tube, Khatlon

On 30 March correspondents of Radio Khatlon Makhmadali Akramov and Dilbar Sattorova went on errand to collect information about the educational process in schools 23 and 49 of Bokhtar district in Khatlon province. Having received permission from deputy chairman of the district, they came to the schools, but the directors did not believe them, which was reflected in the radio programs produced later. The school directors complained about the broadcasts demanding apologies from radio managers.

2. Ungrounded limitations in access to publicly important information

13 April
Mukkamal Odinaeva, IWPR correspondent, Dushanbe

Correspondent of IWPR Mukammal Odinaeva approached the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade with questions regarding economic cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran. Head of a department under the Ministry said that his unit does have comprehensive and veracious information, but he cannot provide it to the journalist without permission from deputy Minister.

Deputy Minister Kenjaev also refused to share this information with the correspondent saying that “the data available in the Ministry can be at variance with the data available in the Tajik State Investment Committee”.

Kenjaeva approached the State Investment Committee where she faced the same difficulties. An official from the unit she applied to said that no information can be shared with the media without a proper approval by the boss.

Then the correspondent applied to the Committee’s press center, where she was promised this information, but “later”.

14 April
Prosecutor of Vose district, Khatlon province

A question regarding the criminal situation in Vose district in the first quarter of 2009 remained unanswered at a press conference on 13 April.

Sukhrobsho Farrukhshoev told the NANSMIT monitoring service that he asked this question to the district prosecutor Azam Nurov, but the latter said that “the question is irrelevant”. “Should you asked about a particular incident in the district, I would give you the answer, but if you need statistics, please, visit me some another day”, — he added.

20 April
valentine Kasymbekova, freelance journalist, Dushanbe

Freelance correspondent Valentina Kasymbekova came to the Tajik Migration Service under the Interior Ministry to receive statistical data on the number of migrants who left the country during 2009.

A policeman on duty said that she should come according to a schedule, at a preliminary arrangement. The correspondent explained that she came to get socially important information, not on her personal business. However, the policeman said he is instructed not to let anybody in without preliminary arrangement.

22 April
All media, Vose district, Khatlon province

The NANSMIT Monitoring Service has repeatedly reported about the difficulties in getting access to publicly important information, especially in remote areas of Tajikistan. Local officials often refer to “the necessity of having permission from their bosses”; otherwise, they send journalists to central offices and press centers in the capital.

Several journalists accredited in the city of Kulyab faced the same difficulties when they approached managers of the Amonatbank branch in Vose district, Khatlon province. Anvar Nodirov, office manager refused to inform the journalists about crediting for cotton farming in the area in 2009.

III. CONFLICTS. VIOLATIONS INCRIMINATED TO THE MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS

1. Accusation of embezzlement and document forgery

22 April

Pulat Umarov, former editor of the Tong newspaper, Khujand, Sughd province

The criminal case of former editor of the Tong newspaper is sent to the court for further investigation.

According to prosecutor’s office in the city of Khujand, former editor of the Tong newspaper Pulat Umarov and entrepreneur D. Toshmatov are accused of embezzlement and document forgery (Articles 257 and 340 of the Tajik criminal code). In the period from July to November 2008 they appropriated grant money allotted for their office. Maksud Khudaiberdyev, founder of the newspaper approached prosecutor’s office with a complaint.

2. Protection of honor, dignity and business reputation

6 April
Media Alliance of Tajikistan, Dushanbe

The Media Alliance of Tajikistan expressed concern about the comments of Kamol Kurboniyon, editor of the government newspaper Jumkhuriyat regarding his colleagues working for private media.

Kurboniyon expressed doubts about professionalism and skills of journalists and their ability to teach; he also expressed an idea that some private media are non-transparent and are guided by “foreign masters”, and thus, they work against the interests of the state.

Commenting on that, the NANSMIT Monitoring Service assumes that the editor’s words are taken from the context, and his ideas are misinterpreted.

However, the Media Alliance appeals to all journalists – regardless of the medium they work for – to restrain from any “assessment” of professional qualities of their colleagues.

15 April
Emomali Rakhmon, President of Tajikistan, Dushanbe

On 15 April President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon in his annual message to the parliament made a number of remarks regarding several web sites, which, according to him, conduct conscientious and malevolent campaign against Tajikistan.

“It is quite obvious that somebody is not very happy with the independence of the State of Tajiks and our multi-vector policy. Suffice it to look at the headlines of preconceived and “invited” publications”, — said the President.

The Tajik leader said that the analysis shows that about 30 thousand stories about Tajikistan appeared on various web sites in the period from 2004 to 2007. More than 80 percent of them were filled with libel, slander and ungrounded forecasts.

Rakhmon stressed that the domestic mass media should serve not only as a powerful information tool, but also as a shield against untruthful publications.

This report is based on compiled materials from the media and private information presented by correspondents of the NANSMIT Monitoring Network

Coordinator of the Monitoring Service
Abdufattokh Vokhidov

Project Manager
Nuriddin Karshibaev

Media can deepen divides by offending or confronting another’s culture or identity. Cartoons published in the Danish Press in 2005 that depicted the Prophet Mohammed, for instance, set off protests throughout the Muslim world, with critics calling the cartoons racist and blasphemous.

On the other hand, media can serve to «promote a tolerance and acceptance of difference,» according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). To do so, UNESCO says, media must «challenge prevailing attitudes and assumptions concerning the many ‘others’ in our world,» moving «beyond scripted stereotypes [and] stripping away the ignorance that breeds mistrust and suspicion.»

To highlight this goal, UNESCO has made the theme of World Press Freedom Day 2009, to be celebrated May 2 and 3, «the potential of media in fostering dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation.»

Is the role of media really to promote tolerance, understanding, and an acceptance of diversity, as UNESCO calls for? Or is the media’s role simply to report the facts, even if such facts breed mistrust or fuel divides?

IJNET

The Sughd province unit of the Tajik Drug Control Agency jointly with the public organization Safo launched a contest for journalists on best coverage of the topic “Drug abuse, stigma and access to socio-medical services”. Results of the contest will be declared on 25 May 2009.

The main idea and goal of the contest is to raise public awareness on drug abuse consequences, and reduction of discrimination of drug addicts.
The contest is being conducted within the framework of events dedicated to the International Day of Countering Drugs.

NANSMIT Monitoring Service

The National Association of Independent Media, Tajikistan (NANSMIT) has summarized the outcomes of monitoring in the sphere of freedom of speech in the first quarter of 2009. The monitoring service has registered 97 reports, 71 of which define the factual situation among the media in the light of social, legal and political aspects, the other 19 inform about direct violations of journalists’ rights, and the other 7 concern conflicts and accusations against the media and journalists.
Nuriddin Karshibaev, chairman of NANSMIT says that the list of recent violations of journalists’ professional and civil rights is incomplete. “So far, some journalists – in view of subjective reasons – are not willing to report about such facts”, said Karshibaev.

http://www.nansmit.tj/

The decision on termination of broadcasting of RTR-Planet is not final

“The Committee on TV and Radio Broadcasting under the government of Tajikistan is ready to consider an official proposal of the Russian State TV and Radio Company on the renewal of its broadcasting”, — said Abdurakhmon Abdumanonov, deputy chairman of the Committee at a press conference in Dushanbe on 17 April.
“We are ready to consider official proposals from the Russian State TV Company”, — said Abdumanonov. — “We have never stated that our decision is final and irrevocable”.

For background information see the following articles:
http://www.eng.nansmit.tj/analysis/?id=43
http://www.eng.nansmit.tj/analysis/?id=44

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

The Broadcasting Committee under the government of Tajikistan has installed 15 transmitters of different capacities in densely populated areas of the country to ensure quality rebroadcasting of the state TV channels Safina, Bakhoriston and Jahonnamo.

Speaking at a press conference in Dushanbe, deputy chairman of the Committee Abdurakhmon Abdumanonov told the media that the TV channel Jahonnamo has expanded its activities and now has its resident correspondents working abroad.
During the reporting period the Committee’s licensing commission has considered applications from 15 private TV companies. Four of them have received their licenses for the first time, and licenses of other four stations have been prolonged. The other applications were rejected in view of incompliance with the legislation.

http://www.khovar.tj/

The Institute of War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) organized a seminar for young journalists in Dushanbe on the topic of analytical news writing.

Lola Kholikjanova, an IWPR trainer presented contemporary methodologies of news writing. Young journalists also analyzed various types of writing applied in leading news agencies around the World.

http://www.khovar.tj/

On 8 April, the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT) celebrated its 10-th anniversary. Ten years ago, a group of likeminded people gathered in the city of Kairakum to protect their professional rights and make their input in the development of the free press in Tajikistan.

Ten years is just a small step in the history; however, over the last decade, NANSMIT has turned into a sustainable and functional organization with its own structure, a constant staff and its own ideological position in the Tajik society. Annually, NANSMIT implements 3-5 projects, out of which at least two are implemented on a volunteer or self-financing basis.

At the current stage, NANSMIT’s main priorities are focused on legal and ethical standards of journalism. Along with that, NANSMIT is involved in the development of media legislation, especially in the issues of decriminalization of libel, defamation, business reputation – issues widely seen as controversial and serving as a ground for persecution of journalists for criticism of public servants.

Another important task is professional training of young journalists and cooperation with media organizations. NANSMIT focuses its educational efforts on the investigative journalism, trying to increase the number of publications in the domestic media covering the issues of socio-political developments, economy and politics.
The Association is also involved in the creation of a media trade union in order to facilitate in protecting professional rights of journalists and improving their social conditions.
“We are receiving appreciation from our colleagues, partners and donors”, — says Nuriddin Karshibaev, chairman of NANSMIT. – “However, we have achieved just a little of what had been planned. Confucius said: “A thousand-mile way starts from a little step”, and our Association has already made a few sound steps. We are not going to turn aside from this way – the way of development of the free media in Tajikistan”.

Additional information about NANSMIT can be received from NANSMIT office in Dushanbe, 34 Khuseinzoda St.
Contact person: Abdufattokh Vokhidov, coordinator of the Monitoring Service
Tel/Fax: (992 37) 221-37-11, 223-09-68; e-mail: coordinator@nansmit.tj

www.nansmit.tj

As its economy sinks and social tensions portend a summer of discontent, several mass media outlets in Tajikistan are busy identifying culprits for the Central Asian nation’s problems. By all appearances, the chief scapegoat is shaping up to be Russia. Local newspapers recently have blamed the Kremlin for everything from stoking the 1992-97 civil war in Tajikistan to drug trafficking, economic woes and even a possible future coup d’etat.

Because Tajikistan’s notoriously weak media is widely seen as tightly controlled by the authorities, analysts are wondering what or who is behind the latest round of hyperbolic editorializing. Such sensational reports must have a prominent backer, Russia’s Komsomolskaya Pravda suggested in an April 6 commentary.

Some analysts in Dushanbe agree. «If the authorities do not react to anti-Russian publications, it looks like these are planted articles written by hack writers. The order comes from certain politicians pursuing their own interests,» said Lidia Isamova, a noted Tajik journalist.

Nuriddin Karshibaev, chairman of the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT), an agency comprising more than 30 non-state print and electronic outlets, agrees that the quality of some recent reports has been poor, but points out that journalism is slowly opening up in Tajikistan. The recent inflammatory editorials are a byproduct of that progress, he added.

«The nature of publications has changed . . . they have started presenting alternative viewpoints,» Karshibaev said. «It seems to me that editors have started to switch off their self-censorship, giving journalists and independent analysts an opportunity to speak openly. They started touching upon not only socio-economic, but also geopolitical and international topics.»

Of note, the Asia-Plus weekly recently published a series of articles sharply criticizing some officials in Dushanbe. In March, the paper accused the finance minister of inaction during the financial crisis. Other newspapers have accused authorities of systematically destroying the country’s agricultural sector to turn quick, illicit profits. Such allegations, aired in such a public manner, would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

Independent political analyst Parviz Mullojanov agrees that the articles are a sign of an opening environment. They are «another wave of reaction from the press to things happening in Russia,» such as harassment of Tajik migrant workers.

«I don’t think there is any political figure standing behind this in Tajikistan; it’s public opinion,» he said, adding that the Russian press is also full of negative stereotypes of Tajiks. «All those anti-Tajik articles [in Russia] give me the feeling that there is a circle of officials in Russia who stand behind this and think that there should be more strict attitude towards post-Soviet countries, especially in regard to Central Asian countries.»

While Tajikistan’s media environment may be opening slightly, Tajik authorities at present retain broad control over the country’s information space. The great extent of official control was underscored on April 3, when Dushanbe revoked the broadcast rights of the Russian state-controlled TV channel RTR-Planeta, which is widely viewed as the Kremlin’s cultural and ideological loudspeaker within the CIS. The move brought to an end the terrestrial broadcast of any Russian-language programming in Tajikistan. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav040709a.shtml

Some observers speculate that officials in Dushanbe may be fomenting anti-Russian sentiment in the press to deflect criticism away from their own poor management of the domestic economy. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav121608.shtml Others wonder if Dushanbe is using tough tactics in order to coax Moscow into providing a generous economic assistance package.

If Tajik officials are indeed trying to use the media campaign to somehow pressure Moscow, they are playing risky game, some local analysts say. «Publications full of the anti-Russian rhetoric . . . are more dangerous than they might seem,» said Isamova, the journalist. «Russia really has [lots of] leverage, which it can always apply should there be a need.»

With Tajikistan’s migrants increasingly vulnerable to unemployment in Russia, and with the Russian economy seemingly caught in a downward spiral, the chances seem high that a coordinated media campaign against Moscow would be counterproductive for Dushanbe. Rather than securing desired economic assistance, Tajikistan could find itself inundated by waves of economic migrants cast out of Russia.

The Russian Embassy in Dushanbe expressed regret at the way Russia has been portrayed lately in the Tajik media. Press Secretary Kamil Magomedov, in an interview on April 8, noted that while Tajik journalists were entitled to their opinions, «what we are seeing in the recent publications goes beyond the boundaries of decency and human logic.»

Magomedov reserved particular criticism for reports that claimed Russia helped stoke «genocide» during the Tajik civil war. «The ideas of genocide and instigation of the civil war in Tajikistan [by Russia] are absurd,» Magomedov said. «We all remember that many Russian soldiers and border guards died protecting the objects of infrastructure in Tajikistan during the civil war. Russia was the guarantor of peace in those years of hardship.»

Whether the incendiary articles are officially sanctioned or merely the product of an emboldened press, Dushanbe looks progressively more on its own. One Russian politician summarized his country’s attitude. The Tajik government’s constant emergency appeals to the donor community look self-centered and clumsy, he suggested: «Why don’t Tajik leaders withdraw certain amounts from their foreign bank accounts? Why wouldn’t they help their own people instead of cajoling the money from Russia and other foreign states?»

Editor’s Note: Konstantin Parshin is a freelance correspondent based in Dushanbe.

Posted April 8, 2009 © Eurasianet

Konstantin Parshin, EurasiaNet

Источник: http://www.eurasianet.org

“Broadcasting of the Russian TV company RTR Planet on the territory of Tajikistan will not be resumed”. – This is the official statement made by the Tajik State TV Broadcasting Committee under the government.

RTR disappeared from the Tajik air one month ago. Both Tajik and Russian officials were stating that they are eager to resume broadcasting – but only after resolving of some organizational problems. The Tajik side complained that RTR has failed to sign a new agreement, and declared new prices for rebroadcasting services since all tariffs have essentially increased over the last couple of years.

On 3 April, Samad Khikmatov, deputy chairman of the Tajik Broadcasting Committee told the media that the decision is irreversible. “No further negotiations will be held with the Russian side, and the frequency [previously used by RTR] will be given to one of the local TV companies”. Khikmatov also added that this measure has no political background.

Tajik officials say that the Russian broadcasters have had enough time to resolve all technical and financial issues. “We sent letters addressed to the secretary general of the Russian State Radio and TV Company [RTR], asking to support our suggestions [on the increase of rebroadcasting tariffs]”, — said Khikmatov. The last official letter was sent on 17 February, but ever since, the Tajik side has received no answer. Teleradiocom, the State Broadcasting Committee’s technical facility complained that during 2008, its losses amounted to 100 thousand Somoni due to untimely payments for rebroadcasting and fluctuations of the Russian currency rates.

Commenting on that, Kamil Magomedov, press secretary of the Russian Embassy in Tajikistan said that on 3 March the RTR administration sent an official guarantee letter stating that it is ready to consider the 50-percent increase of the tariff. Moreover, RTR is ready to pay off the arrears for February and March right after the signing of a new agreement. The RTR representatives were ready to fly to Dushanbe at any time convenient for the Tajik counterparts, but they’ve had no response from them.

“The termination of RTR’s rebroadcasting cannot be seen as non-political”, — says Nuriddin Karshibaev, chairman of the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT). — “Logically, it is seen as a limitation of access to alternative sources of information by the Tajik authorities. At the same time, the Russian side could have agreed with the Tajik requirements on the tariff increase”. Although RTR is a State structure, its broadcasting includes essential blocks of commercial advertisement, and Tajikistan is also seen as a “commercial space”.

Konstantin Parshin, NANSMIT

Источник: NANSMIT