Prosecutor General’s office and the Tajik energy holding Barki Tojik ignored the request of newspaper Nigoh regarding a complaint of the Nurek hydropower plant’s personnel.

On 6 July the Nigoh weekly (#23, 27.08.09) addressed a request on information to the joint stock company Barki Tojik regarding a complaint from employees of the Nurek hydropower plant.

Nigoh has been conducting an investigation on the complaint, which states that chairman of Barki Tojik Sharif Isoev had beaten his subordinates. Journalists face many impediments in their investigation, and the article was published with delay.

In course of investigation journalists established that Sharif Isoev had beaten employees of the hydropower plant accusing them of selling water to the neighboring Uzbekistan; he also illegally fired director of the Nurek hydropower plant Rustam Zogakov. Applicants have been waiting for fair justice and actions by the law enforcement structures against Isoev.

In June the newspaper sent its second written request to the Prosecutor General’s office, but has not received any feedback. It is interpreted as a violation of the Tajik law “On applications of citizens” and the President’s decree “On response of officials to critical and analytical publications in the mass media” (#622).

Management of Barki Tojik sent the following response to Nigoh: “Inpursuance of your request, Barki Tojik is ready to meet with your journalists and provide them with relevant experts for your investigation. Regrettably, we cannot provide you with any written information in view of the lack of technical capacities”.

NANSMIT Monitoring Service

This monitoring presents a compilation of reports from Tajikistan’s media and private reports from the NANSMIT monitoring network in the country

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
August 2009

In August 2009 the NANSMIT Monitoring Service received 24 reports. Eighteen of them describe the factual situation in the media in the light of socio-legal and political environment; five reports describe direct violations of rights of media professionals; and one report describes conflicts and accusations against the media and journalists.

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

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

14 August
H. Khakimova, deputy chair of Khatlon province

Ms. H. Khakimova, deputy chair of Khatlon province discussed activities of the media with local journalists, and, in particular, the issues of public awareness about the government policies and resolutions of the President.

Khakimova noted that journalists make their worthy contribution in social development of the province. Journalists asked the representative of the authorities to assist them in setting up news bureaus for the state news agency Khovar, TV Safina, a branch of the Tajik Union of Journalists and the magazine Bonuvoni Tojikistin.

27 August
Executive authorities of Shurabad district, Khatlon province

Authorities of Shurabad district in Khatlon province allocated funds for procurement of computer hardware and Internet communication for two local newspapers – Nasimi Terai and Ovozi Khalk, printing outlets of the People Democratic Party of Tajikistan. The authorities also intend to procure new printing equipment for these two newspapers.

2. Factual status of the media and the freedom of speech

3 August
TV Khatlon, Khatlon province

On 3 August the State TV and Radio Committee terminated broadcasting of the government TV company Khatlon TV.

According to Sherali Saidov, acting head of the Committee, the province TV station owes Tajiktelecom (the State Committee’s technical facility) 170 thousand Somoni (about $39 thousand US dollars).

Broadcasting resumed on the next day, when the parties settled the issue. The arrears were redeemed by the State TV and Radio Committee; however, the TV station received a warning saying that from now on, Tajiktelecom will be charging all broadcasting entities – regardless of their form of property – for the technical services it provides them with.

7 August
Ruznomai Binokoron, printing outlet of the Architecture and Civil Construction Agency under the government

The first issue of Ruznomai Binokoron, a printing body of the Architecture and Civil Construction Agency was published on 7 August. Dilbar Tabarova, editor of the new weekly told the Khovar news agency that the first edition is published on the occasion of the Civil Construction Workers’ National Day celebrated on 9 August.

The newspaper’s circulation is one thousand copies; it will be published in Tajik and Russian languages at the Intishor printing house.

11 August
Sukhan weekly, Union of Journalists, Dushanbe

The Union of Journalists of Tajikistan (UJT) intends to create its own printing body. UJT has already submitted its application to register the newspaper in the Ministry of Culture. The Sukhan (“speech”) weekly will be published in Tajik language; the first issue will appear in September.

A newspaper with the same name already existed in the 1990-s; it was founded by Otakhon Latifi, former chairman of the Tajik Union of Journalists. In 1993 the newspaper was closed, when its editor emigrated from the country.

17 August
Vladimir Pryakhin, OSCE ambassador to Tajikistan, Dushanbe

“The national media in Tajikistan need further improvement… some remote regions of the country are not covered by the national television,” — said Vladimir Pryakhin in his interview to Vetcherny Dushanbe weekly.

Pryakhin noted that residents in those areas are mainly using satellite aerials. “This is good, but this proves that people are longing for foreign television. The national media should provide local residents with appropriate volumes of information as well”, — he added.

OSCE implements projects targeted to strengthening of the Tajik media, but these efforts are not sufficient. According to ambassador Pryakhin, journalists are still being persecuted for their publications.

24 August
Window to India, a new magazine in Tajikistan, Dushanbe

The first issue of a new magazine “Window to India” was published under support of the Embassy of India in Dushanbe. The magazine is published in Tajik language; it covers essential aspects of cultural life in India: education, literature, figurative arts, theaters, etc.

25 August
Radio Asia Plus

Private radio company Asia Plus launched a series of programs dedicated to the holy month of Ramadan. The daily program starts with at sunrise, when Muslims should start fasting.

“The Ramadan program is not only about the essence of fasting; it is alos about the importance of good and noble deeds”, — said Parvona Akhrori, Asia Plus executive director.

31 August
Farazh, private newspaper, Dushanbe

Public-political newspaper Farazh will be published twice a week. According to Khurshed Niyozov, editor of Farazh, on 26 August the editing board produced a special issue of the newspaper.

Since the early 1990-s there have not been any daily newspapers in Tajikistan. Only certain government newspapers were issued twice a week. One of the main reasons of the absence of daily newspapers is the obsolete printing facilities and underdeveloped system of dissemination, i.e. the weak network of kiosks and postal services.

2. Journalists protecting their civil and professional rights

3 August
All media, Dushanbe

Media professionals approached the Tajik authorities with a request to support “the forth power” in conditions of the global financial crisis.

Directors of Tajik media outlets, journalists and media experts signed an appeal saying that “the Tajik mass media, as an integral part of the national economy and the Tajik society have been severely affected by the global financial crisis”.

Referring to independent assessment conducted by printing and electronic media, Tajik journalists state that more than 90 percent of the media experience serious financial difficulties and their incomes decline. The number of copies of newspapers has decreased by 30-40 percent because of the lowered purchasing ability among readers, the growing prices on services and expendables; the volume of advertisement has also decreased by 70 percent.

5 August
Union of Journalists
National Association of Independent Media

The Union of Journalists of Tajikistan (UJT) and the Tajik National Association of Independent Mass Media (NANSMIT) disseminated a joint statement condemning pressure upon Olimjon Kurbanov, editor of the Business & Politics weekly from Anvari Vaisiddin, head of administration of Vakhdat city.

The author touched upon the issues of rational water use and fair distribution of water resources in rural areas. He also criticized wrongful actions of the Vakhdat city administration impeding to attraction of investments and exercising constitutional rights of newly formed water users’ associations.

In response to criticism, chairman of the Vakhdat city accused the journalist of prejudice and greed. The official’s answer is seen a “bureaucratic buck slip” rather than a an effective response in compliance with the President’s decree “On officials’ response measures to criticism in the media”.

17 August
Radio Imruz, Dushanbe

The Union of Journalists of Tajikistan (UJT), the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT) and the Tajik Media Alliance (MAT) launched a joint statement, expressing concern over the termination of broadcasting of the private radio companu Imruz. The statements also describes unfavorable situation within Tajikistan’s information space.

Radio Imruz has recently celebrated its second anniversary, and during this relatively short period the company has won attention of a large audience. The radio station has become popular due to a new approach to management and pluralism of opinions expressed in its daily programs.

Radio Imruz has been repeatedly facing problems with the authorities. On 11 August broadcasting was terminated. Officials from the State Broadcasting Committee’s technical unit refer to temporary problems of technological character, but the radio company’s management states that these explanations are poorly grounded.

Tajik media organizations consider such impediments absolutely unacceptable, especially on the eve of the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Tajikistan. Actions of the Tajik authorities are interpreted as serious limitations of the freedom of speech and expression, which affects the image of Tajikistan in the world arena.

19 August
Zarif Alizoda, accredited ombudsman on human rights in Tajikistan, Dushanbe

On 19 August accredited ombudsman on human rights in Tajikistan Zarif Alizoda held a meeting with journalists in Dushanbe. The meeting was organized by the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT) jointly with the Tajik Union of Journalists (UJT).

Mr. Alizoda informed journalists about the purpose of creating the Ombudsman institute in Tajikistan, which main goal is protection of human rights.

II. VIOLATION OF RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA

1. Violation of economic rights

11 August
Radio Imruz, Dushanbe

Since 27 July Radio Imruz has been experiencing problems with broadcasting. According to Rustami Joni, director of Imruz, his radio company timely pays for radio transmitters [to the State Broadcasting Committee’s technical facility, Teleradiocom].

2. Accusation of religious extremism

12 August
Shukhrat Shodiev, freelance journalist, Tajikistan

Freelance journalist Shukhrat Shodiev was gotten off the train by Uzbek police on suspicion of smuggling arms and illicit literature. At present, the journalist is being held in detention without documents in the Uzbek city of Nukus, Kara-Kalpak autonomous province.

Reportedly, Shodiev and other two citizens of Tajikistan were taken off the train at a check point between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

4. Ungrounded limitations in access to publicly important information

27 August
Paikon, private newspaper, Dushanbe

Director of the State Anticorruption and Finance Control Agency Fattokh Saidov refused to answer questions of the Paikon weekly referring to the fact that he had already answered similar questions addressed by another newspaper.

27 August
Barki Tojik, Tajik Electricity Holding, Dushanbe

The Tajik electricity holding company Barki Tojik ignored a request of the Nikokh weekly regarding a complaint of the Nurek hydropower plant’s personnel.

Responding to the request, managers of Barki Tojik said that they are ready to meet with journalists and answer any questions; however, by technical reasons they are not ready to respond in written form.

III. CONFLICTS. VIOLATIONS INCRIMINATED TO THE MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS

1. Protection of honor, dignity and business reputation

7 August
Ministry of Health, Dushanbe

Deputy Minister of Health Azamjon Mirzoev made clarifications regarding a publication posted on the web site of the Avesta news agency titled “Hemorrhagic fever arrived from Russia”. Referring to unofficial sources, Avesta stated that 24 persons have died from the infection. It was also said in the article that the village of Zieratut is blocked by law enforcement agencies. Besides that, it was stated that “the infection came from Russia, i.e. people got contaminated from a corpse of a labor migrant, which arrived from Russia”.

According to Mirzoev, the information published by Avesta is far from the truth. The number of victims is three, and only five patients were hospitalized. None of the villages in the area have been blocked. And there are no grounds to speculate that the source of the disease is a dead body of a labor migrant. Eventually, it was proven that the first сообщениях оcontamination was caused by a mite.

The Ministry of Health advised journalists to check information more thoroughly before publishing articles, which may provoke panicking among people.

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 Karshibayev

On 27 August 2009 the Russian public movement “Tajik Labor Migrants” received a certificate from the Russian Federal Mass Communication Service permitting to establish its own printing body (Roskomnadzor, ПИ ФС77- 37014, 30 July 2009).

The newspaper will be published in two languages – Russian and Tajik; the initial circulation is 50 thousand copies. The territory of dissemination is the Russian Federation and the CIS countries.

The newspaper positions itself as an information-analytical, political, cultural and educational periodical.

Experts say that the registration of this newspaper is the evidence of acknowledgement of the Tajik labor migrants as a full-fledged element of the Russian civil society.

http://www.centrasia.ru/

Fattokh Saidov, director of the State Anti-corruption and Financial Control Agency refused to answer questions addressed by the Paikon newspaper, referring to the fact that he had answered similar questions addressed by another periodical.

The Paikon weekly (#24, 26.08.09) was planning an interview with director of the State Anti-corruption agency Fattokh Saidov. The official had been approached well in advance, but he asked journalists to present their questions in written form (which they did). The questions concerned the Agency’s activities and plans for the future.

After numerous telephone calls, the newspaper received the following answer: “In pursuance of your letter dated 14 August 2009, we hereby notify you that I have been interviewed by the Asia Plus weekly, and provided the newspaper with all the answers to your questions. Besides that, you can find additional information about the Agency’s activities, programs, etc. in the texts of public speeches of its director, as well as on our web site www.anticorruption.tj

Seven questions of Paikon remained unanswered.

NANSMIT monitoring service

Over a month after President Imomali Rahmon suggested abolishing Russian as a language of «interethnic communication,» Tajikistan remains abuzz with hype and fear about the potential change. Officials in Dushanbe argue that a policy alteration is needed to bolster Tajikistan’s sovereignty. But Russian leaders are warning that any move to alter the status quo would result in serious economic consequences for Dushanbe.

Under current legislation, all government documents must be in either or both Tajik and Russian. Under the new draft law, all government functions would be performed exclusively in Tajik.

Russian is still widely spoken in Tajikistan, especially in interactions involving members of different ethnic groups, such as Tajiks and Uzbeks. Many non-Tajik residents of Tajikistan do not have a solid grasp of the Tajik language. Russian has enjoyed official status since 1989, prior to the demise of the Soviet empire.

Rahmon’s administration has been coming under increasing domestic pressure in 2009, as the country’s economy has struggled during the global financial slowdown. Some experts see the proposed language revisions as an effort to bolster the president’s domestic position. «The destiny of the nation depends on the destiny of its language,» Rahmon said on July 22, in comments marking the 20th anniversary of Tajik becoming the state language. «One can judge the greatness of the nation by judging the respect to the national language among representatives of this nation.» At the time, he urged the Tajik parliament to rapidly act on his initiative to alter the official status of Russian.

Russian politicians angrily responded to Rahmon’s initiative, suggesting that any effort to reduce the status of Russian would provoke punitive economic measures by Moscow. One called for the implementation of a visa regime for Tajiks, a move that could drastically curtail the number of Tajik guest workers in Russia. Labor migrant remittances are a crucial pillar of the Tajik economy. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Moscow and Dushanbe have traded frequent barbs over the past year over the poor treatment of Tajik guest workers in Russia and the low level of Russian investment in Tajikistan.

Immediately prior to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s late July visit to Dushanbe, the Komsomolskaya Pravda daily quoted Russian presidential aide Sergey Prihodko as saying the Tajik authorities «should be interested in this [preservation of Russian language] more than us. If they stop speaking Russian, Tajik guest workers will not be able to work here.»

Some Russian MPs have ominously warned that meddling with language policy could prove politically destabilizing for Rahmon at home. «The implementation of the law, according to which the Russian language is losing its status of interethnic communication will provoke a mutiny [in Tajikistan],» said Alexei Ostrovsky, chairman of the Russian State Duma’s Committee on CIS Affairs on July 23.

The Tajik Foreign Ministry in late July sought to mollify Moscow, issuing a statement noting that the Russian language’s status was protected in the Tajik Constitution. It went on to assure Russian authorities that no changes to the constitution were anticipated.

But analysts believe that Rahmon is perfectly capable of engineering constitutional amendments. «Regrettably, nationalistic moods are very strong among some parliamentarians and government officials. The constitution can be changed by means of a referendum,» Lidia Isamova, a Tajik journalist and political expert, told EurasiaNet.

On condition of anonymity, another Russian-speaking ethnic Tajik journalist predicted that a language change could have unpredictable domestic economic ramifications. «More than a half of my colleagues would lose their jobs if the draft law is adopted. We won’t be able to ask questions at press conferences, and our employers won’t find interpreters for us,» the journalist said. Institutions of higher learning, at which Russian is the primary language of instruction, would also suffer, some experts warn.

Rahmon has shown a previous willingness to make language-related changes. In 2007 — amid another ebb in relations with Moscow — he refashioned his own family name, and forbade newborns from bearing their parents’ Russified family names ending in «-ov.»

Analysts believe the president is trying to use lansguage as leverage, aiming to increase the amount of financial assistance flowing to Tajikistan from Russia. Some add that the language issue has proven to be a double-edged sword in the past for Tajikistan. «In 1989 the endorsement of the language law [making Tajik the official language] resulted in a mass exodus from the country. Adoption of the new law can provoke the repetition of the ’1989 syndrome,’» Victor Kim, coordinator of the Tajik Alliance of National Minorities, told the Asia Plus news agency on July 22, referring to the brain drain of the early 1990s.

Gaffor Juraev, head of the government commission on implementation of the state language law, and one of the authors of the draft bill, believes «the law is needed» to promote Tajikistan’s sovereignty. «All citizens of Tajikistan must know the state language — at least out of respect to the country where they live,» he said, in comments to Asia Plus. He added that talk of a fresh exodus caused by any new, potential changes was «absurd.»

For many ordinary Tajiks, however, the move would represent an unnecessary intrusion into their daily lives. «My mother is a Pamiri Tajik, and my father is Russian. My husband is from Belarus, but he is not sure about his ethnic roots. And who are my children? They are not Tajiks, but they are Tajikistani! We have always been proud of our multiethnic past,» said Nigina Ruslanova, a schoolteacher in Dushanbe.

The chairman of Tajikistan’s Communist Party, Shodi Shabdolov, is among those Tajiks who oppose tinkering with language legislation. «The exclusion of Russian language as the language of interethnic communication from the new draft law [would be] a serious mistake,» he told Asia Plus. «The status of Russian language in the draft law is underestimated — in political, educational and scientific respects. Russian is acknowledged as the language of international communication in CIS countries. Moreover, Russian is one of the official UN languages.

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

Konstantin Parshin

Источник: http://eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav082609a.shtml

The governor of Tajikistan’s southern Khatlon Province has ordered local authorities to increase the number of media outlets in the region, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports.

Ghaibullo Afzalov announced today that Khatlon’s population does not have sufficient access to news and information via traditional media platforms, which he said is a threat to Tajikistan’s national security.

Nusratullo Abdulloev, the editor in chief of a regional newspaper in Khatlon’s Khuroson district, told RFE/RL that he fully agrees with Afzalov’s statement, adding that 2.5 million citizens in Khatlon do not have enough newspapers to receive the latest international and domestic news.

A Tajik media analyst, Jamoliddin Saifiddinov, told RFE/RL that residents of Tajikistan’s Qabodyon, Shahritus, and Nosiri Khisrav districts, which border Uzbekistan, watch mainly Uzbek TV stations because the Tajik television channels have a very weak signal in the region.

Khatlon TV Deputy Director Sherali Saidov confirmed Saifiddinov’s assessment of the TV reception in those areas and said the Khatlon TV channel is not even available in the region’s Kulob district, which borders Afghanistan.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajik_Governor_Orders_Better_Regional_Media_Access/1805793.html

Jovid always dreamed of becoming a police officer, but now he finds himself taking exams to become a tax collector.

«My family couldn’t afford the amount of bribe we would have had to pay to get a place at the police academy,» the 18-year-old high-school graduate explains.

Seeking to ensure an affordable future for their son, his parents — farmers in Tajikistan’s northern Maschoh region — instead paid out a $1,000 bribe to ensure he would be enrolled to study tax law at a Tajik finance university.

«We had to sell several of our cattle to raise the money,» Jovid says. «The rest we borrowed from relatives. We didn’t have any other choice. I wish it was possible to enter the university with my knowledge, but here things don’t work like that.»

Jovid says his parents paid the money to middlemen, who promised to pass it on to professors who would be making enrollment decisions based on exam results.

It is a common practice throughout Central Asia, where people say it is a fact of life that most university entrants must pay bribes to get enrolled into institutions of higher education.

Paying To Learn, Earn

In Turkmenistan, there is even a name for such bribes, «elaklyk,» which literally means «thanks giving.»

Throughout the region there are unofficial price lists for different universities and colleges, ranging from $600 to $15,000.

For instance, applicants have to pay at least $2,000 to get a place in the English-language department in Tajikistan’s provincial universities.

In Turkmenistan, entrants may pay much more. Depending on the number of people competing for university places, prices in the most popular schools can rise to over $40,000.

The amount of the bribe often depends on the profitability of the future profession. The most popular among universities are law schools, because people believe lawyers are in a position to earn lots of money in a relevantly short period of time.

Alymbek Ata, whose son has applied to enter Kyrgyzstan’s Osh University, says he accepts bribery as «today’s reality,» and questioning the practice has never crossed his mind.

«Other parents who brought their children are paying bribes, and so do I — I’m not any different,» he says.

Rot In The System

The problem of bribery in the education system has been a topic of political debate in Central Asia in recent years, with officials warning that corrupt practices and widespread bribery have severely damaged the quality of education.

High-school teachers throughout the region complain that students skip lessons and don’t take their studies seriously, raising fears that they are not properly prepared as they take the next step in their education.

At the university level, corruption does not stop with the entrance exam. Once in the classroom, students routinely pay bribes to get better grades and to pass exams. It is common for professors to have different fees, so-called «stavki,» to pass their exams.

Emil Sarybaev, who studies medicine in Osh university, says some students opt to pay bribes instead of attending classes.

«There are five or six students in my group who don’t show up for lessons, but who take care of any problems with the professors. They pay about around $500-$600 to pass an exam,» Sarybaev says.

«I can’t even imagine what kind of doctors they will become, or how they would treat patients in Kyrgyzstan. I’m afraid that they won’t be able to treat patients, they will kill them.»

Local experts in the region warn that Central Asia is in danger of ending up with a generation of specialists who are not properly trained in their field.

Many people in the region have already lost their trust in university graduates, particularly in the medical field, leading them to seek out older doctors or graduates of foreign medical schools.

Arrest Teachers, Or Empower Them?

Meanwhile, education authorities insist they are fighting the rampant corruption in the system.

Last month, for example, several professors in the region — including the head of the Ashgabat University of World Languages, a department head in Tajikistan’s Khujand Medical College, and two university professors in Bishkek and Osh — were fired in connection with bribery.

Prosecutors in the three countries in question have opened criminal cases against the professors, who now face corruption charges.

Public opinion, however, is unmoved by these individual cases. Few expect that weeding out a handful of offenders can really end the problem. Some even accuse the education officials themselves of being involved in corruption.

«I don’t believe this issue will be solved as long as we have the current officials in place,» says Faridun Rahnavard, a Dushanbe-based analyst.

Suggestions have been made that raising teachers’ and university professors’ wages could help eliminate corruption. State university professors throughout Central Asia receive meager wages, ranging between $70 and $400 a month.

Concerns have also been raised that the continuation of unfair practices will deny the children of non-wealthy families the opportunity to build a better future for themselves through education.

Regardless of the level of their knowledge, some already consider entering universities as beyond their reach, leading them to become migrant laborers instead.

Editor’s Note: RFE/RL’s Central Asian services contributed to this report

Farangis Najibullah, a EurasiaNet Partner Post fro

Источник: http://eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/pp082009.shtml

The Union of Journalists of Tajikistan (UJT), the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT) and the Tajik Media Alliance (MAT) launched a joint statement, expressing concern over the termination of broadcasting of the private radio companu Imruz. The statements also describes unfavorable situation within Tajikistan’s information space.

Radio Imruz has recently celebrated its second anniversary, and during this relatively short period the company has won attention of a large audience. The radio station has become popular due to a new approach to management and pluralism of opinions expressed in its daily programs.

Radio Imruz has been repeatedly facing problems with the authorities. On 11 August broadcasting was terminated. Officials from the State Broadcasting Committee’s technical unit refer to temporary problems of technological character, but the radio company’s management states that these explanations are poorly grounded.

Tajik media organizations consider such impediments absolutely unacceptable, especially on the eve of the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Tajikistan. Actions of the Tajik authorities are interpreted as serious limitations of the freedom of speech and expression, which affects the image of Tajikistan in the world arena.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

On 7 August the Avesta news agency posted an article titled “Hemorrhagic fever came to Tajikistan from Russia”.

Referring to unofficial sources, the authors stated that the number of human casualties from hemorrhagic fever in the city of Tursunzade has reached 24, and among the victims is the chief infection doctor Askar Umarov. Avesta also informed readers on its web site that the village of Ziyoratut is blocked by law enforcement units, and neighboring areas are closed for quarantine. The article also said that the source of extremely contagious infection was the dead body of a Tajik labor migrant that arrived from Russia.

Here is the comment of deputy Minister of Health Azamjon Mirzoev:
“I have to say that the data in the publication is far from reality. The number of people who died from the disease is 3, not 24. Although, it’s a tragedy. Yes, among the people who died was a doctor from the city infection hospital. He died helping hospitalized patients”.

The entrance to Ziyoratut village was not blocked either, and nobody introduced any quarantine. There are no grounds for allegations that the disease came from Russia.

The Tajik Ministry of Health applied to the media with a request to refer to official and competent sources of information, and restrain from provoking panic among the population.

http://www.khovar.tj/

The Union of Journalists of Tajikistan (UJT) is preparing to create its own printing body.

The Union has already submitted its application to the Ministry of Culture. The new periodical is called “Sukhan” (the Tajik for “Speech” or “Language”). The first issue of the Tajik-language newspaper will be printed in September.
It should be noted that in the early 1990-s UJT already had a newspaper with the same name. it was founded under the initiative of a well-known journalist Otakhon Latifi.

http://www.khovar.tj/