This report is based upon messages from the Tajik media and the NANSMIT monitoring network.
Moderator of the monitoring network in Tajikistan
Abdufatoh Vohidov
Chief of legal service
Orifjon Azimov
Chief of project in Tajikistan
Nuriddin Karshiboev
In March 2010 the NANSMIT Monitoring Service received 19 reports. Eleven of them describe the factual situation in the media in the light of socio-legal and political environment; four reports describe direct violations of rights of media professionals; and four 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
30 March
Kenneth Gross, the US Ambassador to Tajikistan, Dushanbe
On 30 March the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Tajikistan, Mr. Kenneth Gross took part in a court hearing on the case of three private newspapers – Asia Plus, Farazh and Ozodagon. Mr. Gross was an observer at the hearing. Before the session, he answered questions of journalists and expressed concern about the situation in the sphere of freedom of speech in Tajikistan.
2. Factual status of the media and the freedom of speech
1 March
Radio Tiroz, Khujand, Sughd province
Radio Tiroz based in the northern city of Khujand, celebrated its tenth anniversary. The TV & Radio company Tiroz was created as a commercial enterprise with limited liabilities in July 2000. the company started broadcasting on 1 March 2000. At present, the radio station has two FM frequencies – 103,7 and 106,7.
13 March
The Pomir newspaper, GBAO
The Pamir Media new agency published the first issue of its new printing outlet – Pomir. Kurbon Alamshoev told NANSMIT that the idea of launching the newspaper implies an attempt to fill in the information vacuum in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province of Tajikistan.
16 March
Khayot newspaper, Khorog, GBAO
The Khayot newspaper is a printing outlet financed by the International organization AFEW within the framework of the project “The Pamirs against AIDS”. Khayot will be published once a month; the number of copies – 800. It will be disseminated free of charge. The newspaper will be touching upon the problems of HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, alcoholism, etc., and promoting healthy life style.
3. Journalists protecting their civil and professional rights
5 March
All media, Dushanbe
Radio Vatan and the public organization Dast Ba Dast are launching an educational project for high school students in Dushanbe.
The project funded by the government of Switzerland is targeted to forming a new socio-information culture among schoolchildren who want to acquire professional journalistic skills.
Project coordinator Nargis Kasymova told the Asia Plus news agency that this project provides students with new social and professional opportunities.
Upon the accomplishment, young journalists will create their own online newspaper, and a radio show at the Vatan radio.
9 March
Media Alliance of Tajikistan, Dushanbe
On the occasion of the Tajik national Press Day, the Media Alliance of Tajikistan held a ceremony and gave awards to the Tajik media outlets in three nominations.
The Ozodagon weekly received the award for “Protection of National Interests”. TV Simoi Mustakili Tojikiston was awarded for “Survival in Market Conditions”. And the nomination “Protection of Rights among Media Professionals” (for media unions) was cancelled – since none of the existing media organizations has proven such abilities.
18 March
Center for Journalistic Investigations, Kulyab, Khatlon province
Rakhmatali Nazriev, representative of a newly established Center for Journalistic Investigations in the southern Tajik city of Kulyab told NANSMIT that logistical preparations are accomplished and the Center is ready for functioning.
The Center intends to attract journalists in Khatlon province for cooperation.
21 March
All media, Kurgan-Tube, Khatlon province
On 19-20 March, the representation of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) held a training course for human rights organizations on the topic “Communication, communication strategies, and reporting techniques”. The training was organized within the framework of the project “Protection of human rights and media education in Central Asia” financed by the European Union.
This seminar was the second in the series of training sessions for Tajik human right NGOs. The first one was held in Dushanbe on 12-13 February. It is also planned to conduct the next session in April in the northern city of Khujand, Sughd province.
II. VIOLATION OF RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA
1. Violation of legal procedures
30 March
Newspapers Asia Plus, Farazh, and Ozodagon, Dushanbe
The first hearings on the case of three private newspapers – Asia Plus, Farazh, and Ozodagon took place in the Sino district court in Dushanbe.
Marat Mamadshoev, editor of the Asia Plus weekly told NANSMIT that representatives of the newspapers did not receive any official notifications about the hearing in court.
It should be noted that at the preliminary hearings in February, two judges of the Tajik Supreme Court – Nur Nurov and Ulugbek Makhmadshoev, and the judge of the Dushanbe city court Fakhriddin Dodometov — confirmed their claims and rejected proposals about reconciliation. The defendants – Asia Plus, Ozodagon, and Farazh – and the attorney Solejon Juraev stated that they do not admit the guilt.
2. Violation of the principle of publicity of court proceedings
11 March
All media, Dushanbe
Dilorom Abdurakhimova, the judge of the Firdavsi district court in Dushanbe barred journalists attending the hearing on the legal action by the Ministry of Agriculture against the Millat weekly. The hearing was held behind closed doors despite the parties’ declaration that they have no objections against the media presence in court. Represenatives of international organizations, the diplomatic corpus, human rights watchdogs and the media came to support the newspaper, but only representatives of the parties were allowed to stay.
Shortly after the beginning, the hearing was stopped and postponed until late March. According to Junaid Ibodov, the attorney representing the Millat weekly, the judge urged the parties to find a compromise.
3. Ungrounded limitations in access to information
17 March
Paikon newspaper, Dushanbe
Many officials, being criticized by the media, ignore such publications. At the same time, they keep creating impediments for journalists. The newspaper Paikon (#11, 17.03.2010) published a list of “debtors” – representatives of executive government bodies, who did not respond to publications, where their agencies were criticized.
Applying to these agencies, Paikon stressed that according to the Media Law, officials have the right to respond or to publicly refute the information. Moreover, there is a presidential decree “On response to criticism and analytical publications” obliging public officials to respond and take relevant measures.
III. CONFLICTS. VIOLATIONS INCRIMINATED TO THE MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS
1. Protection of honor, dignity and business reputation
10 March
Paikon newspaper, Dushanbe
Chief physician from the Faizabad district hospital, Asadullo Rasulov stated that the article published in the Paikon weekly “The National Security Committee is also aware…” (#10, 10.03.2010) is slanderous and defames his business reputation.
Rasulov was accused of mismanagement, embezzlement and improper use of public funds allocated for maintenance of the hospital he runs.
11 March
Millat newspaper, Dushanbe
The court hearing on the legal case initiated by the Ministry of Justice against the Millat weekly, was postponed until 29 March at the request of Junaidullo Ibodov, the newspaper’s lawyer.
According to the Paikon weekly, the trial was postponed at the request of the judge who called the parties to finding a compromise. This was also confirmed by a representative of the Agriculture Ministry who told NANSMIT that his agency is likely to consider such an option.
Later, NANSMIT was informed that the trial is postponed until 11 April, since the founder of the newspaper, Adolati Mirzo is in a business trip.
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