In September 2011, the NANSMIT Monitoring Service received 26 reports. Eleven of them describe the factual situation in the media in the light of socio-legal and political environment; nine reports describe direct violations of rights of media professionals; and six reports describe conflicts and accusations against the media and journalists.

I. 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

7 September
All media, Dushanbe

Enmity, strife and lack of understanding of the mission among journalists have a negative impact on professional solidarity in the media environment. This is the main message voiced during an online conference “Solidarity among journalists: a myth or reality?” held on Facebook.

The Tajik private weekly Farazh published an article based on the outcomes of the online conference (#36, 07.09.2011).

According to the freelance journalist Dariush Rajabiyon, solidarity is needed for protection of reputation and personal security of any media professional. Journalists can stick to any political and social opinions, but they have to get together to oppose any insult from the authorities and perform the role of the driving power in the society.

14 September
Doris Hertrampf, ambassador of Germany to Tajikistan

The Tajik weekly Millat (#37, 14.09.2011) quoted the German ambassador in Dushanbe as saying that the situation in the area of freedom of speech in Tajikistan could have been better. The diplomat appreciates the existence of independent media and professional media organizations who range themselves on the side of law and order and are capable of protecting their rights.

2. Journalists protecting their professional and civil rights

1 September
Juma Tolib, editor, Paykon weekly, Dushanbe

Juma Tolib is trying to resume publication of his newspaper Paykon (the Nigokh weekly, #24, 30.08.2011). According to the editor, the Bureau on Linguistic Expertise and Journalistic Investigations, which is the founder of the Paykon weekly, was closed because of a falsified document produced by the tax authorities. Allegedly, the document said that the newspaper was not properly registered.

“How could we function for so many years without the registration? Who would believe in that?”, — asks Juma Tolib.

In May 2010, the Firdausi district court in Dushanbe ruled to close the Linguistic Expertise and Journalistic Investigations Bureau.

7 September
All media, Dushanbe

On 7 September 2011, the Paris-based organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT) released a joint statement addressed to the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon. The organizations solicit support of the Tajik leader in organizing a fair investigation on the case of the journalist Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov. “There is a need to respect the presumption of innocence and conduct an impartial investigation”, — the statement says.

8 September
All media, Dushanbe

On 8 September 2011, the Tajik media organizations applied to the Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon and the national parliament asking to ensure protection of the freedom of speech and stop the pressure against the media.
The appeal was adopted at a round table session on the occasion of the International Journalists’ Solidarity Day.

Participants of the round table also voiced the necessity of creating a Support Fund for journalists whose rights are violated.

8 September
All media, Khujand, Sughd province

On 8 September, the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT) conducted a session at the round table on the occasion of the International Journalists’ Solidarity Day. Participants of the session adopted an appeal to the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon expressing concern about the persecution of the freelance journalist Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov.

16 September
All media, Rasht district

On 16 September, the Tajik Media Council held a round table to discuss standards of professional media ethics in Gharm, Rasht valley. The event was conducted under support of the OSCE Bureau in Dushanbe. Journalists from Jirgital, Tajikabad and rasht districts took part in the event.

Participants of the round table discussed the issues of self-regulation in the media by means of standards adopted by the community of journalists. They stressed the necessity of promoting these norms, which in turn, would be conducive to enhancement of quality of media products and would ensure security of journalistic activities.

16 September
All media, Rasht district

On 16 September, journalists from the Rasht valley of Tajikistan discussed issues to be raised at the forthcoming XI Congress of the Tajik Union of journalists.

Participants mentioned the necessity of creating a resource center for media professionals in Rasht valley. Journalists in this region suffer from the information isolation and have no opportunities to cooperate with the media in the capital.

They also developed recommendations on finding and teaching young talented journalists in the region.

21 September
Juma Tolib, editor of Paykon weekly, Dushanbe

On 21 NANSMIT, the Tajik Union of Journalists and the Tajik Media Alliance applied to the media community with a request to support the well-known journalist Juma Tolib who needs serious medical treatment.

Since 1984, Juma Tolib, the member of the Tajik Union of Journalists has been working in the media environment. He was the editor and founder of several printing periodicals – both government and private ones.

In 2005, he was persecuted for his publications criticizing the authorities. In July 2005, he was sentenced to two years in prison. After the release, he founded a private newspaper Paykon.

II. VIOLATION OF RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA

1. Assault against a journalist

1 September
Khurshedi Atovullo, editor, Farazh weekly, Dushanbe

On 31 August, unknown assailants attacked the editor of the Farazh weekly Khurshedi Atovullo. The journalist told the police that he was riding his car with two friends. The car was chased by a vehicle VAZ-06 with the plate number У 21 37 РТ. Another vehicle blocked them on the road. Three young persons jumped out of the car, which followed Atovullo’s one; and four other individuals joined the attackers.

The young people started beating the journalist and his friends. According to Atovullo, the assailants presented no accusations; neither did they demand anything.

The journalist was hospitalized with numerous traumas.

1 September
Khurshedi Atovullo, editor, Farazh weekly, Dushanbe

On 1 September, the Tajik Union of Journalists, NANSMIT and the Tajik Human Rights Bureau issued a statement condemning the attack against the editor of the Farazh weekly Khurshedi Atovullo.

The Tajik media organizations mentioned that the recent case is the second of that kind – in February 2011, unknown assailants attacked the editor of the Najot weekly Khikmatullo Saifullozoda.
UJT, NANSMIT and BHR demand from the Tajik law enforcement agencies thorough and fair investigations on both cases.

7 September
Khurshedi Atovullo, editor, Farazh weekly, Dushanbe

The editor of the Farazh weekly Khurshedi Atovullo told the media that he has forgiven the assailants who attacked him on 30 August 2011. The journalist says that the attack is not likely to be related to his professional activities.

“These guys are facing only conditional punishment if they are tried on hooliganism charges. Otherwise, the court can impose a huge financial penalty, which would be a big burden on their parents. They are young, and have a chance to take over a new leaf having no criminal records. This is why I have taken my complaint back”, — said Atovullo.

2. Violation of the principle of publicity in judicial proceedings

15 September
Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov, correspondent of Nuri Zindagi, Khujand, Sughd province

On 15 September, representatives of the media were prohibited from attending court hearings on the case of Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov, correspondent of the Nuri Zindagi weekly.
Representatives of OSCE and NANSMIT who thoroughly monitor the case were also banned from attending the court sessions.
Ismoilov has been in custody since November 2010. He is indicted for libel, insult, incitement of racial, ethnic and religious enmity, and extortion.

2. Threat (Article 120 of the Tajik Criminal Code)

1 September
Shukhrat Kudratov, Abdurakhmon Sharipov – lawyers of the Asia Plus weekly, Dushanbe

The Tajik prosecutor general’s office has forwarded a complaint filed by the lawyers of the Asia Plus weekly to the Ministry of Interior.

The two lawyers – Shukhrat Kudratov and Abdurakhmon Sharipov expressed bewilderment over the action of the prosecutor’s office – the paper is passed to the government body, which the subject of the complaint has a direct affiliation to.

The lawyers stated that they had not had any notification on the intention to forward the complaint to the Interior Ministry, and they are going to demand a written justification of the prosecutor general’s actions.

The office of prosecutor general has given an answer saying that the complaint is forwarded to the Interior Ministry to conduct an internal investigation and provide the prosecutor’s office with a feedback on the results.

The Asia Plus lawyers filed a complaint to the prosecutor general’s office against an officer from the Interior Ministry’s organized crime unit. The officer verbally attacked the lawyers in the premises of the Firdausi district court in Dushanbe. According to the lawyers, the officer threatened them.

3. Ungrounded limitation of access to information

1 September
Valentina Kasymbekova, freelance journalist

On 30 August 2011, the Religious Affairs Committee under the government denied a request on information made by Valentina Kasymbekova, a freelance journalist.
The journalist tried to receive comments from public officials about the implementation of the recently adopted law on parental responsibility. This controversial law contains serious restrictions for teenagers banning them from attending religious institutions.

The Committee officials told Kasymbekova that a conversation is possible only after a permission obtained from the chairman, for which the journalist should submit a request in advance.

22 September
All media, Dushanbe

The President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon has changed the Decree adopted in March 2005 obliging ministers and heads of government agencies to conduct quarterly press conferences. From now on, press briefings will be held twice a year.

According to Makhmudjon Sarayev, senior specialist from the Information Analytical Unit under the President’s administration, the press conferences have turned into “simple reporting”, and they are organized for the sake of formality.

Chairman of the Tajik national Association of Independent Mass media Nuriddin Karshiboev says that the amendments will create additional difficulties for media professionals looking for information.

III. CONFLICTS, VIOLATIONS, INCRIMINATIONS

1. Protection of honor, dignity and business reputation

21 September
Asia Plus weekly, Dushanbe

The court hearing on the lawsuit filed by general Anvar Tagoimurodov against the Asia Plus weekly scheduled for 21 September has been postponed because of the absence of the complainant. The Asia Plus lawyer Shukhrat Kudratov told the media that this is the second time when the complainant does not show up in court.

The next hearing is scheduled for 23 September.

In early 2011, the former chief of the organized crime control unit under the tajik Interior Ministry Anvar Tagoimurodov demanded an investigation into a publication in the Asia Plus depicting cases of torture in closed institutions of Sughd province involving law enforcement officers.

In his statement, Tagoimurodov says that the allegations in the article are far from reality, and the publication defames his honor, dignity and business reputation.

The general demanded 1 million Somoni in damages over the comments in the article.

27 September
The Farazh weekly, Dushanbe

The Rudaki district court in Dushanbe investigates the claim by Fazliddin Azizov against the Farazh weekly and its correspondent Zevar Sharipova who wrote an article titled «It’s a shame… A Mercedes costs 22 grand” (#33, 17 August).

Azizov says that the author insulted him in the article, and his business reputation is damaged.
Khurshedi Atovullo, editor of Farazh told the NANSMIT monitoring service that the claimant demands 500 thousand Somoni (about #103 thousand) in damages over the article.

2. Correspondent charged for relations with extremist organization

19 September
Urunboi Usmonov, correspondent of BBC, Khujand, Sughd province

On 19 September, the Sughd province court resumed hearings on the case of Urunboi Usmanov, correspondent of the Uzbek service of BBC.
On 21 September, the Sughd province prosecutor required the court to sentence Usmonov to five years in prison for his illicit activities and relations with the extremist organization Hisb-ut-Tahrir. However, the prosecutor required to apply the amnesty law to the journalist and release him from punishment.

At the same time, the prosecutor asked the court to acknowledge the guilt of Usmonov according to Articles 36, Part 5 (partners in crime) and Article 307 (organization of activities of a criminal group) of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code.

3. Accusation of libel and insult

20 September
Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov, Nuri Zindagi, Khujand, Sughd province

The court hearings on the case of Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov is postponed until indefinite time.

Ismoilov’s lawyer Mukhabbat Juraeva told the media that the chairing judge Saodat Atoeva decided to postpone the hearings because of the absence of Sadriddin Saidov, the second lawyer protecting the journalist in court.

Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov was arrested by the law enforcement officers on 23 November 2010; ever since he has been held in custody. The journalist is accused of libel, insult, incitement of national, ethnic and religious hatred and extortion.

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

30/09/2011

English: http://en.rsf.org/tajikistan-prosecutor-requests-14-years-for-30-09-2011,41084.html
Français: http://fr.rsf.org/tadjikistan-14-ans-de-prison-requis-contre-30-09-2011,41082.html

TAJIKISTAN: Prosecutor requests 14 years for reporter who criticized local officials

Reporters Without Borders is outraged by the case that the state prosecutor in Asht, in the northern province of Sugd, presented in court yesterday against the journalist Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov and by the 16-year jail term he requested (which would be reduced to 14 years under a recent amnesty law).
The local correspondent of the newspapers Nuri Zindagi and Istiklol, Ismoilov has been held since 23 November 2010.
“Everything about this prosecution smacks of political revenge rather than normal judicial proceedings,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The sentence requested is out of all proportion to the charges against Ismoilov. Such a harsh sentence would be a turning point in Tajikistan’s recent history and would deal a terrible blow to its already fragile freedom of expression.
“Although this journalist has been in provisional detention for more than 10 months, the investigators have still been unable to produce any convincing evidence for the charges against him. We reiterate our call for his immediate release and the withdrawal of all the charges.”
Ismoilov is charged with defamation (under article 135 of the criminal code), insult (article 136), inciting hatred (article 189.2) and embezzlement (article 250). The first three charges were confirmed at a hearing two weeks ago on the basis of an “expert linguistic analysis” of newspaper stories by Ismoilov in which he criticized the prosecutor, the Asht district deputy chief, and other local officials and representatives.
The media were barred from the hearing at which the court received the “expert analysis” (conducted by a government offshoot) of Ismoilov’s articles, which in fact were well within the bounds of responsible free expression.
The embezzlement charge is based on a statement by a relative of Ismoilov that was later retracted. The relative, who works for the local government, allegedly gave Ismoilov some old planks that the local administration was no longer using. According to Nuriddin Karshiboyev, the head of the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (NANSMIT), several witnesses confirm the donation of the planks, which were worth less than 50 dollars.
Ismoilov is being held in solitary confinement and his health is deteriorating. The prosecutor yesterday nonetheless requested that he should be subjected to a “severe regime” while serving his jail sentence.
Reporters Without Borders and NANSMIT addressed an open letter about the Ismoilov case to President Emomali Rakhmon on 7 September, urging him to guarantee due process and respect for the presumption of innocence. In particular, they requested Ismoilov’s conditional release, an additional investigation and the trial’s transfer to a different location. No reply has so far been received.
Reporters Without Borders points out that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, to which Tajikistan belongs, promotes strict principles for judicial proceedings against the media: that proceedings should be civil (not criminal), sentences should be proportional to the offence and should not affect the journalists’ ability to work normally, and public figures must tolerate criticism.
The court is expected to issue its verdict at the next hearing, due to be held on 3 October.

http://en.rsf.org/tajikistan-prosecutor-requests-14-years-for-30-09-2011,41084.html

Prosecuting journalists for reporting on sensitive topics is shooting the messenger.

The trial of a BBC reporter accused of links to a banned Islamic group reflects a widely-held official attitude that the media should serve the interests of the state, and the state should define what those are.

The case of Urunboy Usmonov raises serious concerns about the vulnerability of journalists who report on issues that the authorities regard as off-limits unless coverage adheres to their unwritten rules of what is permissible, especially with regard to sensitive topics like Islamic extremism.
Usmonov, 59, is a correspondent for the BBC Central Asian Service in the northern Soghd region of Tajikistan. Arrested in June, he was originally charged with membership of the Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir and with making subversive statements.

Investigators were unable to make these charges stick, and when he went to trial in mid-August it was for “failure to report a crime” – in other words, for not passing on confidential contacts with Hizb ut-Tahrir to the police. But he is still being tried jointly with four alleged members of the group, despite the altered charges.

Usmonov denies the allegations, and the BBC has said it regards the charges as entirely unfounded. He told the court that his meetings and interviews with Hizb ut-Tahrir members conducted purely in his capacity as a journalist.

The case highlights a prevailing attitude among the law-enforcement agencies – some kinds of reporting are acceptable, but others are not, and it is the police who should be the final arbiters on such matters. In particular, the charges against Usmonov sends a clear signal that when the authorities ban a group like Hizb ut-Tahrir, reporting on it is banned as well, and anyone doing so risks being accused of endorsing the organisation.

That is a long way from the concept of media serving the public interest, unless it is the police themselves who define what that is.

Attempting to muzzle the media does not contribute to curbing extremism and violence. It is not, after all, media coverage of the activities of Islamic groups that spreads their ideology and encourages people to join them.
Many would agree with Abdufattoh Vohidov of the Independent Association of Media, who argues that if Usmonov is persecuted just for doing his job, other journalists will be deterred from reporting on sensitive issues and will lapse into self-censorship.

The international attention surrounding Usmonov’s trial may have contributed to the more serious initial charges against him being shelved, although prosecutors insist this was based on an assessment of the evidence to hand.
The case has certainly placed a dilemma before the Tajik authorities, particularly the Soghd regional branch of the State Committee for National Security. Despite the weight of international condemnation, it is hard for them to back down. They did reduce the charges, but an admission that he is innocent would prompt some hard questions about why the prosecution was brought in the first place.

Usmonov’s trial has been adjourned until his lawyer, who is currently abroad, can attend the proceedings. A verdict is expected at the beginning of October.

Lola Olimova is IWPR editor in Tajikistan.
The views expressed in this article are not necessarily the views of IWPR.

Lola Olimova, IWPR

Источник: iwpr

New York, September 29, 2011-The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the ongoing imprisonment of journalist Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov and is dismayed by prosecutors’ call for a hefty prison term on defamation and other charges.

Ismoilov, a regional reporter for the Dushanbe-based independent weekly Nuri Zindagi, was arrested last November on separate counts of defamation, insult, and incitement to hatred over an article titled, «Asht is being destroyed. Who is responsible for it?» In the article, published in the August 2010 issue of Nuri Zindagi, Ismoilov criticized government and law enforcement officials in the Asht district in the northern Sogd region of Tajikistan, and cited corruption, abuse of office, and mismanagement of funds, CPJ research showed.

If convicted, Ismoilov will be the first journalist imprisoned in Tajikistan on defamation and insult charges in the last decade, CPJ research found.

At a hearing today, prosecutors asked the court to convict Ismoilov and sentence him to 16 years in jail, the independent regional news website Fergana Newsreported. Mukhabbat Dzhurayeva, Ismoilov’s lawyer, told the court that investigators had failed to prove the journalist’s guilt, and asked them to drop the charges and release him, Fergana News reported. Ismoilov has denied any wrongdoing.The next court hearing is scheduled for October 3.

«The Tajik authorities are using the threat of prison to intimidate journalists and shield officials from public scrutiny,» said CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. «Instead of demanding a preposterous 16-year sentence for Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov, the prosecution should drop all charges against him immediately.»

Ismoilov’s trial began in June, and 12 officials were named as plaintiffs in the case, news reports said. At the second court hearing, several witnesses who had initially testified against the journalist changed their statements to his defense, Radio Ozodi, the Tajik service of the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, reported.

Ismoilov has consistently criticized regional authorities, law enforcement agencies, and the judiciary for alleged mismanagement, poor social and economic policies, and abuse of power, Nuriddin Karshiboyev, head of the Dushanbe-based National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan told CPJ. Earlier this month, local and international press freedom advocates wrote an open letter to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, calling on him to ensure a fair trial for Ismoilov, the radio station reported.

CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit [url=http://cl.s4.exct.net/?qs=49d65425c0c03c034b82cc60c91d6ba24ccb85c3d8c0a47a097e2b44a437ae42.]http://cl.s4.exct.net/?qs=49d65425c0c03c034b82cc60c91d6ba24ccb85c3d8c0a47a097e2b44a437ae42.[/url]

BISHKEK — Kyrgyzstan’s new ban on foreign-media broadcasts in the country during the presidential-election campaign has caused mixed reactions, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reports.

The recently adopted election law makes live broadcasting into Kyrgyzstan by foreign media outlets illegal from September 25 until the election on October 30. If a runoff were to be held two weeks later then the ban would be extended.

Tattu Mambetalieva, chairwoman of Bishkek-based Internet’s Civil Initiative, told RFE/RL on September 26 that the law violates Kyrgyz citizens’ right to receive and share information.

She said it is technically impossible to broadcast all international media programs in a recorded format. «For that we need significant financial resources, which we do not have.»

Marat Tokoev, chairman of the nongovernmental organization Journalists, told RFE/RL that the temporary ban of live broadcasts by foreign TV and radio stations could be defined as censorship.

He said the law was adopted hastily and might cause protests by people who have no access to satellites.

Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party and former presidential candidate, Omurbek Tekebaev, told RFE/RL that the law was adopted properly and its main goal is to prevent interference by foreign countries and governments in the election process.

Tekebaev said that during last year’s parliamentary elections a Russian television channel was promoting one Kyrgyz political party while denigrating others.

Parliament deputy Irina Karamushkina told journalists on September 26 that while more than 60 foreign television and radio corporations stopped broadcasting live to Kyrgyzstan as of September 25, nothing has been done to control the Internet or satellite televisions.

She said a special parliamentary commission has to be established in order to gain full control of the situation.

http://www.rferl.org/content/kyrgystan_bans_foreign_media_broadcasts_during_campaing/24340800.html

BISHKEK — The Kyrgyz parliament has overturned a presidential veto and converted the Channel 5 television company into a parliamentary TV channel, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reports.

The vote by parliament means Channel 5 will show live broadcasts of all parliamentary sessions and hearings.

The parliament’s initial vote, in July, to make Channel 5 a parliamentary TV channel was vetoed by President Roza Otunbaeva for financial reasons.

Channel 5 used to be controlled by Maksim Bakiev, a son of President Kurmanbek Bakiev, who was ousted by antigovernment protests in April last year.

The interim government that came to power after Bakiev left the country decided to nationalize the company in May 2010.

According to the Kyrgyz Constitution, Otunbaeva must sign the law on transforming Channel 5 into a parliamentary channel within two weeks. If she does not do so, the parliament speaker has the right to endorse it with his signature.

http://www.rferl.org/content/kyrgyz_parliament_gets_own_tv_channel_despite_presidents_veto/24338296.

Dushanbe, 21 September 2011

The Tajik National Association of Independent Mass Media (NANSMIT), the Union of Journalists of Tajikistan (UJT) and the Tajik Media Alliance (MAT) apply to the media community seeking support for the well-know journalist Jumaboi Tolibov (Juma Tolib) who needs a serious medical treatment.
Juma Tolib has been a member of the Union of Journalists since 1984; he worked for an Ainy district printing outlet, was the founder of the Nuri Khalk weekly and wrote for many other periodicals.

In 2005, the law enforcement agencies persecuted the journalist for his publications in local newspapers where he criticized the government. In July 2005, he received a two-year term; due to efforts of lawyers and solidarity of his colleagues, in December 2005, Tolibov was released.

After the release from custody, Tolib continued his journalistic activities working for the Farazh weekly; he became the executive director of the Media Investigation Center and founded the Zarafshon Times news agency. He also headed the Linguistic Expertise Bureau and chief editor of the Paykon weekly. He is known as the author of numerous publications criticizing government officials and disclosing corruption.

Court trials and professional problems and the closure of the public organization, which was the founder of Paykon undermined the journalist’s health; at present, he is hospitalized and needs support of his colleagues and friends.

NANSMIT and UJT call upon the Tajik media community to help Juma Tolib. The fund raising is conducted by NANSMIT; the contact person is Ms. Aslibegim Manzarshoeva. Updates about the campaign will be posted on NANSMIT’s web site: www.nansmit.tj
Telephones: +992 907 767 239, +992 37 221 3 711; e-mail: asol.77@gmail.com

NANSMIT has opened a special account to mobilize funds and assit Juma Tolib:
NANSMIT
AMONATBONK, Dushanbe
Bank account: 20202972800479101000
BIK/MFO 350101626
Correspondent Account: 20402972316264
INN. 010012355
Assignment: assistance to Juma Tolib

www.nansmit

From October 2011 the international media NGO, International Media Support, will run a two and a half year programme in Tajikistan with various media projects focussing on support and professionalization of media, youth and media, capacity building of local media organizations and coordination of media activities with other international media NGOs.
 
International Media Support (IMS) seeks a Programme Manager to manage these media projects and to react to sudden future needs in the media environment of Tajikistan.
 
The Programme Manager must live in Tajikistan and work from there in close collaboration with local partners and IMS head quarters in Denmark, Department for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia.

The Programme Manager is expected to work closely together with IMS’ local umbrella partner, NANSMIT and work from the office of NANSMIT.
 
The IMS Programme Manager in Tajikistan will be responsible for the IMS projects in Tajikistan, including the following tasks:
 
1.    To become completely familiarized with the IMS projects in Tajikistan, budget, objectives, results and the time-frame in which the projects will take place (grant-administration and project cycle management).
 
2.    To locally manage and coordinate all IMS projects in Tajikistan in close cooperation with IMS’ local partners and to assess sudden needs of IMS involvement in non-planned activities.
 
3.    To make sure, that all IMS projects are carried out professionally, efficient and at reasonable economic costs in accordance with the budget-lines allocated.
 
4.    To monitor the results of the IMS projects in Tajikistan in accordance with the planned outputs. 

5.    To support the project management of NANSMIT (the umbrella partner of IMS in Tajikistan) and to monitor the results of the projects led by NANSMIT on behalf of IMS.
 
6.    To function as a communication link and coordinator between IMS and relevant local and international media/development organisations located in Tajikistan.
  
7.    To manage the project budgets and to pay local staff who are working for IMS (e.g. short term experts).
 
8.    To closely follow and monitor the media development in Tajikistan and to follow and monitor the overall political situation in the country (to the extent needed for media-development purposes).
 
9. To deliver qualified written input on the political development, the media development and the IMS projects in Tajikistan every half year for bi-annual reports to IMS’ back-donor and/or to report to IMS on the above listed tasks when required and needed.
 
10.To participate in a Skype meeting every 2nd week with IMS HQ.
 
 
Qualifications of the programme officer:
 
1.    Relevant educational background (in journalism, international relations, communications, politics, business, business administration, cultural studies, or similar academic studies).
 
2.    Preferably at least 3 years of professional experience in development assistance.
 
3.    Preferably documented experience with project management.
 
4.    Interest in and knowledge about media.
 
5.    Knowledge about Tajik and Central Asian politics – and a sensitive flair of the present political development and potential conflicts.
 
6.    Neutral, fair and balanced regarding possible political, religious and social conflicts in Tajikistan.
 
7.    Extensive communicative and cooperative skills.
 
8.    Extensive network in the Tajik society.
 
9.    Efficient, constructive and solution oriented.
 
10. Preferably experience with or from CIS countries.
 
11. Fluent in Tajik and English and knowledge of Russian.
 
 
The salary will be negotiated according to qualifications.
 
The start of the job is preferably October 2011.
 
The work place will be at the office of NANSMIT: 34, Huseinzoda str, Dushanbe city, Tajikistan

Deadline for applications: September 20 2011.

More information about the job at:

NANSMIT: Nurridin Karshiboev, phone: (+992 37) 221-37-11, (992 93) 504 30 13(mobile), e-mail: knuriddin@yandex.ru , or at Henrik Hansen, International Media Support (hkh@i-m-s.dk or skype: henrikkeith)

www.nansmit.tj

BISHKEK — A Kyrgyz journalist in exile says former presidential staff chief Medet Sadyrkulov was assassinated in 2009 for wanting to start a media campaign against President Kurmanbek Bakiev and his relatives, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reports.

Syrgak Abdyldaev told RFE/RL via phone on September 20 that Sadyrkulov had documents that were «a bomb that could blast the Bakievs’ reputation to smithereens within days.»

Abdyldaev said Sadyrkulov aproached him in early 2009 and asked him to launch a website to post the information presidential aide had amassed. The website was to be called «21st Century» and would have been based in Kazakhstan.

Sadyrkulov and the head of the Bishkek-based Institute for Strategic Studies and Analysis, Sergei Slepchenko, were going to handle financing and organizational issues, Abdyldaev said.

He added that the information Sadyrkulov had was «really explosive and I realized that I had got involved in a very dangerous game.»

On March 3, 2009, unknown assailants attacked Abdyldaev, stabbing him 29 times and nearly killing him.

Ten days later, the charred bodies of Sadyrkulov, Slepchenko, and their driver Kuat Sulaimanov were found in the wreckage of a car near Bishkek.

Officials said they died in a car accident, but their relatives challenged that, saying they had been killed long before the car was on fire.

A new investigation into the incident was begun after Bakiev was ousted in April 2010 and investigators agreed the three men had been killed before the alleged car accident.

Police said last week the murder of Sadyrkulov and Slepchenko was ordered by Bakiev’s brother, Janysh Bakiev, whose whereabouts are unknown.

Abdyldaev is living abroad at an undisclosed location.

http://www.rferl.org/content/kyrgyz_journalist_sheds_light_on_high_profile_killings/24335986.html

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — Journalists at the Almaty-based online television company Stan-TV say they are under pressure from the Kazakh National Security Committee (KNB), RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reports.

Stan-TV correspondent Sherniyaz Shaghatai told journalists in Almaty on September 20 that several persons who introduced themselves as KNB officers visited him last week in Hospital No. 7 — where he was undergoing treatment — and tried to persuade him to collaborate with them.

Shaghatai said they asked him about Stan-TV ‘s operations.
«They warned me that in the event that I refuse to collaborate with them, anything could happen to me or my relatives. They said that drugs may be found in my pockets or a car could hit my mother on her way home from work,» Shaghatai said.

He added that he and members of his family have noticed that a car follows them at all times and that they have recently started receiving strange phone calls from unknown callers.

Stan-TV producer Danesh Baibolatov told journalists that one of the company’s correspondents in a Kazakh region was recently urged by local KNB officials to quit his work.

Baibolatov added that Stan-TV’s video crew was constantly followed by unknown people during their visit last month to the western province of Manghystau, where they were covering an oil workers’ strike.

Shaghatai and Baibolatov say the pressure is connected with Stan-TV’s professional activities. They said they will ask local police for help.

On September 15, an Almaty court ruled that Stan-TV must stop using the antennas on the roof of its Almaty offices because they are endangering the health of nearby residents.

The court’s ruling was based on a statement by the Almaty city Health Office that the antennas and equipment of the Internet providers ASTEL and Digital TV pose a health threat.
On August 23, Stan-TV editors Elina Zhdanova and Baurzhan Musirov told journalists that the company had been subjected to intrusive inspections because of the company’s independent news coverage.

They said their offices were inspected without prior notice in mid-August by Almaty’s architecture and construction control, fire-safety control, and hygiene control agencies.

The inspectors told them the inspections were undertaken in response to written complaints from residents of nearby apartment blocks about the large antennas mounted on the roof of Stan-TV’s office. The inspectors said the residents complained that the antennas are affecting their health.

Zhdanova and Musirov said they subsequently met with some of those residents, who told them police had pressured them to write letters of complaint.

Stan-TV is funded by fugitive Kazakh businessman Mukhtar Ablyazov, who lives in self-imposed exile in Britain.

The station, which covers Central Asia in video reports posted on its website, often publishes reports critical of the Kazakh government and individual government members.

http://www.rferl.org/content/kazakhstan_tv_journalists_state_pressure/24335125.html