Freedom of Speech in Tajikistan
August 2012
In August 2012, the Monitoring Service received 21 reports. Nine of them describe the factual situation in the media in the light of social, legal and political environment; eleven reports describe direct violations of rights of media professionals; and one report describes 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
10 August
Rustam Mengliev, Minister of Justice
On 9 August, the UN Committee on Liquidation of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in Geneva finished discussions on Tajikistan’s reports on legal, judicial, administrative and other measures against racial discrimination.
According to the UN News Center, the Tajik Justice Minister noticed that the racial equality is properly described in the National Constitution as a basic rights.
There are 137 ethnic groups residing in the country with the population of 7,8 million people.
According to Mengliev, citizens of Tajikistan enjoy freedom of speech; many information agencies and mass media operate in different languages.
2. The media environment and the freedom of speech
2 August
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
The Paris-based organization Reporters Without Borders issued a statement concerning the clocking of a number of web sites belonging to news agencies, naming Tajikistan “a country standing close to the category of enemies of the Internet”.
The statement says that “by censoring online publications, the Tajik authorities bring their country closer to Kazakhstan; and in the future, the country might find itself close to such countries as Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan”.
RSF published its statement in response to the blocking of Tajik and foreign web resources, such as Asia Plus, BBC and YouTube.
6 August
SMT TV, Dushanbe
The only private TV company operating in the Tajik capital – Simoi Mustakili Tojikiston (Independent Television of Tajikistan) commenced broadcasting on 6 August on a new frequency.
According to Zinatullo Ismoilov, founder and director of the TV company, in the last two years, his TV station could not broadcast because the Russian Federal TV channel “RTR-Planeta” occupied the very same broadcasting frequency.
From now on, SMT TV will broadcast from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 6 to 11 p.m. in Dushanbe and its suburbs – Rudali, Varzob, Vahdat, Gissar, Shahrinav, Yavan and Faizabad districts.
SMT first launched its programs in 2007. Since 2010, it’s been dormant because of the technical reasons – the coincidence of broadcasting frequencies.
22 August
All media, Khujand
The Sughd province administration conducted an sociological opinion poll in Spitamen district with the purpose to improve access to information among the local population. The district is not fully covered by the four existing Tajik state TV station. At present, broadcasting signals from 8 TV and 16 radio stations from Uzbekistan and 2 Kyrgyz TV stations are available in the district.
3. Journalists protecting their rights
3 August
All media, Dushanbe
The Tajik Union of Journalists, the Tajik National Association of Independent Mass Media, the Tajik Media Alliance and the Tajik Media Council issued a joint statement condemning unlawful actions of the Government Communication Service limiting access to national and foreign information resources. The media organizations urge the state body to stop lawlessness in the national information space.
The authors indicate that the limited access to information is seen as a rude violation of constitutional rights in the country; it becomes a “stable trend” in the policy of the State Communication Service.
In 2012, the Communication Service has repeatedly blocked access to 15 information resources. The stance of Internet providers is seen as a troublesome symptom – uncomplainingly, they follow the Service’s unlawful demands becoming accomplices in the violation of rights of companies and individuals.
National and foreign media organizations have reacted against the restricting actions by the Tajik communication authorities; concrete measures have been suggested to regulate the Internet in the country. “We believe that the ignoring of the international and domestic information standards by the state body negatively affects the image of Tajikistan. It also undermines the trust of interstate structures and financial institutions to democratic transformations conducted by the Tajik authorities”, — the statement says.
8 August
Asia Plus, Dushanbe
The Asia Plus information agency approached all media organizations in Tajikistan seeking support in relation to the recent event. “We are going to appeal to the court, but in view of the fact that it is difficult to technically prove the blocking of our web site by the state communication service, we need to collect necessary documents. We need to consult our lawyers, and we need support of the Tajik mass media”, — the statement says.
“The situation is very complicated, but we cannot tolerate this anymore. Today, they are chasing us; tomorrow, they will be harassing the other media, enjoying their impunity. The apathy among our colleagues-journalists can only enforce their sense of impunity and permissiveness”, — the statement says.
9 August
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and NANSMIT
The international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Tajik National Association of Independent Mass Media (NANSMIT) sent a joint statement to Beg Zukhurov, head of the Tajik government Communication Service.
The media organizations are concerned about the Communication Service’s intention to create a specific group to monitor online publications and trace “offensive or defaming” publications.
The statement says that such system of control can lead to total blocking of online publications and closing access to web sites. “We agree that libel should be punishable; however, such cases should be considered in court, where complainants and defendants have access to fair trial”.
It is also noted in the statement that in recent years, the Communication Service under the government continuously persecutes private news organizations by blocking their web sites.
14 August
Asia Plus, Dushanbe
On 14 August 2012, the Tajik private news agency Asia Plus changed its address —http://www.asia-plus.tj. Since 2010, the web site had a different IP domain — news.tj, which is still legitimate under an agreement with the Tajik Ministry of Culture. The Asia Plus managers say that the access to the news agency’s web site is still limited due to the order of the government Communication Service to the Internet providers.
Zebo Tajibaeva, executive director of Asia Plus told NANSMIT that her agency is preparing an appeal to court against the head of the Communication Service, Beg Zukhuruv concerning the illegal blocking to the web site.
15 August
All media, Dushanbe
The public organization The Union of Young Russian Compatriots held a training in Dushanbe for journalists working for Russian-language media. Representatives of all regions took part in the seminar conducted from 15 to 18 August.
Michail Petrushkov, chairman of the organization told the media that this is the first seminar of that kind held in Tajikistan; it is financially supported by the foundation Russian World.
“The organizers pursued the goal to efficiently counter xenophobia, racial, national, religious discrimination and other negative trends in relations between peoples and ethnicities”, — he added.
II. VIOLATIONS OF RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA
1. Limited access to information
1 August
Asia Plus, Dushanbe
On 1 August 2012, the government Communication Service ordered domestic Internet providers to block access to the web site belonging to the Tajik private news agency Asia Plus.
Zebo Tajibaeva, the web site’s editor told the media that the Communication Service received the information about the blockage from one of the Internet providers.
In the last ten days, this is the second registered case of blocking. The editor cannot get in touch with the Communication Service administration.
1 August
The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe
On 1 August 2012, the Embassy of the United States in Dushanbe published a statement expressing concern about continuous blocking of certain web sites and the Youtube resource.
Inter alia, the statement says that the United States consider the freedom of expression in public places, as well as in the Internet as a universal right. We support freedom of speech everywhere in the world, and we urge other countries to follow these principles. When ideas are blocked, information is deleted, talks are silenced, and people have limited access to information, the Internet loses its essence for us. We will continue discussions on this topic with the government of Tajikistan.
17 August
Radio Sweden
Radio Sweden criticized the telecommunication company TeliaSonera, which, according to the media, is blocking access to more than 50 web sites in Tajikistan. According to the REGNUM news agency, this company provides Internet services under the brand name of Т-Cell.
Thomas Johnson, head of TeliaSonera’s information service told Radio Sweden that the blocking of access to the web resources is performed at the direction of the Tajik authorities. He personally considers that access to the Internet must be free, but his company has to follow the instructions of the hosting country, which interprets its decisions as those based on national security interests.
The T-Cell company has been repeatedly criticized by human rights organizations. Accroding to Swedish media, TeliaSonera also assists the Tajik authorities in controlling the political opposition in the country.
TeliaSonera works in Moldova (Moldcell), Uzbekistan (Ucell), Azerbaijan (Azercell), Tajikistan (Тcell), Georgia (Geocell) and Kazakhstan (Kcell).
2. Ungrounded limitation of access to information
25 August
www.tojnews.org, Dushanbe
On 25 August 2012, Zainuddin Orifi, correspondent of the information agency www.tojnews.org tried to find information about 880 tons of cement shipped from the Iranian city of Shiraz to Tajikistan.
The journalist got this information from the head of the Shiraz a railway station. In order to get clarifications, he approached the Tajik Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and to the Tajik Railways Company. Both state agencies refused to share any information referring to various reasons and excuses.
3. Detention of a journalist
10 August
Pazvok newspaper, Kulyab, Khatlon province
On 9 August 2012, Bakhriddin Sangimadov, correspondent of the newspaper Pazhvok was detained by law enforcement servicemen in Shurabad district and delivered to the Farkhor district interior department in Khatlon province.
According to Orzu Khamidov, editor of Pazhvok, his correspondent went to Shurabad to visit his parents. In his house, he was captured by people in camouflage uniforms. They did not present any warrant, put a bag upon his head, and told his parents that they will release him after a brief interrogation.
The editor is concerned that the correspondent was detained in one place, was delivered to another one and placed in the police detention center. He is also worrying that neither relatives, nor friends are allowed to see Sangimadov, whereas the police do not explain the reason for detention.
Sangimadov wrote many articles disclosing social and economic problems in Shurabad district. Apart from working for Pazhvok, he also cooperated with the newspaper Anvori Donish, a printing body of the Kulyab State University and the British Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR).
12 August
Pazvok newspaper, Kulyab, Khatlon province
Bakhriddin Sangimadov was released after two days spent at the interior department detention center in Farkhor district, Khatlon province.
4. Journalist facing threats
28 August
Farazh weekly, Dushanbe
On 27 August 2012, the judge Khakimov of the Farkhor district court threatened to punish Makhmudjon Rakhmatov, correspondent of the Farazh weekly who tried to use his recording device during the hearings. Rakhmatov claims that the judge used insulting words addressing to the correspondent’s mother.
The journalist told the media that his family had a land dispute with one resident of the village they live in; the judge conducted hearings “in absentia” and pronounced a verdict in the favor of the rival.
Rakhmatov’s mother was summoned to the court; she came with her son. When the judge noticed that the journalist records his obscenities against the lady, he tried to attach him. The judge ordered his subordinates to lead the journalist away verbally promising to “settle accounts” with him.
The court officials called a policeman, after which Rakhmatov was accompanied to the police station. Shortly afterwards, he was released.
The journalist intends to appeal against the judge for his incorrect behavior.
5. Impediments to professional activities
31 August
Radio Ozodi (Liberty), Dushanbe
On 31 August 2012, Abdullohi Ashur and Zarangezi Navruzshoh, correspondents of Radio Ozodi in came to the residency of the Tajik president to collect information about a protest rally organized by Tajik university enrollees. The students were displeased with answers they received from the Ministry of Education regarding admission exams in Kazakh universities, and they came to complain to the president Emomali Rakhmon.
The police politely asked the journalists to leave the place; however, they had done their work. On the way back to their office, they were stopped by people in military uniform who ordered to follow them to the police station. Those servicemen were also polite with the correspondents, although they took away their technical equipment.
The journalists spend only half of an hour at the Ismoili Somoni district police station, and were released after a conversation with the head of the police. The official told the journalists that the detention proved to be a misunderstanding.
6. Violation of procedural norms of criminal legislation
22 August
Najot weekly, PIRT, Dushanbe
The Pyanj district interior department launched an investigation into the beating of Khikmatullo Saifullozoda, the editor of the Najot weekly, the printing body of the Tajik Party of Islamic Renaissance (PIRT). Last winter, Saifullozoda was attacked by unknown assailants.
According to deputy chairman of PIRT Makhmadali Khait, last year, Saifullozoda applied to the Sino district prosecutor’s office, but no investigation was conducted. The PIRT administration applied to the prosecutor general’s office, but even then, the party received no response. The prosecutor general only verbally confirmed that he personally will monitor the investigation into the case. Only recently, it has been found out that the case is transferred to the Pyanj district interior department.
The PIRT deputy leader expressed bewilderment – Saifullozoda was attacked in Dushanbe, and the criminal case is being investigated in Pyanj district, hundreds of kilometers from the capital.
PIRT sees a clear relation between Saifullozoda’s professional activities and the attack. “The Pyanj district interior department tries to relate the beating to “family conflicts”, but it has no ground. This is a political case, and it concerns his professional activities”, — the party deputy chairman said.
7. Ungrounded accusation of abetment
4 August
Prosecutor General’s Office, Dushanbe
The Tajik Prosecutor General’s Office accused local and foreign media of abetting the organizers of clashes in Khorog, the administrative center of Gorno-Badakhshan and of “assisting to implement the planned program of foreigners”. The statement is expressed in an official letter addressed to the TojNews information agency.
The letter also says that “some local and foreign journalists openly support the implementation of a planned program running errands of enemies of our state and people”.
III. CONFLICTS. VIOLATIONS AND ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS
1. Requirements on refutation of unverified information
10 August
Shabakai Avval, Tajik state television, Dushanbe
On 7 August 2012, the Shohmansur district court in Dushanbe held hearings on the lawsuit initiated by the mayor’s office against the Tajik State TV station Shabakai Avval (The First Channel), and obliged the administration of the medium to present an apology to the municipal administration within one month.
Apart from that, Shabakai Avval must present a refutation of information previously presented in the news program Akhbor.
The mayor’s office press secretary Shavkat Saidov told the media that the city administration is satisfied with the court’s decision. “The municipal authorities did not require any moral or material compensation from the TV station”, — he added.
In July, the mayor’s office approached the court in Shohmansur district claiming that the TV channel criticized the municipal authorities one-sidedly and in a biased manner.
Abdufattokh Vokhidov
Coordinator of the Monitoring Network in Tajikistan
Nuriddin Karshiboev
Project Coordinator