Freedom of Speech in Tajikistan

April 2013

In April 2013, the Monitoring Service received 18 reports. Nine of them describe the factual situation in the media in the light of social, legal and political environment; five reports describe direct violations of rights of media professionals; and four reports describe conflicts and accusations against the media and journalists.

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

1. Statements and actions of public officials defining the factual status of the mass media

24 April

 

Dunja Mijatovic, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media

On 24 April, Dunja Mijatovic, Special Representative of OSCE on Freedom of the Media presented comments on Tajikistan’s draft law “On periodicals and other mass media” to the Parliament’s working group, which worked on that document. The new law was endorsed in March 2013.

In the letter addressed to the head of the Parliament’s working group, Mijatovic indicated a number of positive changes in the Tajik media legislation conducive to strengthening journalists’ rights and improving access to information.

However, the OSCE official stressed that the legislators and the executive authorities should develop practical measures to make the legal alterations efficient.

Dunja Mijatovic expressed appreciation over the involvement and participation of the civil society institutions in the development of the new law.

26 April

 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dushanbe

The Asia Plus weekly (#30, 25.04.2013) published an article titled “MFA RT: Information war against Tajikistan is underway”.

The Tajik Foreign Ministry expresses concern over the information campaign conducted by the Russian mass media, which defames the image of Tajikistan.

“It is surprising that the information campaign involves Russian public officials, well-known public leaders and scientists”, — the MFA statement says. — “The information campaign against Tajikistan pursues certain political goals”.

26 April

 

Broadcasting Committee, Dushanbe

The Tajik Committee on Radio and Television gave an errand to private FM radio stations to arrange live broadcasting of the President’s message to the Parliament.

Usually, the annual speech of the President before the Parliament is broadcast by all government electronic mass media. This year, the state broadcasting agency decided to involve private media in Dushanbe; private radio stations in Sughd province have been practicing such broadcasting for a few years.

2. Factual situation in the media and the freedom of speech

3 April

 

Asomuddin Atoev, chairman, Association of Internet Providers, Dushanbe

The Farazh weekly published an interview with Asomuddin Atoev, the chairman of the Tajik National Association of Internet Providers (#14, 3 April 2013).

Atoev shared his thought regarding the transition of the Tajik TV stations to the digital format of broadcasting in 2015. Atoev says that many residents of Tajikistan are not aware of such transition and keep buying old models of TV sets, which are not suitable for receiving digital signals.

24 April

 

All media, Dushanbe

The Farazh weekly (#17, 24.04.2013) published the results of an opinion poll on the freedom of expression in Tajikistan. The public opinion survey was conducted among well-known journalists.

Most of the respondents said that the Tajik legislation guarantees the freedom of expression, but in reality, the freedom of speech is limited in view of the number of reasons.

The Tajik journalist Rakhmatkarim Davlat told Farazh that many media professionals are practicing self-censorship, especially on the eve of the presidential elections, in fear of retaliation by the authorities.

 

3. Journalists protecting their civil and professional rights

4 April

 

Migration Service under the President, Dushanbe

The Imruz News weekly (#53, 3.04.2013) reports that the Executive Office of the President warned Safialo Devonaev, the head of the National Migration Service for violation of ethical norms in communication with the media.

In March 2013, the Migration Service held a press conference; journalists from the weeklies Imruz News, Farazh and Najot were not allowed to attend the event. Imruz News sent a complaint to the President’s Office, after which the incident was discussed. The President’s Office acknowledged that the actions of the Migration Service were unlawful.

4 April

 

All media, Dushanbe

The Tajik NGO Prevention of Domestic Violence (PDV) held a seminar in Dushanbe for media professionals on the issues of efficient prevention of violence in families and communities.

Twenty five journalists from Khatlon province and from Dushanbe took part in the seminar.

21 April

 

All Media, Kulyab

The authorities of the city of Kulyab in Khatlon province established an annual professional award for journalists. The award is named after the Tajik journalist Kuvvatali Kholov.

The award will be given to outstanding journalists contributing to economic, social and cultural development in Kulyab. The late Kuvvatali Kholov dedicated his life the the profession of journalism.

II. VIOLATIONS OF RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA

1. Ungrounded limitation of access to information

1 April

 

Abdujabbor Rakhmonov, rector of the State Pedagogical University, Dushanbe

The rector of the Tajik State Pedagogical University Abdujabbor Rakhmonov applied to the Somoni district police station demanding to launch an investigation into “illegal actions” of Markhaboi Khokim, correspondent of the Asia Plus weekly.

The journalist was working on an article about the students of the Pedagogical University; with that purpose, she was filming and talking with students. She was summoned to the rector’s office; the rector considers that the journalist had no right to take pictures and communicate with students without having a permission from the University administration.

On 5 April, the Somoni district police station concluded that the journalist’s behavior contains no components of crime or violation whatsoever.

 

3. Violation of economic rights in the media

26 April

 

Radio Vatan, Dushanbe

Private radio stations in the capital Dushanbe received an errand from the State Broadcasting Committee obliging them to broadcast the speech of the President Emomali Rakhmon at an annual meeting with the Parliament.

According to Vera Kulakova-Brannerud, director general of Radio Vatan, the government communication agency promised to help with technical arrangements for live broadcasting. However, the private radio company has its own commitments before its clients, advertisers. “According to the contract, we must broadcast ads and commercials strictly on time – advertisers have paid for that, and we have no idea how to resolve this problem”, — said Kulakova.

4. Denial of registration of a medium

30 April

 

Adolat, printing outlet of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan, Dushanbe

The leader of Tajikistan’s Democratic Party Saidjaffar Ismonov told Radio Ozodi (Radio Liberty / Radio Free Europe) that the Ministry of Justice refused to re-register the Party’s printing outlet Adolat referring to the fact that the newspaper has not been published for a long period of time.

The Democratic Party decided to rename its periodical into Oshkoro (Openness) and re-register the newspaper. The Party leader says that all relevant documents needed for the registration have been presented to the Ministry of Justice.

III. CONFLICTS AND VIOLATIONS

1. Protection of honor, dignity and business reputation

4 April

 

Imruz News weekly, Dushanbe

According to the Asia Plus weekly (#23, 1.04.2013), the Economic Court in Dushanbe suggested the conflicting parties in the case “Tojiron against Imruz News” to come to an amicable agreement.

Faizinisso Vokhidova, the lawyer of the Imruz News weekly told Asia Plus that the company Tojiron rejected this offer saying that the enterprise’s reputation has been affected.

2. Temporary denial of accreditation

20 April

Radio Sadoi Khuroson, Dushanbe

The Tajik foreign ministry terminated accreditation of journalists working for the Iranian Radio Sadoi Khuroson.

According to Abdulfaiz Atoev, head of the ministry’s unit responsible for contacts with media and foreign policy planning, Sadoi Khuroson used to disseminate false information, and it did it deliberately. The official referred to the statement made by Rakhmatillo Zoirov, the leader of the Tajik Social-democratic Party regarding the Tajik territories “donated” to China.

The official added that the foreign ministry is ready to reconsider its decision and resume the accreditation.

3. Accusation of administrative violations

2 April

 

M. Vokhitova, TV Jahonoro, Sughd province

The court in Bobojongafurov district, Sughd province determined the guilt of M. Vokhitova a journalist who worked for TV Jahonoro and ruled to she must pay a fine in the amount of 400 Somoni.

Previously, the court in the city of Khujand, the administrative center of Sughd province stated that the case against Vokhitova was closed because of the limitation period, but later, the materials were sent to the Bobojongafurov district court.

The journalist was accused of breaching administrative rules (Article 373, part 1 of the Tajik Administrative Code). The lawyer of Vokhitova says that “the person cannot be brought to responsibility if three months passed after the violation had been committed” (Article 33 of the Administrative Code).

 

SUGHD, Tajikistan — The Regional Court of Tajikistan’s Sughd Province has upheld a ruling to shut down a nongovernmental organization dedicated to human rights.

The leader of the organization Civil Society, Mohiniso Horisova, told RFE/RL that she plans to appeal the court’s decision.

In January, a court in the city of Khujand ruled that Horisova’s organization must be shut down for using the wrong address in its registration documents and for failure to clearly define its leadership.

Horisova called the ruling politically motivated.

Civil Society has been operating in Tajikistan for 11 years. It has been holding seminars, roundtable discussions, and training that focused on human rights, social issues, and initiating legal reforms.

The organization has been discussing possible reforms of presidential and parliamentary election laws.

Tajikistan’s presidential election is scheduled for November.

http://www.rferl.org/content/tajikistan-ngo-human-rights/24972595.html

By Richard Solash

WASHINGTON — A U.S. government advisory body says that Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan are among the world’s worst violators of religious freedom. 

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom’s 2013 report says the countries should be designated “countries of particular concern” by the U.S. government for “particularly severe” violations — a designation that allows for arms embargoes and other restrictions.

The countries’ violations are said to include carrying out or tolerating «acts such as torture, prolonged detention, or disappearances, or other flagrant denials of the right to life, liberty, or the security of persons.»

Iran and Uzbekistan, along with China, North Korea, and several other countries, have already been designated by the White House, although restrictions on Uzbekistan have been waived.

Restrictions based on the designations also expire in August if the Obama administration does not renew them.

The report also listed Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia among second-tier violators, where «at least one, but not all three, of the elements of the ‘systematic, ongoing, egregious’ standard» for violations is met.

The second-tier designations are meant to «provide advance warning of negative trends.»

The commission, a bipartisan body, said it based its recommendations on «the standards found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international documents.» The commission said it also worked with human rights groups, victims of religious persecution, policy experts, and U.S. officials and made country-visits in formulating its findings.

This year’s report covers from January 31, 2012 to January 31, 2013.

According to the commission, that period saw continuing deterioration of religious freedoms in Iran — a trend it say is «likely to worsen» as the June presidential election approaches.

Alleged violations include continued imprisonment Baha’is, abuses against Christians and Sufi Muslims, and state-sponsored anti-Semitism.

The commission called on the U.S. administration to «continue to identify Iranian government agencies and officials — including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and President [Mahmud] Ahmadinejad — responsible for severe violations of religious freedom» and sanction them.

In Iraq, the report said religiously motivated violence by extremist groups «continues with impunity.» It also said the government in Baghdad last year «took actions that increased, rather than reduced, Sunni-Shi’a and Arab-Kurdish tensions.»

The report blasted Pakistan for «fail[ing] to protect members of religious minority communities, as well as the majority faith.» It described sectarian violence as «chronic.» It also said Islamabad’s anti-blasphemy laws and related legislation «foster an atmosphere of violent extremism and vigilantism.»

The three Central Asian countries listed among the report’s worst of the worst were all cited for severe repression of nearly all religious activity beyond what is sanctioned by the state.

Prison terms for attending unapproved religious gatherings in Tajikistan, raids on religious communities in Turkmenistan, and state censorship of all religious materials in Uzbekistan were among the restrictions cited.

The report recommended making U.S. aid to Tajikistan contingent upon improvements, boosting U.S. broadcasting to Turkmenistan, and removing a waiver on penalties against Uzbekistan.

The U.S. waiver on penalties against Tashkent on religious freedom grounds has been in place since 2009.

This year’s report said, «There is concern that U.S. policy on Uzbekistan prioritizes that nation’s strategic importance as a key part of the Northern Distribution Network.»

Among second-tier countries, the report decried the Afghan constitution’s «explicit fail[ure] to protect the individual right to freedom of religion or belief.»

It highlighted the detention and imprisonment of «nonviolent religious activists» in Azerbaijan.

The commission said a religious registration law in Kazakhstan had led to «a sharp drop in the number of registered religious groups, both Muslim and Protestant.»

In Russia, the report said that «various laws and practices increasingly grant preferential status to the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church.» It also cited rampant abuses in Chechnya.

http://www.rferl.org/content/religious-freedom-us-iran-iraq-pakistan-uzbekistan-tajikistan-turkmenistan/24973030.html

ORAL, Kazakhstan — Preliminary hearings have taken place against four men in the western Kazakh city of Oral who are charged with attacking a prominent journalist.

Lukpan Akhmedyarov, a reporter for the «Uralskaya nedelya» weekly, survived the April 2012 attack in which he was stabbed and shot with an air pistol.

The four suspects were apprehended in November.

The judge at the hearing on April 29 set a trial date of May 14 for all four suspects.

Akhmedyarov says the attack was related to his journalistic activities.

In July he was found guilty of insulting a local official and ordered to pay the official a penalty of about $33,000.

In November he was ordered to pay around $7,700 to a local financial police officer after a judge ruled that Akhmedyarov had insulted the officer in an article.

http://www.rferl.org/content/trial-date-set-trial-akhmedyrov/24971911.html

DUSHANBE — Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has again promised that November’s presidential election will be «fair and transparent» but warned the opposition «not to rely on their foreign patrons.»

In his annual address to the parliament and the nation, Rahmon said opposition parties should not attempt, with external help, a repeat of the situation that he says brought about the country’s 1992-97 civil war.

Rahmon’s statement was seen as being addressed to the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (PIVT), whose forces fought against Rahmon’s government during the civil war.

The PIVT is Tajikistan’s most popular opposition party.

Earlier this month, Rahmon told journalists in Brussels that the presidential elections will be fair, adding he had not decided whether he would run.

Rahmon has held power in Tajikistan since 1992.

http://www.rferl.org/content/tajikistan-fair-election-rahmon/24969196.html

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has sent a note to Tajikistan saying State Duma deputy Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s remarks about Tajikistan and its president were personal views expressed during a talk show on television.

An April 25 note from the Russian Foreign Ministry says “the comments expressed do not have anything in common with the position of Russia.”

Tajikistan sent Russia a protest note on April 23 after Zhirinovsky appeared on Russian television last week and made some scathing comments.

During the April 18 program “Poedinok” (Duel) on the Rossiya television channel, Zhirinovsky, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, questioned Tajik authorities’ insistence on Russia paying higher rent for use of three military bases.

“The Tajik communists are again inflating the price for our base in Tajikistan. The arrogance! They know Russia has money. ‘Pay more.’ We should tell them, ‘We will stop taking take your workers that come here for jobs,” he yelled to a largely sympathetic audience.

Russia’s 201st Division has been stationed in Tajikistan since the end of World War II, remaining there after the collapse of the Soviet Union in late 1991.

Seen as a bulwark against instability in Central Asia and neighboring Afghanistan, the Tajik government allowed the 201st to stay, for many years without having to pay any rent.

But recent decisions from Moscow to pay Kyrgyzstan rent for the Kant base and other facilities Russian troops use there, and the willingness of Western governments with troops in Afghanistan to pay for the use of Central Asian bases, prompted Dushanbe to talk about the price for Russian troops using bases in Tajikistan.

Zhirinovsky’s call to ban the hundreds of thousands of migrant laborers from Tajikistan is a serious threat since such workers sent some $3.65 billion from Russia back home to Tajikistan in 2012, roughly half of Tajikistan’s GDP.

“What will the head of the republic [Tajik President Emomali] Rahmon do then? He knows well that it would be the end for him,” Zhirinovsky said.

The outspoken Russian politician then predicted what he thought that would mean for Rahmon.

“And maybe the Taliban would trample on Tajikistan and they would hang [Rahmon] in the center of Dushanbe, like they did [former Afghan leader] Najibullah,” Zhirinovsky warned.

Najibullah was dragged from a UN compound after the Taliban captured Kabul in September 1996 and hanged from a post in the city’s center.

Tajikistan sent the protest note to Russia and deputies in the Tajik parliament also denounced Zhirinovksy’s comments during an April 24 session of the lower house of parliament, the Majlisi Namoyandagon.

One was Shukurjon Zuhurov, who said, “The recent television speech by Vladimir Zhirinovsky, deputy in Russian State Duma, that was broadcast on Russian state TV Rossiya 1 was insulting to the highest degree.”

The April 25 note from the Russian Foreign Ministry called Tajikistan an “ally and strategic partner.” Viktor Zavarzin, the first deputy chairman of the State Duma’s Defense Committee, said on April 19 that Russia’s security could not be guaranteed without Russian bases in Central Asia and cooperation with partners there.

http://www.rferl.org/content/tajikistan_russia_zhirinovsky_protest/24968858.html

ALMATY — Authorities in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, have confiscated the first issue of a new newspaper focusing on the country’s political opposition.

Madia Torebaeva, a journalist with «Pravdivaya gazeta» («The Truthful Newspaper»), told RFE/RL that all 1,200 copies of the paper were seized by officers from the city’s Interior Policies Department on April 24.

She said documents authorizing the confiscation stated that the newspaper failed to clearly show exact publication dates in registration documents.

The first issue included excerpts from the book of a leading opposition figure who died under mysterious circumstances, and an interview with the head of the country’s Communist Party.

The next issue is planned for next month.

Kazakh authorities banned dozens of opposition and independent media outlets in December for carrying what officials deemed «extremist content.»

http://www.rferl.org/content/kazakhstan-newspaper-confiscated/24966979.html

ALMATY — Authorities in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, have confiscated the first issue of a new newspaper focusing on the country’s political opposition.

Madia Torebaeva, a journalist with «Pravdivaya gazeta» («The Truthful Newspaper»), told RFE/RL that all 1,200 copies of the paper were seized by officers from the city’s Interior Policies Department on April 24.

She said documents authorizing the confiscation stated that the newspaper failed to clearly show exact publication dates in registration documents.

The first issue included excerpts from the book of a leading opposition figure who died under mysterious circumstances, and an interview with the head of the country’s Communist Party.

The next issue is planned for next month.

Kazakh authorities banned dozens of opposition and independent media outlets in December for carrying what officials deemed «extremist content.»

http://www.rferl.org/content/kazakhstan-newspaper-confiscated/24966979.html

Mamadali Mahmudov, a renowned Uzbek writer once seen as a potential rival to the country’s entrenched president, has been released after spending 14 years in penal custody.

He was convicted for involvement in an alleged plot to kill the president, Islam Karimov.

Mahmudov’s wife, Gulsara Mahmudova, told RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service that her husband was «tired» and resting at home following his surprise release late on April 19.

Mahmudov, 72, finished serving the 14-year sentence in February and was transferred from a labor camp to a detention center in Tashkent.

But Mahmudova told RFE/RL last month that her husband was facing a possible extension of his prison term for having allegedly violated prison regulations.

‘Terrible Injustice’

It remains unclear what prompted Mahmudov’s release.

Human Rights Watch Central Asia researcher Steve Swerdlow said he welcomed Mahmudov’s release.

«It’s hard, I think, for anyone to imagine 14 years of their life being stolen from them, and having to spend 14 years in the conditions that we know exist in Uzbekistan’s prisons,» Swerdlow said. «But every single day that Mamadali Mahmudov has spent in prison was a terrible injustice.»

The freeing of Mahmudov comes ahead of a visit to Tashkent next week by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake.

True Test

Swerdlow said that during that visit, Blake should call on the Uzbek leadership to free all political prisoners and allow them to freely exercise their freedom of expression.

«The real test for the Uzbek government will be whether it allows someone like Mamadali Mahmudov or other political prisoners that are released from prison to actually return to civil society and speak freely and speak critically about their concerns in Uzbekistan,» Swerdlow said.

Mahmudov authored popular books and was once seen as a serious challenger to Karimov.

He planned to run in Uzbekistan’s 1991 presidential election but his candidacy was rejected.

He was sentenced to prison in 1999 for alleged involvement in an assassination attempt against Karimov.

http://www.rferl.org/content/uzbekistan-writer-mahmudov-freed-prison/24963553.html

The U.S. State Department has released its «Country Reports On Human Rights Practices» for 2012, highlighting crackdowns on civil society, struggles for democratic change, and threats to freedom of expression.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry presented the reports to the media in Washington on April 19.

The document states that “governments continued to repress or attack the means by which individuals can organize, assemble, or demand better performance from their rulers.”

It criticizes countries such as Iran and China for repressing civil liberties and cites Russia for adopting «a series of measures that curtailed the activities of [nongovernmental organizations],» particularly those receiving international funding.

The report faults Russia for “large increases in fines for unauthorized protests, a law recriminalizing libel, a law that limits Internet freedom by allowing authorities to block certain Web sites without a court order, and amendments to the criminal code that dramatically expand the definition of treason.”

Afghanistan is said to have “significant human rights problems,” but the study says it is a hopeful sign that a law passed in December would remove «existing barriers to the receipt of foreign funding for social organizations.»

The report says a record high of 232 journalists were in prisons in 2012. It says Turkey had the most behind bars, with 49.

It also says that Kazakh courts “used a sweeping application of a vague law against ‘inciting social discord’ to ban several media groups.”

The document says too many governments allow the persecution of women and minority groups, including migrants, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.

The report also calls democratic progress across the Middle East «uneven.» It says “countries that gave rise to the Arab Awakening in 2012 witnessed a bumpy transition from protest to politics, brutal repression by regimes determined to crush popular will, and the inevitable challenges of turning democratic aspirations into reality.”

The “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices» applauded Burma’s “significant steps in a historic transition toward democracy.” But it also states “Many elements of the country’s authoritarian structure — repressive laws, pervasive security apparatus, corrupt judiciary, restrictions on freedom of religion, and dominance of the military — remain largely intact.”

The State Department’s annual report is now in its 36th year.

Here is a country-by-country summary — in alphabetical order — of the conclusions contained in this year’s report concerning RFE/RL’s broadcast region:

Afghanistan

The authors say Afghanistan still has “significant human rights problems.” The report says the country’s most significant issues are the torture and abuse of detainees by Afghan security forces, widespread violence, official corruption, and “endemic violence» and discrimination against women.

The document also cites “widespread disregard for the rule of law and official impunity” for those who committed human rights abuses.

The report says Taliban fighters and other insurgents continued to kill civilians, while «antigovernment elements also threatened, robbed, and attacked villagers, foreigners, civil servants, and medical and nongovernmental organization workers.»

It says it is a hopeful sign that a law passed in December that would remove «existing barriers to the receipt of foreign funding for social organizations.»

Armenia

The State Department says Armenia’s most significant human rights problems included limitations on the right of citizens to change their government and the limited independence of the judiciary.

The report cites flaws in the conduct of May’s general elections, including the misuse of government resources to support the ruling party and allegations of vote buying.

It says allegations of “persistent corruption” in government undermined the rule of law, despite “limited steps” to punish low- to mid-level official corruption.

The document says courts remained subject to political pressure from the executive branch, resulting in politically motivated prosecutions and sentencing.

It also criticizes the alleged use of torture by police to obtain confessions and the continued lack of objective news reporting.

Azerbaijan

The report says Azerbaijan’s most significant human rights problems included restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly and the unfair administration of justice.

It also cites the intimidation, arrest, and use of force against journalists as well as human rights and democracy activists.

The document says the government approved three demonstrations in the spring but limited them to a location far from the center of Baku.

It says other applications for political protests were denied, unsanctioned protests were forcefully dispersed, and demonstrators often detained.

The report mentions continued reports of arbitrary arrest and detention, politically motivated imprisonment, and allegations of torture and abuse in police or military custody that resulted in at least four deaths.

It says impunity among officials remains a problem.

Belarus

The report says Belarus remains an authoritarian state where «power is concentrated in the presidency.»

President Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s government, it says, «further restricted civil liberties, including freedom of speech, press, assembly, association, religion, and movement.»

It cites a lack of democratic means for the transfer of power, the persistence of political repression, including detention of activists and demonstrators, and widespread abuses by the authorities.

Other human rights issues include the reported use of torture and unlawful detentions.

The document says the judiciary suffers from inefficiency and political interference, and that trial outcomes are often predetermined.

It notes discrimination against persons with disabilities and against ethnic and sexual minorities, people with HIV/AIDS, and those seeking to use the Belarusian language.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

The report says that in Bosnia-Herzegovina, «political leaders continued to intensify and manipulate deep-seated ethnic divisions that fostered widespread discrimination in most aspects of daily life.»

It says that such manipulation undermined the rule of law, distorted public discourse in the media, and obstructed the return of persons who were displaced during the 1992-95 conflict.

The report says government corruption remained one of the country’s most serious problems.

Harassment and intimidation of journalists and civil society were also present, the same as other human rights problems such as deaths from landmines; harsh conditions in prisons and detention centers; discrimination and violence against women and sexual and religious minorities; discrimination against persons with disabilities; trafficking in persons; and limits on employment rights.

Georgia

The State Department says torture and abuse of prisoners, detainees, and others by law-enforcement officials were among Georgia’s most significant human rights problems.

The report also cites “dangerously substandard prison conditions” and shortfalls in the rule of law, such as lack of judicial independence.

It also points to reports of irregularities in last year’s general election campaign, including the misuse of government institutional resources.

The document says that prior to the election, the previous government frequently terminated or delayed probes into alleged rights abuses committed by officials.

After the October vote, however, more than 25 high-level former government officials were indicted on torture, abuse of power, and corruption-related charges.

Iran

The report says Iran continued its crackdown on civil society and repression of civil liberties. It also accuses the government and its security forces of having “pressured, intimidated, and arrested journalists, students, lawyers, artists, women, ethnic and religious activists, and members of their families.”

The document says the judiciary continued to “harshly punish, imprison, or detain” rights activists and opposition members without charges, while the government “significantly increased” its surveillance of citizens’ online activities.

Other rights problems included the government’s “disregard for the physical integrity of persons whom it arbitrarily and unlawfully killed, tortured, and imprisoned.”

The report says the government took “few steps” to hold accountable officials who committed abuses, adding that “impunity remained pervasive.”

Iraq

The report says “chronic” human rights problems persisted in Iraq. It says the most important problems included “politically motivated sectarian and ethnic violence,” abuses by both government officials and illegal armed groups, and a lack of governmental transparency exacerbated by “widespread corruption.”

The document also cites denial of fair public trials, limits on freedoms of speech, press, and assembly, violence against journalists, and limits on religious freedom due to extremist threats.

It says a “culture of impunity” largely protected members of the security services and government bodies.

Kazakhstan

The report says Kazkhstan’s most significant human rights problems were «severe limits on citizens’ rights to change their government, restrictions on freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion, and association, and lack of an independent judiciary and due process.»

It also cites «pervasive corruption and law enforcement and judicial abuse.»

The document notes that Kazakhstan’s government is dominated by President Nursultan Nazarbaev and the ruling Nur-Otan Party, with power concentrated in the presidency under the constitution.

The report says national 2012 elections for the lower house of parliament fell short of international standards and stresses that Nazarbaev received 95 percent of the vote in the 2011 presidential election.

It also mentions arbitrary arrests and detentions by authorities.

Kyrgyzstan

The report says Kyrgyzstan’s most important human rights problems included continued ethnic tensions in the south and a lack of accountability in judicial and law enforcement proceedings.

The report also cites law enforcement officials’ use of arbitrary arrest, mistreatment, torture, and extortion — particularly against ethnic Uzbeks.

The document says there were problems with arbitrary killings by law enforcement officials, a lack of judicial impartiality, the harassment of nongovernmental organizations, activists, and journalists, and pressure on independent media.

The report says the government’s inability to hold rights violators accountable allowed security forces to act arbitrarily, emboldened law enforcement to “prey on vulnerable citizens,” and empowered mobs to disrupt trials by attacking defendants, attorneys, witnesses, and judges.

Macedonia

The State Department says Macedonia’s most critical human rights problem was the government’s failure to fully respect the rule of law.

The report says that reflected in the government’s failure to follow parliamentary procedures, interference in the judiciary and the media, and selective prosecution of political opponents of the leadership.

It also cites “significant levels” of government corruption and police impunity as well as tensions between the ethnic Albanian and Macedonian communities and discrimination against Roma and other ethnic minorities.

Other rights problems included mistreatment of detainees, delayed access to legal counsel by detainees and defendants, child prostitution, and mistreatment of patients in psychiatric hospitals.

Moldova

The report’s authors list government corruption as the most serious human rights problem in Moldova.

The report says that allegations of police torture and mistreatment of detainees were a second major area of concern.

The document says Moldova is a parliamentary democracy where powers are separated clearly, but notes that a prolonged political crisis undermined insitutional stability while corruption eroded the credbility of the police and judiciary.

It says impunity among corrupt officials was «a major problem.»

The report also mentions that the central government in Chisinau continues to be barred from exercising control in the separatist region of Transdniester, where authorities have established parallel administrative structures.

It lists torture, arbitrary arrests, and unlawful detentions as regular practices in Transdniester.

Pakistan

The report says extrajudicial and targeted killings, forced disappearances, and torture affected thousands of citizens in nearly all parts of Pakistan.

Other human rights problems included poor prison conditions, arbitrary detention, and a lack of judicial independence in the lower courts.

It says harassment of journalists, some censorship, and self-censorship continued, along with religious freedom violations and discrimination against religious minorities — including some violations sanctioned by law.

The document says rape, domestic violence, sexual harassment, and discrimination against women remained serious problems.

It says abuses by government officials often went unpunished, fostering a culture of impunity, and criticizes the government, saying it made few attempts to combat widespread corruption.

Russia

The State Department criticizes Russia for introducing measures last year that limit political pluralism and curtail the activities of nongovernmental organizations.

The report says Russia adopted laws that impose “harsh fines” for unsanctioned meetings, recriminalize libel, allow authorities to block websites without a court order, and “significantly expand” the definition of treason.

The document also cites a new law identifying nongovernmental organizations as “foreign agents” if they engage in “political activity” while receiving foreign funding.

It says media outlets were “pressured to alter their coverage or to fire reporters and editors critical of the government.”

The report says the government failed to take adequate steps to punish most officials who committed abuses, resulting in “a climate of impunity.”

Serbia

The report says that Serbia is a constitutional parliamentary democracy but it faced some serious human rights problems last year that included discrimination and violence against minorities, especially Roma.

The report also ranks harassment of journalists as being a significant area of concern, as well as corruption in health care, education, and government.

It also points to an inefficient judicial system as being the cause for lengthy and delayed trials, and long periods of pretrial detention.

Other problems reported during the year included physical mistreatment of detainees by police, harassment of human rights advocates, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) groups and individuals, as well as groups and individuals critical of the government.

It says trafficking in persons remained a grave problem.

Tajikistan

The report’s authors call Tajikistan «an authoritarian state» that is politically dominated by President Emomali Rahmon and his supporters.

The report says the country’s constitution provides for a multiparty political system but, in reality, the government obstructs real democracy in the country.

The document states that the most significant human rights problems are «the torture and abuse of detainees and other persons by security forces, restrictions on freedoms of expression and the free flow of information, including the repeated blockage of several independent news and social networking Web sites, the erosion of religious freedom; and violence and discrimination against women.»

The report also cites arbitrary arrests, the denial of the right to a fair trial, and harsh prison conditions.

Turkmenistan

The report says Turkmenistan’s most important human rights problems include the use of arbitrary arrest and torture.

It says the government’s “disregard” for civil liberties translated into restrictions on freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and movement.

It also points to citizens’ inability to change their government, interference in the practice of religion, and the denial of fair trials.

The document says officials in the security services and elsewhere in the government acted with impunity, with no reported prosecutions of government officials for human rights abuses.

Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov remained president following a February election that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights said involved limited choices for voters.

Ukraine

The State Department says one of the most serious human rights problems in Ukraine is the “politically motivated” imprisonment of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

The report says another major problem was the failure of the October parliamentary elections to meet international standards of fairness and transparency.

It cites other issues including “increased government interference with and pressure on media outlets,” abuse of people in custody, an “inefficient and corrupt” judicial system, “pervasive corruption in all branches of government,” and government pressure on nongovernment organizations.

The document also highlights a «rise in discrimination and violence» against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people.

It says the government “generally did not” prosecute security officials who committed abuses.

Uzbekistan

The report says Uzbekistan’s executive branch under President Islam Karimov exercised nearly complete control over the other branches of government.

The report says the most significant human rights problems included the torture and abuse of detainees by security forces, the denial of fair trials, and “widespread restrictions” on religious freedom.

Other continuing problems were sometimes life-threatening prison conditions, governmental restrictions on civil society activity, and government-organized forced labor in cotton harvesting.

The document says authorities subjected those who criticized the government to harassment, arbitrary arrest, and politically motivated prosecution and detention.

It adds that officials “frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity.”

http://www.rferl.org/content/us-human-rights-reports-countries/24963086.html