VIENNA, 22 July 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today again called on Tajikstan’s authorities to ensure its citizens’ unrestricted access to the Internet, this time following the blocking of access to Odnoklassniki, one of the most popular social platforms in the country with more than 300,000 users. Читать далее OSCE media freedom representative calls on Tajikstan’s authorities to restore access to Odnoklassniki social media platform →

TAJIKISTAN

Toronto-based Tajik blogger released from prison after 36 days

But now under house arrest and banned from leaving Tajikistan

Reporters Without Borders is relieved to learn that the Toronto-based Tajik blogger and university researcher Aleksandr Sodiqov was let out of prison yesterday although he is now under house arrest and forbidden to leave the country pending the outcome of the government’s investigation.

The authorities should lift all restrictions on his movements and drop the charges against him, RWB said.

Arrested on 16 June in Khorog, the capital of the autonomous southeastern province of Gorno-Badakhshan, Sodiqov was taken to Dushanbe, the capital, and was held for a total of 36 days on charges of spying and high treason.

“It is a relief to know that Sodiqov is with his family but it is still too soon to relax,” said Johann Bihr, the head of the Reporters Without Borders Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk. “He has suffered a great deal because of the Tajik government’s security paranoia. Justice will only be done when he is cleared of all suspicion and recovers full freedom of movement.”

On his release from prison, Sodiqov said he was fine and delighted to be reunited with his family. He also said he was treated reasonably.

A resident of Toronto since 2012, Sodiqov comments on Tajik current affairs on his blog and the GlobalVoices platform. He went to Khorog under a conflict management and resolution programme run by Britain’s Exeter University because the city was the scene of riots in July 2012 and May 2014.

He was arrested at the end of an interview with local opposition leader Alim Cherzamonov.

Tajikistan is ranked 115th out of 180 countries in the 2014 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.

Tajikistan has launched a new social-networking site expected to become an alternative to the Russian site odnoklassniki.ru, which had been inaccessible to many in Tajikistan since July 18.

Ganijon Salomzoda, the founder of the new site, vipnet.tj, told journalists on July 23 that it prohibits the publication of extremist materials and the use of foul language.

The site also prohibits «the uploading of materials violating ‘Tajik traditions,'» as well as videos and photos that «violate Islamic legislation,» and materials violating copyright law.

It is not clear what is meant by «Islamic legislation» and what materials «violate Tajik traditions.»

The Odnoklassniki.ru site was used by Tajiks to share information and materials about different topics, including some thought to be sensitive for Tajik authorities.

Based on reporting by avesta.tj and Interfax

http://www.rferl.org/content/social-network-odnoklassniki-tajikistan-salomzoda/25467621.html

Detained Tajik researcher Aleksandr Sodikov has been released from jail on July 22 after spending 36 days in pretrial detention in Dushanbe.

Media reports in Tajikistan cite Sodikov’s relatives as saying that Sodikov was requested not to leave Dushanbe while an investigation into his case continues.

Sodikov, 31, a Tajik national residing in Canada, was detained in Tajikistan’s southern city of Khorugh on June 16, shortly after speaking with civil society activists there.

He was later charged with high treason and spying.

Sodikov denies any wrongdoing, saying he had been touring Central Asia as part of his doctoral research at Britain’s University of Exeter and the University of Toronto in Canada. 

With reporting by Ozodagon

http://www.rferl.org/content/sodikov-release-lawyers-khorugh-detention/25467019.html

Access to the popular Russian social-networking site Odnoklassniki.ru is being restricted in Tajikistan.

Asomuddin Atoev, the chairman of Tajikistan’s Association of Internet Service Providers, told RFE/RL on July 21 that access to the site is being blocked by some Internet service providers based on orders from the state Communications Service.

The majority of the Internet users in Tajikistan, using major Internet providers Babylon Mobile, Babylon T, and Beeline have been unable to access Odnoklassniki since July 18.

Meanwhile, Communications Service officials declined to comment to RFE/RL, saying they are unaware of the problem.

Tajik authorities have blocked or limited the access to several different online sites in the last three years, including Facebook, YouTube, and Google services.

http://www.rferl.org/content/internet-tajikistan-block-odnoklassnikiru-atoev-rights/25464746.html

John Heathershaw, a Central Asia expert from the University of Exeter in Britain, said the detention of his research collaborator, Aleksandr Sodikov, on spying charges in southern Tajikistan set an alarming precedent for future political research in the country.

In an interview with RFE/RL’s Tohir Safarov on July 1, Heathershaw said Sodikov’s colleagues were providing evidence to the Tajik authorities to prove his innocence.

Sodikov, a Tajik national residing in Canada, was detained in the southern Tajik city of Khorugh on June 16, shortly after speaking with civil society activists there. (RFE/RL’s Tajik Service)

to watch the video: http://www.rferl.org/media/video/tajikistan-sodikov-heathershaw/25444205.html

Lawyers for detained Tajik researcher Aleksandr Sodikov say they have been granted permission to meet with their client for the first time since his arrest.

Abdulkayum Yusufi told RFE/RL that he and his colleague, Hasan Kavrakov, have been told that they will be granted access to Sodikov on July 3.

The two lawyers have been hired by Sodikov’s family.

Sodikov’s former lawyer, who was appointed by the authorities, met him only once after his arrest last month.

Sodikov, 31, a Tajik national residing in Canada, was detained in Tajikistan’s southern city of Khorugh on June 16, shortly after speaking with civil society activists there.

He was later charged with high treason and spying.

Sodikov said he had been touring Central Asia as part of his doctoral research at Britain’s University of Exeter and the University of Toronto.

http://www.rferl.org/content/sodikov-lawyers-arrest-khorugh-spying-treason-tajikistan/25443083.html