The 2020 World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), shows that the coming decade will be decisive for the future of journalism, with the Covid-19 pandemic highlighting and amplifying the many crises that threaten the right to freely reported, independent, diverse and reliable information. Читать далее “Entering a decisive decade for journalism, exacerbated by coronavirus” →

Читать далее UN secretary-general and WHO director-general asked to issue joint appeal →

A statement released by a group of public associations calls n the Tajik authorities to release independent journalist Daler Sharifov.  Читать далее Tajik civic society groups call on the authorities to release convicted journalist Daler Sharifov →

Two prominent U.S. congressmen have addressed a bipartisan letter to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon about “continued threats” and other mistreatment of RFE/RL journalists. Читать далее U.S. lawmakers urge Tajik leader to end harassment of RFE/RL →

On 16 April Shohmansur District Court in Dushanbe sentenced independent journalist Daler Sharipov to one year’s imprisonment for inciting religious hatred under Article 189, part 1 of the Criminal Code. Читать далее Tajikistan: Civil society groups calling for release of convicted journalist Daler Sharipov →

A Tajik prosecutor has called for independent local journalist Daler Sharifov to be sentenced to two years and four months in prison. Читать далее Prosecutor Seeks Two-Year Prison Term For Independent Tajik Journalist →

Many governments across Eastern Europe and Central Asia have pursued an «extensive offensive» against human rights, deploying draconian tactics and tools of the state to suppress protests, freedom of expression, and civil society, Amnesty International says in its annual regional review.

But while human rights defenders, journalists, nongovernmental organizations, and protesters faced mounting pressure in 2019, peaceful demonstrators took growing collective action in their fight to hold their governments to account, according to the report released by the London-based human rights group on April 16.

The already dire situation last year across a region spanning from Belarus to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to Russia comes as governments implement emergency measures and a wide range of restrictions in a bid to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, raising concerns those health measures will be deployed to further squash rights.

Daniel Balson, the advocacy director for Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty, described the states of emergency declared across the region as a “fertilizer” for human rights abuses.

«By and large, governments in the region have not used the pandemic to invent new ways to repress people but have accelerated their use of well-honed methods,» he told RFE/RL. «What has changed is that many governments have viewed the pandemic as a carte blanche to roll out even more draconian methods and overtly telegraph their abuses.»

Last year, the right to freedom of assembly «continued to be violently repressed» in many countries, Amnesty said in the report, adding that «street power showed that people knew it mattered and they were brave enough to reclaim it back» by protesting against rigged elections while also demanding good governance, environmental protection, and a better life.

In Russia, where authorities used legal tactics and police force to quell protests, people nonetheless took to the streets across the country in growing numbers to raise their voice against a range of issues including corruption and worsening human rights.

In July and August, Moscow saw some of the largest protests in years after authorities refused to register opposition candidates for the capital’s city election.

Meanwhile, freedom of expression and media remained under assault all across the region in 2019.

Despite media pluralism in Ukraine, regular violent attacks against journalists were rarely properly investigated,

Bar Set ‘Ominously Low’

And in Russia, legislation on «foreign agents» and «undesirable organizations» was «systematically wielded against human rights and other [nongovernmental organizations], alongside criminal prosecutions and smears in government-controlled media,» Amnesty said.

It added that the authorities «further set the bar ominously low» with new legislation expanding the status of «foreign agents» to individuals, including bloggers and journalists.

In Tajikistan, «national security» was invoked to clamp down on nongovernmental organizations, as well as defenders of human rights and media freedom, while torture and ill-treatment remained pervasive, according to Amnesty’s report.

It said the grim record of Azerbaijan continued unabated with severe restrictions across the board on any dissent against the government.

Across the region certain ethnic minorities, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, some religious groups, and those with disabilities sometimes faced discrimination, prosecution, and even violence, Amnesty said.

Domestic violence against women and children also continued to plague societies.

Rights abuses against individuals and groups across the region were exacerbated by judicial systems subject to political pressure, Amnesty said.

https://www.rferl.org/a/amnesty-international-central-asia-eastern-europe-human-rights/30558246.html

A Tajik court has postponed the trial of a journalist who is facing what international media-freedom watchdogs call «absurd» extremism charges. Читать далее Tajik Court Postpones Journalist’s ‘Extremism’ Trial →

The trial of freelance journalist Daler Sharifov, who is facing extremism charges was adjourned on April 13 until April 15. Читать далее Trial of journalist facing extremism charges adjourned →

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on Tajikistan’s authorities to release Daler Sharipov, a journalist specializing in religious issues whose trial on absurd extremism charges is due to begin on Monday in the capital, Dushanbe. Читать далее Tajik journalist to be tried this Monday for “extremism” →