The Tajik National Association of Independent Mass Media (NANSMIT), the Union of Journalists of Tajikistan (UJT) and the Tajik Media Alliance (TMA) call on the media to restrain from using aggressive expressions and statements and stick to the rules of political correctness covering the issues of labor migration and inter-ethnic relations.

This issue is very relevant, especially in the light of ongoing development related to the recent case of two Russian ethnic pilots sentenced by the Tajik court to lengthy prison terms. This issue has gained a political character; Tajik labor migrants have become hostages of the situation.

The situation has gone out of the “legal field”; it is aggravated by the involvement of the media and wide discussions in social networks. In these discussions, one can clearly see rude expressions, insult and incitements of extremist character. These circumstances instigate nationalist and xenophobic moods in both Russian and Tajik societies for the benefit of the internal destructive forces, as well as for the external geopolitical players.

We, the heads of the Tajik media organizations, call on all Russian and Tajik mass media to observe professional standards and provide objective and balanced information on the ongoing developments, restraining from emotions.

Nuriddin Karshiboev, Chairman of NANSMIT

Khurshed Niyozov, Secretary General of TMA

www.nansmit.tj