In December 2010 the NANSMIT Monitoring Service received 17 reports. Eleven of them describe the factual situation in the media in the light of socio-legal and political environment; five reports describe direct violations of rights of media professionals; and one report describes conflicts and accusations against the media and journalists.
I. PECULIARITIES OF 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
15 December
Emomali Rakhmon, President of Tajikistan, Moscow, Russian Federation
Speaking at the meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Moscow, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon stressed the importance of information security. (The Najot weekly, #50, 15.12.2010, with a reference to BBC).
In particular, the President said that “Tajikistan is a reliable adherent of the joint countering of crimes in the area of information and information technologies”.
Enhancement of the legislation in the area of information security must be one of priorities of joint activities within the frameworks of CSTO.
2. Factual situation in the media
6 December
Imruz News, private newspaper, Dushanbe
The first daily newspaper Imruz News has resumed its publication. The newspaper had a two-week break because of financial difficulties, said Isfadiyori Nazar, chief editor of the outlet.
“We analyzed our financial problems and restructured three units; however, we did not reduce the staff, and all employees have their own workloads”, — said the editor.
The first daily newspaper came off the press for the first time on 30 August 2010. The daily printout of the information-analytical newspaper is 3 thousand copies.
8 December
Gulnora Amirshoeva, Vetacherny Dushanbe weekly, Dushanbe
On the eve of the Forum of the European and Asian Media, the newspaper Sobytiya (#54, 08.12.2010) published an interview with chief editor of the Tajik weekly Vetacherny Dushanbe Gulnora Amirshoeva who shared her opinion about the Tajik journalism.
Amirshoeva says that the Tajik journalism has its own specific problems, such as inactivity and poor development of the civil society, which hinders pluralism of opinions. People are reluctant to share their opinions with the media. Journalism has lost its main functions behind financial problems; it is “booked” by the authorities or foreign sponsors.
The Tajik media experience acute shortage of professionals. The old teaching methodologies in universities are not in compliance with requirements in the media. Another problem is a poor coverage of the audience and the lack of commercial opportunities for the media, i.e. the network for selling of media products. The electronic media also cannot convey important messages to the audience – in view of the insufficient power supply in remote areas.
3. Amendments to existing legislation and new draft laws aggravating the media environment
3 December
All media
The lower chamber of the Tajik parliament created a special working group in charge of developing the final draft of Tajikistan’s media law. The working group comprises parliamentarians, government officials and representatives of the civil society organizations.
4. Journalists protecting their civil and professional rights
1 December
The Committee “29 September”, Dushanbe
On 1 December, most of the Tajik media informed about the meeting of the Committee called “29 September”. The new public organization was created by managers of the leading Tajik media. On 30 November, the coalition convened a meeting to discuss the situation and suggest new measures in order to reinstate legality and justice in the media environment.
It was noted that the situation has not changed in the last few weeks, and media professionals are still facing serious impediments to their activities. In November, newspapers as Farazh and Paykon experienced difficulties with printing facilities. Participants of the meeting developed a number of actions for the next few weeks. The Committee states that the national government should interfere and rectify the situation.
1 December
All media, Dushanbe
On 1 December, representatives of Tajik media and human rights organizations sent an official appeal to the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev whose country is currently presides in OSCE. The appeal contains a request of assistance to prevent violations of human rights and media freedom, which, in particular, concerns the problem of pressure exerted by the government on private media.
“The main goal of this action is to attract attention of heads of the OSCE member states to the situation in Tajikistan’s media environment and to resolve conflicts within the information space following the national legislation and Tajikistan’s commitments to OSCE”, — said Nuriddin Karshibaev, chairman of NANSMIT.
The official letter was presented to Ms. Minara Rakhanova, counselor of the Kazakh embassy in Dushanbe.
9 December
All media, Dushanbe
Tajik journalists and human rights activists received awards for their input in covering the issues of human rights and freedoms in 2010. The awards were given by two organizations – the British Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) in Central Asia and the Human Rights and Legality Bureau.
II. VIOLATION OF PROFESSIONAL RIGHTS
1. Accusations of libel and insult
13 December
Makhmadyusuf Ismailov, Nuri Zindagi weekly, Sughd province
On 23 November, the Sughd province law enforcement authorities in Asht district arrested a 50-year-old Makhmadyusuf Ismailov, correspondent of a private newspaper Nuri Zindagi (Ray of Life). The fact of arrest was publicly reported only on 13 December.
The journalist is suspected in crimes specified in Article 135 and 136 of the Tajik Criminal Code (libel and insult contained in public statements or in mass media) and Article 250 (extortion).
Observers say that Ismailov’s arrest is related to a publication in the Istiklol weekly, which reveals misconduct of law enforcement officers and the absence of justice in Ast district.
Juma Mirzo, editor of Nuri Zindagi has confirmed the fact of arrest of his correspondent. The editor says that the Ast district prosecutor sent an official letter requesting copies of all articles, which Ismailov is the author of.
30 December
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders called for the release of Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov, a newspaper reporter who has been detained arbitrarily by prosecutors in Khujand, in the northern province of Sughd, since 23 November.
Ismoilov was arrested at the behest of the regional prosecutor’s office one day after an article he wrote about its alleged corrupt and irregular practices was published in the newspaper Istikol. His detention is clearly designed to stop him working as regional correspondent.
He has often criticized the local authorities during the three years that he has worked as a Khujand-based reporter for various newspapers including the national weekly Nuri Zindagi. It is regrettable that the only response from the local authorities to his criticism it to arrest him. It is doubtful that regional prosecutor Anvar Kanoat’s investigation is impartial.
Ismoilov is charged under various articles of the criminal code with libel, insulting an official, inciting religious and racial hatred and blackmail. Nuriddin Karshiboyev, the head of the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (NANSMIT), says he is being prosecuted solely because of what he wrote.
The trial is due to take place at the end of January and the Sughd regional court has ordered that Ismoilov be detained throughout the pre-trial investigation. Nuri Zindagi editor Djumo Mirzo has received a letter from the prosecutor requesting copies of all the articles that Ismoilov has written for the newspaper.
Reporters Without Borders calls for Ismoilov’s release pending the start of the trial. It also supports NANSMIT’s call for a fair trial and respect for the right to an independent defence.
The situation of the media and access to information has still not returned to normal after the crackdown carried out by the Tajik authorities in September (http://en.rsf.org/tadjikistan-after-using-civil-war-spectre-to-15-10-2010,38552.html). Several news websites are still experiencing hosting problems and some newspapers, including Faraj and Paikhon, are still being harassed and having problems finding a printer.
16 December
Committee to Protect Journalists, NYC, USA
The Committee to Protect Journalists today denounced the imprisonment in northern Tajikistan of Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov, a reporter with the Dushanbe-based independent weekly Nuri Zindagi. Ismoilov was arrested in Sogd region on November 23, but the regional press first reported on the case on Monday. Ismoilov is currently being held in a pretrial facility in the city of Khujand, according to the local press.
The Dushanbe-based National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan said Ismoilov was criminally charged with defamation and insult through the media (two separate counts). If convicted, Ismoilov faces up to two and a half years in prison. Authorities have not named a plaintiff in the indictment.
Nuriddin Karshiboyev, the media association’s director, told CPJ he believes Ismoilov was arrested in retaliation for his reporting. Ismoilov consistently criticized the regional government, law enforcement agencies, and the judiciary for alleged mismanagement, poor social and economic policies, and abuse of power, Karshiboyev told CPJ. According to Karshiboyev and local press reports, regional prosecutors asked Nuri Zindagi to provide them with all the articles Ismoilov had written for the weekly since he joined the newspaper in 2008.
“We call on Tajik authorities to drop all these politicized charges against Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov and release him at once,” CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova said. “Tajikistan must decriminalize its defamation and insult laws in order to bring itself in line with international norms for press freedom.”
Karshiboyev told CPJ that he has studied Ismoilov’s publications in detail and has not found any instances of insult or defamation.
CPJ is a New York–based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit www.cpj.org.
III. CONFLICTS. VIOLATIONS INCRIMINATED TO THE MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS
1. Protection of honor, dignity and business reputation
8 December
Millat weekly, Dushanbe
Court hearings on the lawsuit by the Ministry of Agriculture against the Tajik non-government weekly Millat are adjourned (Millat, #49, 08.12.2010).
The judge Dilorom Abdurakhimova told the media that the court needs additional information and facts for proper investigation of the case.
The Ministry initiated the suit because of the publication in Millat titled «The Ministry of Agriculture is the most corrupt government agency”.
The Ministry demands a moral compensation in the amount of 1 million Somoni (about $230 thousand).
This report is based on compiled materials from the media and private information presented by correspondents of the NANSMIT Monitoring Network
Coordinator of the Monitoring Service
Abdufattokh Vokhidov
Project Manager
Nuriddin Karshibayev