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).