In June 2012, the Monitoring Service received 18 reports. Twelve of them describe the factual situation in the media in the light of social, legal and political environment; three reports describe direct violations of rights of media professionals; and three reports describe conflicts and accusations against the media and journalists.
I. 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
1 June
Dunja Mijatović, the OSCE envoy on freedom of speech, Vienna, Austria
The OSCE representative on the media freedom Dunja Mijatović approved the decision of the Tajik Parliament on decriminalization of libel and defamation. From now on, these concepts will go from the criminal code to the civil procedural code. Ms. Mijatović expressed hope that these articles will be fully abolished in the future.
“I appreciate the initiative of President Emomali Rakhmon and the next steps of the Parliament on decriminalization of libel. Once these measures have come into force, they will protect freedom of expression in Tajikistan”, — the envoy said.
On 31 May, the lower chamber of the Parliament unanimously approved the proposal of the President on deleting the Articles 135 (libel) and 136 (insult) from the national criminal code. The decision must be approved by the upper chamber and endorsed by the President to come into force.
However, the adopted amendments do not fully decriminalize defamation, since they do not touch upon the existing provision on public insult of the President, for which the punishment can be imposed in the form of financial penalty or imprisonment for the term of 2-5 years.
27 June
Emomali Rakhmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Dushanbe
Speaking at a meeting on the occasion of the National Unity Day, in presence of many journalists and writers, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon said the following, “Do not rely on your foreign masters. We know our shortcomings better, and we will resolve these problems without external help”.
2. Actions of public officials defining the factual situation in the mass media
Makhmadsaid Ubaidullaev, mayor of Dushanbe
The mayor of Dushanbe Makhmadsaid Ubaidullaev expressed his gratitude to the editing board of the Vetcherny Dushanbe weekly and thanked personally its correspondent Jamila Khuseinova for her work in the municipal transport and road security commission.
12 June
Ramazon Rakhimov, the Minister of Interior, Dushanbe
The Minister of Interior lieutenant-general Ramazon Rakhimov has taken under his personal control the case of assault on the Tajik journalist Rajabi Mirzo.
Rajabi Mirzo was attacked and beaten by unknown assailants in 2004. This is the first case in Tajikistan’s judicial practice when the case is sent for an additional investigation.
14 June
Nur Norov, judge of the Tajik Supreme Court, Dushanbe
The Tajik Parliament’s upper chamber gave consent to bring the judge of the Tajik Supreme Court Nur Nurov to criminal responsibility.
Nurov is known among the Tajik media in relation with the criminal cases against three periodicals – Asia Plus, Farazh and Ozodagon. The judge has been working in the national judicial system for 30 years. In 2008-2009, he was involved in the investigation of a criminal case of Nizomkhon Juraev, former director of the Isfara chemical plant. The case was widely covered by the media. Nurov and two other judges filed a lawsuit against the three Tajik newspapers accusing them of libel and defamation of the judges’ professional reputation.
3. Changes and amendments in the legislation affecting the media
4 June
All media, Dushanbe
The new draft media law is sent to the Tajik media for discussion. According to the commission in charge of the new law, the media and public organizations should discuss the draft document during one week and present their feedback and suggestions.
It should be noted that the draft media law was developed two years ago by parliamentarians from the lower chamber; it was discussed among journalists and media organizations. However, the adoption of this law is delayed.
4. Factual situation in the media and freedom of speech
1 June
All media
On 31 May in Moscow, the CIS Youth Union held its congress and adopted a resolution on creating a unified information center “Eurasian Information Agency” with its own web resource www.evrazesnews.com.
According to the board of the CIS Youth Union, “involvement of the young generation in integration processes is an essential element for strengthening international relations, which creates a fundament for future initiatives and expand competence for decision making.
The Union is also planning to launch a Evrazes TV channel and a radio station, as well as broadcasting branches in all CIS countries.
5. Journalists protecting their civil and professional rights
11 June
Nuriddin Karshiboev, chairman of the National Association of Independent Mass Media, Tajikistan
Chairman of the Tajik National Association of Independent Mass Media (NANSMIT) presented a report at the Forum for the Future in the city of Dresden, Germany. The event was held within the framework of discussion of political challenges in Europe and Central Asia.
“The Forum was held to facilitate the development of pragmatic partnership strategies among the countries of the European Union, and, in particular, between Germany, Russia and the countries of Central Asia, — said Karshiboev. — In my report, I presented the analysis of electronic and printing mass media within the post-Soviet space. The report also covers the issues of partnership between the state and the public for modernization of the media.
4 June
All media, Khorog
On 29-30 June, the Tajik branch of the British Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) conducted a training in the city of Khorog, GBAO on international standards of journalism and the basics for writing analytical articles while discussing the problems of youth, women and conflicts.
The seminar was attended by 15 journalists – both young and experienced – from Khorog, Murgab, Ishkashim, Darvaz and Vanj.
The series of training sessions are conducted within the framework of the project “Mass media as a tool for stability and democratic governance in Tajikistan” funded by the Finnish Foreign Ministry and the project “Conflict Prevention in Central Asia” financed by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry.
7 June
IWPR office in Tajikistan
The British Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) has launched a media training on journalistic investigation techniques in Tajikistan.
Fifteen young journalists from Khorog, Khujand and Dushanbe will be gain skills in the area of collecting and analyzing information with a perspective of joining the international network of journalists-investigators (SCOOP).
The training will be conducted in two stages – an intensive five-day session (5-9 June) and, three months later, a two-day complementary session.
Five most active trainees will go for a two-week training session at the Ukrainian SCOOP bureau to further develop their investigative skills. During eight months, the students are expected to conduct at least 12 journalistic investigations on the most acute problems in Tajikistan; their articles will be published in both local and foreign media outlets in Tajik, Russian and English languages.
22 June
TV SMT, independent television, Dushanbe
On 22 June, the Tajik private TV company SMT held a scientific-practical conference “Problems of the Tajik non-state television”. The event was dedicated to the fifth anniversary of the TV company.
Inter alia, participants discussed the problems of transition to digital broadcasting and licensing.
II. VIOLATIONS OF RIGHTS
3. Unlawful limitation of access to information (Internet resources)
12 June
Asia Plus, Dushanbe
On 12 June, the Tajik government communications agency gave an order to domestic Internet providers to block access to the web site of the Asia Plus news agency.
Parvina Ibodova, chair of the Tajik National Association of Internet Providers confirmed this information adding that the Tajik government communication service sent a relevant letter to the providers requiring to limit access to a number of other web sites, among which is www.news.tj.
The communication service refers to “internal technical problems and maintenance”. The Asia Plus editing board says that the state agency did not share any information in advance about its intentions.
20 June
www.news.tj, Dushanbe
On 14 June, domestic Internet providers received an order from the state communications agency about unblocking of the web site www.news.tj belonging to the private Tajik news agency Asia Plus.
On 12 June, Bek Zukhurov, head of the communications agency gave an order to block access to the information resource because of particular comments published by Asia Plus.
4. Unlawful demand to reveal the source of information
13 June
Abdughaffori Orzu, ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dushanbe
The ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to Tajikistan told journalists at a press conference in Dushanbe that he asked managers of the Tajik newspaper Imruz News to reveal a source of information, which journalists used for their publication.
The ambassador expressed concern over the published story titled “Killers and drug smugglers work at the Afghan Embassy”. The author quotes a refugee who complains about hardships and rightlessness among Afghan citizens living abroad. The ambassador demands to name the source of information; he says that the publication does not meet ethical standards.
Responding to the ambassador’s comments, the editor of Imruz News Naziri Nusrat said that the article is based on real facts, and the author has no right to reveal the source of information. The editor also said that he has doubts regarding the ambassador’s desire to assist the refugee being guided by humanistic desire.
III. CONFLICTS. ALLEGED VIOLATIONS
1. Protection of honor, dignity and business reputation
5 June
Farazh weekly, Dushanbe
The Ismoili Somoni district court in Dushanbe closed the civil case against the Farazh weekly.
The complainant asked for damages of his honor, dignity and business reputation because of an article published by Farazh on 17 August 2011. He demanded 500 thousand Somoni as a moral compensation.