National Endowment for Democracy expressed indignation regarding the murder of our close friend, Alisher Saipov, editor of the Uzbek-language newspaper Siyosat. The journalist was assassinated on 24 October, after a long discrediting campaign against him. This defamation is still continuing. We express our deepest condolences to Alisher’s family and colleagues.

Alisher Saipov was one of the best journalists in Central Asia. Being the editor of newspaper Siyosat, which NED supported with pride, he always spoke freely appealing to the audience at large, to those who had no access to independent media. Alisher wrote about violations of human rights, revealing manipulations of the authorities during the presidential elections, and openly telling truly stories about the Uzbek special services clandestinely acting in Kyrgyzstan. Alisher’s friends and colleagues felt anxious about his safety. This fear was caused by constant attacks against the journalist on Uzbek web sites. We also know that his office was under surveillance.

Shortly after the murder, on 30-th October, the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry issued a press release accusing Saipov of affiliation with Islamic extremist organizations and defaming his professional reputation. This is nothing but a clumsy attempt to take people’s attention off the problems described by Alisher in his publications, including threats from those who disliked his articles. Alisher’s professionalism was quite evident. He was a clever, smart and talented young man.

We can say the same about other journalists working for Siyosat. After the murder of Saipov, all the newspaper computers, documents and property had been arrested by the police. The law enforcement officers keep interrogating the newspaper staff.

Kyrgyzstan desires to become an island of liberty in Central Asia. If the government really wishes to create a positive image of the country, it should stop the defaming campaign against Saipov, and adequately protect all independent Kyrgyz journalists. The authorities should conduct an impartial investigation of the murder of Alisher Saipov.

On 5-6 November, the Russian capital will be hosting the International Grand Prix Finale of the mountainous races tournament. Davlatali Shamsov, a TV journalist from Kulyab will take part in the competition.

The runner himself told NANSMIT’s correspondent that the Mayor of Kulyab Khamid Abdulloyev helped arrange Shamsov’s trip and participation in the prestigious competition in Moscow.

Davlatali Shamsov is not and amateur in sports. Earlier, in September he took part in a 10-kilometer marathon at the 31-st International Track-and-Field Athletics Championship in the city of Korolyov, Russia. He was the 33-rd who came to the finish ribbon among 3,600 participants of the marathon. The Mayor’s office covered Tajik sportsman’s travel expenses.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) was shocked and outraged to hear the news that our good friend Alisher Saipov, editor of the Uzbek newspaper Siyosat, was murdered on October 24 following a smear campaign directed against him that has continued even after his death. We send our condolences to the family and colleagues of this beloved young man.

Alisher Saipov established himself as one of the best reporters in Central Asia. As founder and editor of the newspaper Siyosat, which NED was proud to support, he was able to reach a broad readership that has little access to independent reporting on topics that include human rights abuses in Uzbekistan, the manipulation of the upcoming presidential election there, and the criminal activities of Uzbek security services operating across the border in Kyrgyzstan. Because of his reporting of such abuses, many friends and colleagues were concerned about his safety during the period leading up to Alisher’s murder, with attacks against him on Uzbek web pages and surveillance of his office.

After his death, an October 30 press release of the Interior Ministry of Kyrgyzstan, tried to blacken Alisher’s reputation by linking his name to Islamic extremism, a crude attempt to divert attention from the real issue, which is the threat he was under from those who objected to his reporting. In fact, Alisher Saipov’s record of professionalism and courage speaks for itself. He was a bright and brave young man, who exemplified hope for the future and was a source of pride and hope for the Uzbek and Kyrgyz people.

The same is true of the other journalists associated with Siyosat, whose safety may also be at risk. Since the murder, the computers, documentation, and other property of the Siyosat newspaper have been seized by the police. The staff of the newspaper has been subjected to daily rounds of questioning by police and security officials. Other journalists in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, who have attempted to report about this case have also been denounced and harassed by the police.

Kyrgyzstan seeks to be seen as an island of freedom in Central Asia. If the government wishes to advance that image, it must distance itself from this repugnant smear campaign against Alisher, cease harassing the staff of Siyosat, and provide them and other independent journalists in Kyrgyzstan with the protection they need to continue their work. Not least, the authorities need to carry out a serious and impartial investigation of the murder of Alisher Saipov.

The Ninth Central Asian Conference «Development and self-regulation among the media in Central Asia: on the way to independent and accountable media» will be held on 1-2 November in Dushanbe.

According to the OSCE Press Center i Dushnabe, a number of issues related to advantages of self-regulation in the media will be discussed at the forthcoming conference. In particular, participants will be discussing the issues of balance between the legal personal responsibility of the media, and the development of mechanisms for self-regulation among the media in Central Asian countries.

Special attention will be paid ti the issues of self-regulation along with the improvement of professional quality of the media, and the freedom of speech.

OSCE informs that a number of media organizations and human rights watchdogs from Central Asia, Ukraine and Russia will present their reports describing the experience of self-regulation and ethical standards in their countries.

Chairman of the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT) Nuriddin Karshibayev is going to present a report on the situation in the sphere of media in Tajikistan and about the perspectives of self-regulation in the country.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

A two-week seminar on multimedia journalism completed in Dushanbe on 26 October.

Sukhrobi Ziyo, representative of BBC in Tajikistan told Khovar news agency that 18 journalists from various regions of Tajikistan have received their certificates of completion of multimedia journalism courses.

During two weeks journalists attended lectures of former BBC employees who now work as trainers for a British media organization «Jadidmedia». The Tajik journalists have learned the basics of photo journalism; they practiced to work with audio and video files and learned how to launch them in the internet. By the end of the workshop, every participant had to prepare a three-four-minute clip covering a social topic. All works will be launched on the web site www.jadidonline.com.

«Not only experienced journalists, web designers, photo correspondents and cameramen attended the workshop, — says Ziyo. — It was also attended by university students of journalism faculties and free-lancers who wish to work in the sphere of multimedia».

The workshop was organized by British Broadcasting Corporation office in Tajikistan, a non-governmental organization «Jadid-media» and the International Fund named after Muhiddin Olimpour.

http://www.khovar.tj/

National Association of Independent Media and the information agency «Inter Press Service» have jointly issued the fifteenth monthly bulletin «Media and Law».

The following link gives you detailed information on the bulletin: http://www.nansmit.tj/publish/?id=122

Journalists of Khatlon province attended a two-day workshop «Role of the media in prevention and control of tuberculosis». This is a countrywide initiative supported financially by USAID, and technically by NGO «Hope».

On 18-19 October, the city of Kulyab in Khatlon province hosted a workshop «Role of the media in prevention and control of tuberculosis». This is a countrywide initiative supported financially by USAID, and technically by NGO «Hope».

Participants of the workshop discussed the issues of sensitivity in covering the topics of dangerous diseases, which often mislead the public and cause panic.

In the course of discussions, most of the participants expressed concerns about censorship and lack of access to information, which is frequently justified by public officials referring to «internal ministerial instructions» and «resolutions from above» that do not have any legal ground.

NANSMIT monitoring service

The British Institute for War ad Peace Reporting (IWPR) presents international standards of journalism to media professionals in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province. A two-day workshop was organized in the city of Khorog, the administrative center of GBAO.

Apart from the international standards of journalism, correspondents of the Pamir Media news agency studied the basics of analytical news writing based upon the IWPR standards.

Lola Khalikjanova, editor of the Tajik IWPR branch says that the main goal of the training session is the enhancement of professional skills among media professionals in the region. Participants say that the workshop has been quite fruitful. They are looking forward to applying the new skills in their everyday activities.

Upon the accomplishment of the workshop, the organizers arranged a presentation of a new book titled «Reportages in the name of changes: manual for journalists working in crises». The book was published by IWPR under support of the British Development Ministry and other donors.

IWPR is a network of non-commercial organizations. The main activity of IWPR is assistance to local media entities in regions of crises and conflicts, and in countries in transition. IWPR’s programs are targeted to media coverage of various events, educational and institutional projects.

A well-known Kyrgyz journalist Alisher Saipov was killed on 24 October in downtown Osh. Under protection of anonymity, a Kyrgyz State Security Committee officer agreed to share some details of investigation.

On 24 October, at 19:08 the Osh city Interior Department received a report about a dead body found in one of the city dwelling areas. Upon the crime scene, investigators found three bullet shells. Alisher Saipov was shot dead, supposedly from a Makarov pistol. Investigators are waiting for preliminary results of autopsy and ballistic tests.

According to the first reports, no witnesses have been identified. The Osh municipal police applied to the citizens asking for their assistance in investigation.

In different periods, Alisher Saipov worked for Ferghana.ru news agency, Voice of America, and Radio Liberty. Lately, he has been both publisher and editor of an Uzbek-language newspaper «Siyosat» («Politics»).

According to the «24.kg» news agency, one of the preliminary allegations voiced by the police concerning the murder is Saipov’s professional activities.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

The Third International Conference «Terrorism and Electronic Media» is being held these days in the capital of Cyprus, Nicosia.

According to Antoly Lysenko, President of the International Academy of Television and Radio, the experience gained during the last two years has shown that the dialogue at the international level among the electronic media, counter-terrorist structures and public authorities initiated by the International Academy proved to be quite useful. «We have established contacts on business level, and agreed upon the main principles of cooperation with those who are authorised to counter terrorism, — he said. These entities are united by a noble goal – protection of the peoples on the planet from the most dangerous threats and contemporary challenges». Lysenko considers that the communities of journalists in many countries have adopted «the rules of the game», which had been developed at two previous conferences. E also thinks that the goals defined by terrorists can be achieved not only through forced methods, but also by means of systematic promotion of violence,earthliness and destruction of human principles.

The Forum will last until 27 October. Among the participants are leading media professionals from the CIS, India, Croatia, France, Greece, Cyprus, Estonia, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Serbia, Marocco and other countries. Tajikistan is represented by a Moscow Bureau correspondent of Khovar news agency, Khalima Khushkadamova.