It is now a month since our colleague Urunboy Usmonov was detained by the security services in Tajikistan.

The Tajik authorities have now confirmed that their investigation has been completed and the results have been handed over to the regional prosecutor’s office.

We also note that the Prosecutor General of Tajikistan has requested a summary of the case to be passed to the head of state, President Emomali Rakhmon for information.

The BBC hopes that this process will come to a speedy conclusion and lead to the release of Urunboy Usmonov and the clearing of his name.

The BBC has been clear that it regards the allegations linking the BBC reporter to Hizb ut-Tahrir as completely unfounded.

We believe that meetings and interviews with people representing all shades of opinion are part of the work of any BBC journalist.

We also remain deeply concerned about Urunboy Usmonov’s well being. BBC colleagues have been able to visit and found him to be frail and frightened.

It is now essential that our colleague is released as soon as possible, so that he can return to his family and his work as a respected journalist and writer.

Notes to editors:

Pictures available upon request.

For further information please contact:

Peter Connors
BBC World Service Press Office
Tel: +44 (0)207 557 2941
E-mail: peter.connors@bbc.co.uk

BBC World Service

is an international multimedia broadcaster, delivering a wide range of language and regional services on radio, TV, online and via wireless handheld devices. It uses multiple platforms to reach its weekly audience of 166 million globally, including shortwave, AM, FM, digital satellite and cable channels. Its news sites include audio and video content and offer opportunities to join the global debate. BBC World Service offers its multilingual radio content to partner FM stations around the world and has numerous partnerships supplying content to news websites, mobile phones and other wireless handheld devices as well as TV channels. For more information, visit bbcworldservice.com.

bbcworldservice.com

REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS/ REPORTERS SANS FRONTIÈRES

Press release/ Communiqué de presse

13.07.2011

Anglais : http://en.rsf.org/tadjikistan-worldwide-call-for-bbc-29-06-2011,40553.html

Français : http://fr.rsf.org/tadjikistan-en-detention-depuis-un-mois-13-07-2011,40548.html

TAJIKISTAN : After being held for one month, BBC reporter must be freed without delay

Reporters Without Borders reiterates its call for the release of Urinboy Usmonov, a reporter for the BBC’s Uzbek-language service in the northwestern province of Sughd, who has been held by the Tajik security services for exactly a month on suspicion of links to a banned Islamist group.

Prosecutor general Sherkhan Salimzad announced yesterday that the investigation has been completed and that the case been passed to the Sughd provincial prosecutor’s office.

“The fact that a ‘summary’ of the prosecution case has been sent to President Emomali Rakhmon suggests that all the appeals by journalists and the international community have been noted,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The justice system should nonetheless remain in charge of the case, and we hope that the completion of the investigation leads quickly to an impartial resolution that respects the rules of international law.

“As the investigation is now over, there is nothing to prevent this journalist’s conditional release. This should take place without delay. The justice system’s credibility would be greatly reinforced if all the judicial irregularities that have occurred since Usmonov’s arrest were also the subject of a serious investigation.”

Usmonov was arrested on 13 June because of his alleged links with Hizb-ut-Tahrir, an Islamist party that is outlawed in Tajikistan. He had been covering a trial of members of the party for the BBC.

———————-

TADJIKISTAN : En détention depuis un mois, Ourinboï Ousmonov doit être relâché sans délai

Cela fait maintenant un mois que Ourinboï Ousmonov, correspondant du service ouzbek de la BBC, est détenu par les services de sécurité du Tadjikistan. Le 12 juillet 2011, le Procureur général, Cherkhan Salimzade, a annoncé que l’enquête était close et que le dossier avait été transmis au parquet régional de Sughd (nord-ouest).

“L’envoi d’un ‘résumé’ du dossier d’instruction au président de la République Emomali Rakhmon suggère que les nombreux appels de la profession et de la communauté internationale pourraient avoir été entendus. L’affaire doit cependant rester du domaine de la justice, et nous espérons que la clôture de l’enquête mènera à un dénouement rapide et impartial, dans le respect des règles du droit international. L’enquête étant désormais close, plus rien ne s’oppose à la remise en liberté conditionnelle du journaliste. Celle-ci doit intervenir sans délai. Enfin, la crédibilité de la justice serait grandement renforcée si les vices de procédure constatés depuis l’arrestation de M. Ousmonov faisaient aussi l’objet d’une investigation sérieuse”, a déclaré Reporters sans frontières.

Arrêté le 13 juin dernier, le journaliste est poursuivi pour des liens présumés avec le parti islamiste Hizb-ut-Tahrir, illégal au Tadjikistan. M. Ousmonov couvrait les procès des membres du parti, à la demande de la BBC.

—
Johann Bihr (Йоханн Бир)
Reporters sans frontières / Reporters Without Borders

Bureau Europe & Asie centrale / Europe & Central Asia Desk

T : + 33 1 44 83 84 67
F : + 33 1 45 23 11 51
Skype : europarsf

http://en.rsf.org/tadjikistan-worldwide-call-for-bbc-29-06-2011,40553.html

TASHKENT — Two Uzbek journalists on hunger strike to protest media censorship claim that authorities have thwarted their planned press conference, RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reports.

Saodat Omonova and Malohat Eshonqulova told RFE/RL that none of the representatives of foreign embassies, international organizations, and human rights organizations invited to their press conference at 10:30 a.m. on July 7 showed up.

Eshonqulova said she believes the embassies did not receive the invitations they sent, while the rights activists and journalists were prevented from coming.

Omonova told RFE/RL that at 10 a.m. the electricity to their house was cut off and up to 20 cars surrounded their home. She said only Surat Ikramov, the head of the Independent Human Rights Defenders of Uzbekistan group, showed up.

Omonova said Zhalol Botiraliev and Dilbar Qosimova, both of them trade union representatives from the Yoshlar (Youth) state TV channel where the two women used to work, also came and that Qosimova started shouting accusations at them.

Omonova said her husband and daughter noticed their home was under surveillance for several days by men in parked cars, and on July 7 by people in police uniform and civilian clothes.

Svetlana Ortiqova, who heads the Uzbek parliament’s legislative and judiciary reform committee, told RFE/RL she did not receive any news about the two journalists and asked RFE/RL to contact her later.

Omonova and Eshonqulova were detained in Tashkent on June 27, which is Media Workers’ Day in Uzbekistan, when they tried to start a hunger strike outside President Islam Karimov’s residence.

They were arrested and a Tashkent district court fined them 2.94 million soms (about $1,500) for holding an unauthorized protest.

The two women were seeking a meeting with Karimov to discuss media censorship at Yoshlar (Youth). They were both dismissed from the station in December, three days after staging a protest on Tashkent’s main square against media censorship.

They filed a lawsuit for wrongful dismissal against the management of Yoshlar, but on May 31 a district court ruled in favor of the TV station, saying the women’s dismissal was legal. They have appealed that verdict.

Eshonqulova told RFE/RL that since May 2 they have sent 56 letters to Karimov detailing examples of censorship at Yoshlar and requesting a meeting with him.

She said that at their protest on June 27, she and Omonova held up placards reading «Dear Islam Karimov, please grant us an audience,» and «We declare a hunger strike.» Today is the 12th day of their hunger strike.

http://www.rferl.org/content/uzbekistan_journalists_hunger_strike/24259987.html

The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program brings accomplished scholars from Tajikistan to the United States to conduct advanced research at U.S. universities for a period of up to one academic year.
Eligibility:

Applicants must be citizens of Tajikistan residing in Tajikistan at the time of application, or permanent residents holding a valid passport issued by Tajikistan. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree or equivalent professional qualification at the time of application.

Eligible Research Fields:

Agriculture

Dance

Mathematics

American History

Economics

Medical Sciences

American Literature

Education

Music

American Studies

Engineering

Philosophy

Anthropology

Environmental Sciences

Physics/Astronomy

Archaeology

Film Studies

Political Science

Architecture

Geography

Psychology

Art

Geology

Public Administration

Art History

History (non-U.S.)

Public/Global Health

Biological Sciences

Information Sciences

Religious Studies

Business Administration

Journalism

Social Work

Chemistry

Language/Literature (non-U.S.)

Sociology

Communications

Law

TEFL/Applied Linguistics

Computer Science

Science

Theater

Creative Writing

Linguistics

Urban Planning

Selection Criteria:

· Applicants must submit a detailed statement of proposed research activity at a U.S. university (only research grants are available for citizens of Tajikistan).

· Applicants must possess English language proficiency sufficient to achieve the project goals.

· Applicant should demonstrate the intrinsic value of the project to the scholar, his/her home institution, home country, and U.S. institution.

· Applicant should demonstrate the ability to serve as a cultural ambassador for Tajikistan.

Grant Benefits:

Round-trip travel from Tajikistan to a host institution in the United States

Full financial support in the United States

Medical insurance

Access to professional and cultural enrichment opportunities

Application Deadline:

The application deadline is October 01, 2011. Potential applicants can access the online application by going to https://apply.embark.com/student/fulbright/scholars/

Nominations are made by the U.S. Embassy and are reviewed in the United States by independent review committees. The J. William Fulbright Scholarship Board has final approval of all nominees.

To receive additional information regarding the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program please contact the U.S. Embassy at (992) 37-229-2314 or KobilovaS@state.gov.

Shafoat Kabilova

Grant Assistant / Alumni Coordinator

U.S. Embassy/Public Diplomacy Section

109 A, I.Somoni Ave., Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Dushanbe, Tajikistan

e-mail: KobilovaS@state.gov

tel: (992-372) 29 23 14
cell phone (98)580 70 67
http://dushanbe.usembassy.gov

To automatically receive information about our programs, send a blank e-mail message to usembassydushanbeprograms-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To join the STATE ALUMNI global community, please visit «https://alumni.state.gov» and follow the «Join Now!» link. Interactive and password-protected, alumni.state.gov offers the more than1,000,000 alumni of U.S. government exchange programs a place to network, share information, participate in Q&A Live discussions with experts, and access resources such as grants, jobs, and research databases.

https://alumni.state.gov

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) representative on freedom of the media has urged Tajik authorities to release detained BBC reporter Urunboy Usmonov.

Dunja Mijatovic said she was still awaiting an official response on Usmonov’s case.

Mijatovic on June 16 sent a letter to Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi in which she called the arrest of Usmonov an attempt to censor reporting on sensitive issues.

Usmonov, who has worked for the BBC Central Asian Service for 10 years, was arrested on June 13 for alleged membership in a radical organization.

http://www.rferl.org/content/osce_urges_tajikistan_release_bbc_reporter/24258728.html

ALMATY — The chief editor of a Kazakh opposition newspaper has filed a lawsuit against the National Security Committee (KNB) for not allowing him to fly to a conference in Europe, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reports.

«Vzglyad» chief editor Igor Vinyavsky said in Almaty on July 5 that he has filed lawsuits against the KNB and the Dutch KLM Airlines.

Vinyavsky said that on June 21 the KNB border service and KLM employees took him off a flight to Brussels, where he was going to attend a conference on corruption in Central Asia.

Vinyavsky said he was told by the KNB officials that he had problems with his visa. He said he told them his visa was in order.

Vinyavsky’s lawyer, Sergei Utkin, said visa issues are beyond the competencies of the border service and therefore represents a case of abuse of power.

Vinyvsky said he is going to demand compensation of 500,000 tenge ($3,500) in his lawsuit.

http://www.rferl.org/content/kazakhstan_opposition_editor_lawsuit/24258336.html

The European Union Delegation issues the following statement in agreement with the EU Heads of Mission in Tajikistan

The EU Delegation to Tajikistan welcomes the reported decision by Tajik authorities to drop charges relating to BBC journalist Urunboy Usmonov’s alleged membership of “Hizb-ut-Tahrir”. The EU Delegation remains nevertheless deeply concerned by the fact that charges are, however, still being brought against Mr Usmonov, especially since these charges are related to practices which are generally accepted to be standard journalistic activity. The EU Delegation encourages the relevant Tajik authorities to review these additional charges, and requests that Mr Usmonov be released from detention immediately.

The European Union fully recognize the efforts of the Tajik Government to ensure stability and security within the country, but would also continue to stress the importance of media freedom in Tajikistan, and of adhering to transparent international judicial standards.

www.deltjk.ec.europa.eu

QURGHONTEPPA, Tajikistan — Authorities in southern Tajikistan say they are concerned that young people have returned home from Islamic schools abroad to find no jobs or education opportunities, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports.

More than 1,000 young Tajiks studying at foreign madrasahs and Islamic universities returned home in recent months after President Emomali Rahmon warned that foreign religious schools are indoctrinating Tajik students with radical Islamic ideology.

At a meeting of local officials in Khatlon Province on July 1, Nusratullo Mirzoev, a deputy head of the provincial Department for National Security, said the most important task is to establish the exact number of Tajik students in Islamic countries.

Mirzoev said some 225 of the former students who returned home have already left the country again. He said officially they went to Russia as labor migrants but nobody knows their real aims and destinations.

Yusufjon Yusufzoda, a provincial prosecutor, blamed the returnees’ plight on the Khatlon Department of Social Affairs and the Department of Religious Affairs. He said the departments had not done enough to create jobs or education opportunities for the former students and that most of those who came back to Khatlon have nothing to do.

But Bobokhon Sharbatov, the head of the Department for Religious Affairs, said that the constitution guarantees freedom of movement and nobody can stop anybody from traveling.

Sharbatov added that former students write that their main reason for travelling abroad is labor migration but nobody knows if this is true or not.

Sharbatov noted that some 820 students returned from Islamic countries to Khatlon. He added that of those some 485 are employed in rural farms, small businesses, and trade, 70 are studying at school or university, and 26 have been called up for military service.

The meeting concluded that the creation of employment and education opportunities for returned students is the only way to keep them in the province and avoid their returning to Islamic countries or joining extremist religious movements.

http://www.rferl.org/content/tajik_officials_decry_joblessness_among_returned_islamic_students/24253

Freedom of Speech in Tajikistan
June 2011

In June 2011 the NANSMIT Monitoring Service received 35 reports. Fourteen of them describe the factual situation in the media in the light of socio-legal and political environment; sixteen reports describe direct violations of rights of media professionals; and five 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

7 June
Emomali Rakhmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan

Speaking at the European Parliament Session Cooperation with the countries of Central Asia in Strasburg on 6 June 2011, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon mentioned the number of periodicals published in his country: 400 newspapers and magazines, including 250 private ones; there are 44 radio and TV broadcasting networks, including 28 non-state ones.

The President added that the government assists in establishing closer relations between the executive authorities and the mass media with the purpose of ensuring information transparency and guaranteed access to publicly important information.

3 June
Jumaboi Rakhmatov, deputy chairman of Sughd province, Khujand

On 3 June, the first deputy chairman of Sughd province Jumaboi Rakhmatov told the media that his administration intends to allocate annually more than 1 million Somoni (about $210 thousand) to enhance the quality and expand the coverage of TV and radio broadcasting. This year, the authorities have allocated 250 thousand Somoni ($52 thousand).

The authorities also build the Print Palace, new premises for media professionals in Sughd province.

3 June
Jumaboi Rakhmatov, deputy chairman of Sughd province, Khujand

“The role of the mass media is to create a bridge between the society and the state – jointly with local administrations. Along with that, the media – regardless of their form of property – should explain objective reasons for existing problems in the country in order to avoid incorrect interpretations”, — said Jumaboi Rakhmatov, the first deputy chairman of Sughd province.

20 June
Mahmadsaid Ubaidullaev, mayor of Dushanbe

The mayor of Dushanbe Mahmadsaid Ubaidullaev expressed gratitude to the media for support rendered to the municipal unit for control over urban traffic. The mayor added that the media also should be involved in developing municipal programs, drafting reports and inspections.

2. Factual situation in the media

1 June
TV Stan Media, Dushanbe

The partner of the regional K+ TV channel in Tajikistan, Stan Media has terminated its activities in the country. Akram Abdukahorov, head of the Stan Media office in Dushanbe told the Avesta news agency that the reason for the temporary closure is financial difficulties. “We terminate our activities until we find sources of financing. We can earn something from advertisement or get funds from other sources”, — he added.

The central office of K+ is located in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic; Stan Media has been working within the Tajik information space since 2009. The total number of staff in Dushanbe and Khujand is 16.

Experts say that the termination of the Stan Media in Tajikistan is a significant loss, which will have a negative impact on the objective coverage of developments in the country.

2 June
Carol Fuller, charge d’affaires, Permanent Council, OSCE, Vienna

“The US is also concerned over reports about the Internet censorship in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, which imposes restrictions on online activities among the political opposition and certain religious groups”, said Carol Fuller, the US charge d’affaires at the Permanent Council of OSCE in Vienna.

9 June
Tomas Melia, assistant to US Secretary of State, Vilnius

“The three countries within the OSCE region – Russia, Tajikistan and Turkey – are in the list of 20 countries, where the Committee to Protect Journalists found non-investigated crimes against journalists”, — said Tomas Melia, assistant to US Secretary of State, director of the Bureau on Democracy, Human Rights and Employment speaking at the conference on safety of journalists in the OSCE region.

3. Amendments to the legislation and new draft laws having negative impact on the media environment

23 June
Аrticle 19, London, UK

The London-based human rights organization Аrticle 19 has published comments to the new Tajik draft law “On mass media” in terms of compliance with international standards of the freedom of speech. The draft law was developed to replace the existing Law “On printing and other mass media” adopted in 1990.
Аrticle 19 indicates positive provisions in the draft law, including the statement of freedom of the media, prohibition of censorship and persecution for criticism, protection of rights of media professionals, and the necessity of being in compliance with international treaties ratified by Tajikistan.

One of the points of concern mentioned in the comments by Аrticle 19 is the necessity of registering the media. “Article 7 of the draft law obliges all companies and individual entrepreneurs working in the media environment to register in relevant bodies of the state power. Registration must be obligatory only for printing media”, — says the report.

15 June
Reporters Without Borders, Paris, France

The international organization Reporters Without Borders officially approached the leaders of the CIS countries – Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan – expressing concern over the basic law regulating the Internet. The basic law was adopted by the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly on 16 May 2011. The law contains several provisions repressive for the media. Although these provisions are not mandatory, the intentions of the authorities to establish limitations in each country are quite obvious.

The implementation of certain articles of this basic law contradicts the principles of free expression in the Internet and provides the state with opportunities to control the information space where people exchange their opinions and share information.

4. Journalists protecting their civil and professional rights

9 June
Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov, correspondent, Nuri Zindagi, Taboshar, Sughd province

On 9 June 2011, heads and representatives of 16 electronic and printing national and international media organizations visited the city of Taboshar in Sughd province to attend court hearings on the case of Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov, correspondent of the newspaper Nuri Zindagi.

Zinatullo Ismoilov, chairman of the Tajik National Media Council met with the chair of the city court Ms. Saodat Atoeva. The media activist stated that all media professionals and human rights organizations closely monitor Ismoilov’s criminal case and intend to defend the journalist within the law.

The process is being monitored by local and foreign observers including OSCE, the US embassy in Dushanbe, the Tajik Human Rights Bureau and the National Association of Independent Mass Media.

10 June
Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov, correspondent, Nuri Zindagi, Taboshar, Sughd province

The monitoring of the case of Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov, correspondent of the newspaper Nuri Zindagi has shown that the journalist is persecuted for his publications containing criticism of local administration and certain officials. NANSMIT and its partner organizations defray the costs on legal assistance to Ismoilov. However, the journalist has been in custody for seven months and his family is left without the breadwinner. Ismoilov’s health also causes concern.
For the time being, Ismoilov’s case is terminated until the results of linguistic expertise. NANSMIT applied to all colleagues of the journalist and interested parties to help Ismoilov.

18 June
Ilhom Jamoliyon, head of the Sughd province affiliate of the Tajik Union of Journalists, Khujand

On 18 June, Ilhom Jamoliyon, chairman of the Sughd province branch of the Tajik Union of Journalists met with Urunboi Usmonov, correspondent of BBC in Sughd province and with the investigator from the National Security Committee in charge of the journalist’s case.

The official told Jamoliyon that in the course of investigation, arrested members of the illicit islamist organization Hisb-ut-Tahrir confessed that they maintained contacts with the journalist; Usmonov periodically received printing materials from members of the clandestine community.

According to Jamoliyon, Usmonov confirmed that he waived a counsel in written form.

20 June
NANSMIT, Dushanbe

The National Association of Independent Mass Media (NANSMIT) collected the amount of 2,757 Somoni to support the family of jailed journalist Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov.

The pledge drive was supported by employees of Radio Ozodui, the Tajik Union of Journalists, the Media Alliance of Tajikistan, several Tajik NGOs, media and individuals.

II. VIOLATION OF PROFESSIONAL RIGHTS

1. Detention and arrest of a journalist

14 June
Urunboi Usmanov, correspondent of the BBC Uzbek service

On 13 June, servicemen of the National Security Committee arrested Urunboi Usmonov, correspondent of the Uzbek service of BBC. Usmonov has worked for BBC for ten years. His relatives reported tha on 13 June he did not return home, and on the next day appeared in his house accompanied by law enforcement officers. His relatives state that Usmonov apparently was beaten.

Usmonov is suspected of participation in the illicit islamist organization Hisb-ut-Tahrir.

In this regard, the UK embassy in Dushanbe issued a statement saying that the journalist has suffered from cruel treatment by the National Security Committee. The embassy asked the authorities to resolve the situation as soon as possible.

15 June
Makhmadullo Asadulloev, press secretary, Interior Ministry, Dushanbe

Press secretary of the Tajik Interior Ministry Makhmadullo Asadulloev told Radio Ozodi that in the course of investigation it was established that Urunboi Usmonov has been a member of Hisb-ut-Tahrir since 2009. The suspect has been involved in promotional activities of the banned organization and recruitment of new members.

16 June
Ken Gross, US ambassador to Tajikistan, Dushanbe

The US ambassador in Dushanbe Ken Gross called the Tajik authorities to conduct a thorough investigation the case of Urunboi Usmanov, correspondent of the BBC Uzbek service accused of membership in the banned islamist organization Hisb-ut-Tahrir. The ambassador issued a video appeal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eOl47ngbd8&feature=youtu.be where he asks the authorities to release the correspondent without delay, as soon as his innocence is proven.

16 June
Committee to Protect Journalists, USA

The US-based organization Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns the arrest and beating of Urunboi Usmanov, correspondent of the Uzbek service of BBC asking the authorities of Tajikistan to set him free.
17 June
Urunboi Usmanov, correspondent of the BBC Uzbek service

On 17 June 2011, the lawyer of Urunboi Usmanov Faizinisso Vakhidova told the media that she failed to meet her client. She added that Usmonov’s arrest was sanctioned and is considered to be legitimate.

Vakhidova said that she spent the whole day waiting for permission for a meeting with the defendant, but the investigator in charge of Usmonov’s case did not show up to give her permission.

19 June
The State Committee on National Security, Republic of Tajikistan, Dushanbe

The National Security Committee’s public relations department issued a statement saying that on 13 June the Tajik law enforcement bodies arrested Urunboi Usmonov who is accused of membership in the extremist organization Hisb-ut-Tahrir.
Head of the public relations department Nozirjon Buriev confirmed that the investigation gas proven Usmonov’s close affiliation to Hisb-ut-Tahrir.
“It is established that Usmonov has maintained long-term contacts with representatives of the islamist party on the territory of the country and beyond its boundaries; he actively participated in preparation and dissemination of printing materials promoting Hisb-ut-Tahrir’s ideas calling to changing the constitutional order in Tajikistan”, — said Buriev.

18 June
Coalition of NGOs, Dushanbe

The Tajik Coalition of Non-governmental Organizations in charge of the Alternative Report on Convention Against Tortures expressed concern over the arrest of Urunboi Usmanov, correspondent of the Uzbek service of BBC in Tajikistan.

Members of the Coalition applied to the Tajik authorities requesting to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation of the case.

20 June
Embassies of member-countries of the European Union

Embassies of the countries belonging to the European Union express deep concern over the arrest of Urunboi Usmonov and the facts of cruel treatment. Diplomats also express concern over the violation of the detainee’s rights, i.e. access to lawyer.

21 June
Faizinisso Vakhidova, lawyer, Khujand

Faizinisso Vakhidova, the lawyer of the arrested correspondent of BBC Urunboi Usmanov met with her defendant only one week after her client’s detention by the law enforcement agency.

The lawyer considers that the reluctance of investigators to provide her with access to her client can be explained only by an attempt to “bide the time and wait until the wounds are healed”. According to Usmonov’s son, Oibek, he saw that his father had traces of beating when he was brought to his house accompanied by the national security servicemen on 14 June.

21 June
Faizinisso Vakhidova, lawyer, Khujand

On 20 June, the lawyer Faizinisso Vakhidova met with her client, the arrested correspondent of BBC Urunboi Usmanov.
According to Vakhidova, Usmonov is accused of calling to overthrow of the constitutional order (Article 307 of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code). Besides that, the journalist is suspected to be a member of the extremist organization His-ut-Tahrir.

Usmonov’s lawyer told the media that, according to the national legislation, the investigation must find out to what extent the journalist is affiliated to His-ut-Tahrir. If the evidence is sufficient, the case would go to court; if not, the investigation must be closed.

2. Violation of legal procedures

14 June
Asia Plus weekly, Dushanbe

On 14 June, the appellate court in Dushanbe dismissed the appeal of a representative of the Asia Plus weekly regarding the verdict of the Firdavsi district court. The court in question stopped the countering statement made by Marat Mamadshoev, the acting chief editor of Asia Plus against the government official Anvar Tagoimurodov. The countering statement touched upon the issue of protection of honor and business reputation.

The court officials say that the countering statement was dismissed because of some formalities (the legal address of Asia Plus was not indicated). Besides that, written explanations by Marat Mamadshoev and the correspondent Ramziya Mirzobekova were not presented to the court.

Legal representative of Asia Plus Shuhrat Kudratov says that the appellate court’s decision is unfair – since the countering statement did contain the legal address of the newspaper, and all relevant explanations by Mamadshoev and Mirzobekova are attached to the case materials, which are located in the prosecutor general’s office; and the Firdavsi district court could have requested these documents.

Background information:
Anvar Tagoimurodov, the former commander of the interior ministry’s unit to counter organized crime (at present, deputy minister of interior) demanded compensation from Asia Plus through the court in the amount of 1 million Somoni for defamation and damaging business reputation. The subject matter in the case is an article in Asia Plus titled “Investigation or inquisition?” published in December 2010. The article told about cases of torture of persons under investigation by law enforcement officers in Sughd province.

3. Ungrounded limitation of access to information

15 June
Asliddin Dostiev, Ozodagon weekly, Kulyab, Khatlon province

Journalists wanting to learn the exact number of football fans in a hospital after the clash that occurred at a football match between the teams Ravshan and Istiklol, were met by the police. The journalists were told that the police received an order not to share information about the number of victims in the incident.

According to unofficial data, about 20 fans were brought to the police station in Kulyab; some were delivered to the hospital.

4. Violation of property rights

13 June
Mass media in Khatlon province

The tax police in Kurgan-Tube demanded to pay fines for untimely reregistering in the amount of 7 thousand Somoni from editors of two newspapers in Khatlon province. In this regard, the editors approached the Legal Support Center in Kurgan-Tube.

The problem arose in April; the first newspaper that was fined for untimely registration was the Sharaf weekly published in Kabadiyon district. Editors of local newspapers complain that tax inspectors did not instruct them timely about the necessity of reregistering.

III. CONFLICTS, VIOLATIONS INCRIMINATED TO THE MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS

1. Violation of secrecy of investigation

21 June
Faiziniso Vakhidova, lawyer, Khujand

Faiziniso Vakhidova, the lawyer of Urunboi Usmonov, the BBC correspondent in Sughd province told Radio Liberty that she is going to initiate a criminal case against the journalists Ilhom Jamoliyon and Lenura Mustafaeva.
“These two journalists disclosed the secrets of investigation exposing my client to risk. I am going to apply to prosecutor general’s office”, — said Vakhidova.

2. Accusations of libel and insult

4 June
Mahmadyusuf Ismailov, correspondent, Nuri Zindagi, Asht, Sughd province

According to Radio Ozodi, the Asht district court continues the hearings on the case of Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov, the correspondent of the Nuri Zindagi weekly. According to the NANSMIT monitoring service, a number of witnesses have changed their testimony.

Ismoilov was arrested six months ago; since then, he has been kept in custody. The journalist is accused of several crimes, namely, of libel, insult, instigation of racial and religious hatred and blackmailing. The chief editor of Nuri Zindagi considers that the real reason for Ismoilov’s arrest is his professional activities and publications where he disclosed facts of corruption and mismanagement among local government officials.

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 Karshibaev