More than 80 journalists forced to flee abroad in 2012

To mark World Refugee Day today, Reporters Without Borders is publishing the accounts of journalists who had to flee abroad to escape threats to their safety. Syrians, Iranians, Eritreans, Somalis and Sri Lankans – they remind us that reporting the news is a dangerous profession, one that can get you killed or imprisoned. More than 80 journalists fled their country in 2012 to escape arbitrary rule, imminent imprisonment, persecutions and threats. Others have continued to flee abroad in the first half of 2013. They need our help more than ever.

Dozens of journalists have had to flee the civil war in Syria, where they are very exposed to the violence and are targeted by a government bent on hiding the scale of his human rights violations from the rest of the world.

The exodus continues in Iran. More than 200 journalists have fled the country in the four years since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s reelection. And the regime is even trying to pressure media beyond its borders. The June 2013 presidential election saw threats and intimidation of the families in Iran of journalists working abroad.

Journalists flee for their lives from Somalia to escape the violence of Al-Shabaab’s militiamen. Journalists flee into exile from Eritrea to escape an arbitrary and despotic regime. Journalists who refuse to toe the editorial line imposed by the government in Sri Lanka often have to flee abroad when the threats get serious.

RWB’s support for journalists who flee abroad

Flight into exile rarely means the end of threats and difficulties. Journalists fleeing abroad usually find themselves stuck in countries that neighbour their own. The borders are easily crossed by representatives of the regime they are trying to escape. Many exile journalists report being watched or threatened by embassy officials or government agents from their country of origin.

Deprived of income after fleeing abroad and often subjected to various financial sanctions before they flee, these journalists are usually in a desperate financial situation that increases the dangers to which they are exposed and adds to their sense of insecurity.

Aware of the vulnerability of these news providers, who have been hounded just for trying to shed light on the everyday reality of life for their fellow citizens, Reporters Without Borders is tireless in its effort to provide them with support.

Of the approximately 60 financial grants Reporters Without Borders has disbursed since the start of 2013, half has been awarded to exile journalists. Three quarters of the grants awarded to journalists from the Middle East have gone to Syrian exile journalists. Reporters Without Borders helps them to cover their basic living expenses or pay their airfare to a safer country.

The Reporters Without Borders Assistance Desk has written more than 80 letters since the start of the year. Almost all of them were to help exile journalists by pressing for a rapid and adequate response from the authorities who are supposed to provide them with international protection.

http://20june.rsf.org/

On the eve of World Refugee Day, Reporters Without Borders is alerting United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres to the need to provide refugee journalists with better protection and is publishing an updated version of its guide for journalists who are forced to flee into exile.

Around 80 journalists fled abroad in 2011 to escape the fate reserved for them by governments hostile to freedom of information. The exodus is continuing this year. Dozens of Syrian, Iranian, Somali and Eritrean journalists have had to flee their countries in the past six months.

Faced by the probability of imminent arrest, physical violence, harassment or even murder, these men and women have had to abandon family, friends and colleagues in a quest for greater security.

Because of a lack of funds or because they departed in haste, they often end up being stranded in neighbouring countries that are accessible to refugees but also to the agents of the governments they are fleeing. As a result, their safety is far from being assured in these countries of initial refuge.

Reporters Without Borders wrote to UN High Commissioner for Refugees Guterres on 30 May alerting him to the situation of refugee journalists in countries such as Turkey, Uganda and Kenya. Today, we are releasing the letter and the recommendations it contains.

We call on UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, to establish an alert mechanism with a designated referral officer within each of its local offices so that cases involving refugee journalists and human rights activists can be identified and handled more quickly because they are particularly exposed to danger.

We also urge the High Commissioner to ensure that refugee journalists and human rights activists get better access to appropriate individual protection, to the emergency resettlement process and to the UN’s mechanism for temporary evacuation to a safe third country.

Finally, Reporters Without Borders is convinced that UN member states have a duty to help protect journalists who are forced to flee into exile because of their work. It therefore urges Guterres to publicly acknowledge that the UN’s traditional protection procedure is not appropriate for refugee journalists and human rights activists, who continue to be in danger in countries of initial refuge, and to urge member states to take the necessary action.

The latest version of the Guide for journalists who flee into exile, which Reporters Without Borders first published in 2009, contains some 30 pages of advice for refugee journalists about UNHCR protection procedures and seeking asylum in Europe and North America. Journalists who have had to flee their country will find information, tips and contacts that will help to guide and assist them during the long and difficult process of starting a new life.

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Copy of the letter sent by Reporters Without Borders to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres

Mr. António Guterres
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR
PO Box 2500
CH-1211 Geneva 2
Switzerland

Paris, 30 May 2012

Urgent: Situation of asylum-seeking journalists in transit countries

Dear High Commissioner,

Reporters Without Borders, the leading international NGO defending freedom of information, is extremely concerned about the situation of journalists who apply to UNHCR for protection in the first country they reach after fleeing their own country.

By providing information about the situation of their fellow citizens, by interviewing government opponents, and by drawing attention to human rights violations, corruption and misrule, journalists attract the hostility of regimes and influential groups that do not tolerate freely reported news and information.

Because of their work, journalists are exposed to serious reprisals. Many are forced to flee abroad to escape physical violence, threats, arrests and arbitrary jail sentences. Journalists are easy to identify because they sign articles, appear on TV and speak on the radio. When they flee to a nearby country and register with UNHCR, they continue to be at the mercy of the regimes they are trying to escape because their names, faces and voices are known.

This was seen when Eritrean journalist Jamal Osman Hamad was arrested in Khartoum on 24 October 2011, less than a week after Eritrean President Issaias Afeworki visited his Sudanese counterpart, and 300 Eritrean citizens were deported to their country of origin without UNHCR being able to examine their cases.

Our concern increased when Rwandan journalist Charles Ingabire was gunned down in Kampala on 30 November 2011 in very unclear circumstances. Reporters Without Borders is convinced that an act of political revenge cannot be ruled out.

It is clear that the Rwandan, Eritrean, Ethiopian and Iranian governments, like Somalia’s Al-Shabaab and Latin America’s drug traffickers, have an ability to do harm that reaches well beyond their own borders.

It must however be recognized that, as things stand, there is no adequate mechanism for protecting asylum-seeking journalists (and other news providers), who are all, by the nature of their work, also human rights defenders. Reporters Without Borders would therefore to like propose that local UNHCR offices adopt the following dedicated procedures for the protection of journalists.

Reporters Without Borders asks UNHCR to establish an alert mechanism with a designated referral officer within each of its local offices so that cases of persons who are in particular danger can be identified and handled more quickly. As Reporters Without Borders is in regular contact with journalists who have decided to flee abroad to safeguard their safety and freedom, and as it systematically conducts an investigation whenever it is contacted by a journalist seeking its protection, it is in a position to act as guarantor of the identity and background of journalists who approach UNHCR protection officers.

Adequate safety measures must also be adopted for refugee journalists (and other human rights defenders) including a programme of urban shelters (away from the regular refugee camps), safehouses, and emergency alert and protection mechanisms. Reporters Without Borders has been helping refugee journalists for more than 20 years but, although we are in constant contact with them and give them advice and guidance, we do not have the human and financial resources to enable them to meet their daily needs, including their security needs. It is vital that journalists should have greater access to the emergency resettlement process and to the UN’s mechanism for temporary evacuation to a safe third country. UNHCR should work to obtain greater participation in these programmes by countries that can offer safe refuge.

Reporters Without Borders also urges the United Nations to publicly acknowledge that its traditional protection procedure is not appropriate for threatened journalists and to ask member states to help to make up for the shortcomings. This would enable UNHCR to overcome the culpable inaction of certain western government that use the overall quota as an excuse for doing nothing, although more than 260 journalists have been killed in connection with their work in the past five years and 154 are currently detained.

Our organization very much hopes that you will come out in favour of specific and more personalized treatment of resettlement requests by journalists and human rights defenders who are threatened in transit countries. We also hope that our recommendations will help to bring about a more general overhaul of UNHCR procedures.

We stand ready to provide you with any additional information and to meet with you to discuss these recommendations further. Sincerely,

Olivier Basille
Director General

http://en.rsf.org/refugee-journalists-are-19-06-2012,42818.html

To mark World Refugee Day on 20 June, Reporters Without Borders is paying tribute to those journalists who manage to continue working as journalists after being forced to flee their country. By so doing, they defy those who tried to silence them.

Journalists from many different countries were interviewed for the report, entitled Forced to flee but not silenced – Exile media fight on. Whether from Burma, Sri Lanka, Rwanda or Cuba, their accounts describe the plight of their fellow journalists and the violation of rights and freedom in their country. Their personal stories are often secondary.

These journalists feel compelled to keep reporting, in order to prevent a veil of silence from being drawn over their country, in order to thwart the press freedom predators who took pleasure in forcing them to flee abroad.

Reporters Without Borders is proud of the fact that it has been able to support some of the initiatives of these exile journalists, whether by providing funding or my helping to make others aware of what they are saying.

This report also includes a summary of what the Reporters Without Borders Assistance Desks in Paris and Berlin have done so far this year.

http://en.rsf.org/forced-to-flee-but-not-silenced-17-06-2011,40475.html

Beginning journalists seeking digital skills can take these free courses.

MulinBlog Online J-School is offering two massive open online classes (MOOCs) over the summer: Writing for the Web, June 10 – July 7, and Audio Slideshow Storytelling, July 1 – Aug 10.

The school is a free, open, online program for people of all backgrounds, especially those who are «absolute beginners,» seeking Web-based training in digital skills.

All courses are open to anyone who has an Internet connection.

For more information, click here: http://www.mulinblog.com/mulinblog-online-j-school-course-schedule/

Aspiring journalists can participate in a film festival.

PLURAL+ invites video makers 9 to 25 years old to submit short clips that address migration, diversity and social inclusion issues. Partners include the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the International Organization for Migration.

Recognizing youth as powerful agents of social change in a world often characterized by intolerance and cultural and religious divisions, PLURAL+ invites youth to address key challenges related to migrant integration, inclusiveness, identity, diversity, human rights and social cohesiveness, both at local and global levels.

There will be three winners selected from the three age categories (9-12, 13-17, 18-25) and each winner will be flown to New York in December to present their video at the PLURAL+ 2013 Awards Ceremony.

See the winning videos of the 2012 contest here.

The deadline for submissions is June 30.

For more information, click here: http://pluralplus.unaoc.org/

Journalists of any nationality from print, Web, photo, TV or radio can apply.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, the Forum of Environmental Journalists in India and The Third Pole are seeking entries from journalists reporting on environmental issues in India.

The entries should deal with the protection and management of air, water, soil and other resources. The entries can also relate to how cities and industries are coping with climate change. Entries with positive examples, opportunities and solutions are encouraged and should be clearly associated to India.

The entries should have been published/broadcast between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013, and must be accompanied by an endorsement letter from the editor/news editor of the media house in which the respective report has been published. Entries in languages other than English should be accompanied by an English summary of about 500 words.

There will be a first and second prize in each of the five categories — print, web, photo, TV and radio. The first prize in each category is $50,000 Indian Rupees (US$862) and the second prize is $30,000 Indian Rupees (US$516).

The winner in the print media category will participate in a two-week workshop on advanced environmental reporting, organized by Deutsche Welle Academy in Warsaw.

The deadline is June 30.

For more information, click here: http://www.igep.in/e48093/e55248/

Journalists who want to create innovative approaches to social issues can apply for this fellowship.

The Open Society Fellowship seeks “idea entrepreneurs” from across the world who aim to challenge conventional wisdom and are committed to achieving democracy and accountability.

Project themes should cut across at least two areas of interest to the Open Society Foundations. Among these are human rights, government transparency, access to information and to justice, and the promotion of civil society and social inclusion.

Applicants should be fluent in English and possess a deep understanding of their chosen subject, along with a track record of professional accomplishment.

The application deadline is August 1.

For more information, click here: http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/open-society-fellowship

Online journalists, digital news organizations and students worldwide can apply for an award.

The Online News Association (ONA) and the University of Miami School of Communication are accepting entries for the 2013 Online Journalism Awards recognizing excellence in digital reporting.

This year, ONA is incorporating non-English entries into all categories, which include: breaking news, planned news/events, explanatory reporting, topical reporting, online commentary, feature, student projects, technical innovation, innovative investigative journalism, watchdog journalism, public service and general excellence in online journalism.

Of the 29 awards, nine offer a total of US$37,500 in prize money, including a new US$5,000 award honoring the best in watchdog journalism.

Awards will be given at the Online News Association Conference & Awards Banquet in Atlanta, Georgia. The OJAs, launched in 2000, are the only comprehensive set of journalism prizes honoring excellence in digital journalism.

The entry fee is US$100 for ONA members, US$175 for non-members, US$15 for student members and US$50 for student non-members.

Entries published between June 16, 2012, and June 15, 2013 are eligible. Apply by June 21.

For more information, click here: http://journalists.org/awards/

Candidates native in one of 11 languages — Arabic, Bengali, English, Hausa, Hindi, Persian, Portuguese (for Brazil), Russian, Spanish, Turkish and Urdu — can apply for the program, in which participants will learn how to be journalism trainers.

The international training, to be conducted in Bonn, Germany, is specially designed for young journalists from the regions to which Deutsche Welle broadcasts.

The program starts in May 2014 and lasts 18 months. It consists of three rounds: journalism training seminars, practical training and culture of Germany through lectures and country tours.

A very good working knowledge of German is also required. Selected participants will be paid.

Apply online by June 30.

For more information click here: http://www.dw.de/dw-akademie/international-traineeship/s-12132

In May 2013, the Monitoring Service received 23 reports. Ten of them describe the factual situation in the media in the light of social, legal and political environment and thirteen reports describe direct violations of rights of media professionals.

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

Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General, New York

“Celebrating the World Press Day, let us promise to do everything depending on us so that journalists of all media could perform their work”, — said Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretery General.

“The topic of the World Press Day this year is “To speak the truth with no fear: to ensure the freedom of speech in all mass media”, and this is the evidence of a necessity to take measures and confirm the right of journalists to perform their vitally important work”, — the statement says.

The statement also describes numerous incidents and attacks on media professionals all around the World. Governments, corporations and criminals want to shut them down, to introduce censorship; they intimidate journalists.

More than 600 journalists have been killed in the last decade; more than 120 journalists – only during the last year. Hundreds of journalists have been arrested. Influential forces apply various means: physical attacks, cyber hounding, etc.

Journalists working for traditional mass media as well as their colleagues publishing their articles in social networks and blogs find themselves in risk zones more and more frequently. The United Nations has endorsed a plan on protecting journalists. The purpose of this plan is to strengthen public awareness and ensure practical measures on creating safe environment for media professionals.

3 May

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Brussels

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission published a statement on the occasion of the World Press Day on behalf of the European Union.

Inter alia, the statement says the following: “Celebrating the 20-th anniversary of the World Press Day, the European Union pays a tribute to journalists all over the World, expressing respect to those who sometimes bear personal losses in the line of duty while covering events or expressing their thoughts.

The free, independent and dynamic media are indispensable in any democratic society. The European Union is determined to fight for the freedom of press all over the World. We condemn intimidations, violence and censorship, which journalists face in many countries.

The freedom of expression must be protected in traditional mass media, as well as in the Internet. The European Union will continue to support the freedom of expression in the online mode and in the autonomous mode; new technologies can become crucial in promoting human rights and democracy. The European Union will continue to condemn violations of the freedom of expression so that journalists all over the World would freely perform their professional duties.

May 2

Nuriddin Karshiboev, chairman of NANSMIT, Dushanbe

The chairman of the Tajik National Association of Independent Mass Media (NANSMIT) called on journalists to restrain from cooperating with Radio Ozodi (the Tajik service of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty).

“On 22 April, Radio Ozodi dissolved the labor agreement with Abdukayum Auybzod in a unilateral procedure, which contravenes the Tajik legislation. We want to ensure observance of rights for Tajik media professionals. I apply to journalists and experst seeking their support for Abdukayum Auybzod who has made so much for Radio Ozodi”, — said Karshiboev.

May 04

All media, Dushanbe

Makhmudjon Saraev, senior specialist of the President’s Office information-analytical department told journalists at a press conference about the implementation of the President’s Decree “On measures to be taken by public officials in response to criticism in the media”.

The official said that even before the Decree was endorsed, most of the government institutions had their press offices in charge of contacts with the media. At the level of administrative centers and towns, the functions of press secretaries are performed by deputies of heads of municipalities.

The Decree issued in February 2009, pursues the goal of constructive cooperation between ministries, enterprises, executive authorities and the mass media.

May 5

Rakhmatillo Zoirov, chairman of the Social-democratic Party, Dushanbe

The Social-democratic Party of Tajikistan has supported the initiative of a number of media organizations to boycott the activities of Radio Ozodi (Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty) in the country.

The media organizations called on journalists and experts to stop communicating with the radio station until its managers resolve the issue of labor contract with Abdukayumi Ayubzod.

Rakhmatillo Zoirov, chairman of SDPT told the media that Radio Ozodi, which is financed by the US government, does not observe democratic requirements and fails to protect the rights of its employees.

In this regard, SDPT intends to send an official letter to the US embassy in Dushanbe with a request to assist in solving this issue.

2. Journalists protecting their civil and professional rights

2 May

All media

The Tajik media community declared boycott to Radio Ozodi (Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty). According to the Millat weekly (#18, 01.05.2013), the boycott will continue until Abdukayum Ayubzod, the correspondent of Radio Ozodi is restored to his former position in a judicial proceeding.

The boycott was supported by the National Association of Independent Mass Media, by the Media Council and the Media Alliance of Tajikistan.

3 May

All media, Dushanbe

At a National Conference on the occasion of the International Free Press Day organized by the Tajik Media Council under support of the OSCE Office in Dushanbe, participants voiced an initiative on transferring Articles 330 and 137 (“insult of public officials” and “public insult of the President”, respectively) from the Criminal Code to the Civil Code.

Junaid Ibodov, the well-known Tajik legal expert said that the decriminalization of Articles 135 and 136 of the Tajik Criminal Code (related to “defamation” and “libel”) caused “premature euphoria”. “Article 330 remains the main “enemy” of the freedom of speech and expression. Applying this Article, public officials can continue persecuting journalists”, — he said.

3. Factual situation in the media and the freedom of speech

4 May

Freedom House, the US non-governmental organization

The US NGO Freedom House published its annual report describing and analyzing the freedom of the media in 2012 around the World.

The report covers 197 countries grouped by the following categories: free countries (from 0 to 30 points); moderately free (from 31 to 60 points) and constrained (from 61 to 100 points).

Tajikistan has “gained” 79 points, “lagging behind” Russia by one point.

17 May

All media

Foreign human rights watchdogs and media organizations jointly with the Tajik National Association of Mass Media (NANSMIT) issued an public statement asking Mr. Kevin Klose, the acting director of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to set up an independent commission for studying the situation in the Kazakh, Tajik, Turkmen and Uzbek services of RFE/RL.

The statement issued on 15 May, says that the crisis within Radio Liberty leads to limitations in the freedom of the media in Central Asia. Reports of the Kazakh and Turkmen services duplicate publications of the government media. The shortwave broadcasting on Uzbekistan has essentially reduced; labor rights of the Kazakh and Tajik correspondents are repeatedly violated.

“RFE/RL is a medium, which should be a major conductor of democratic values, but the violation of labor rights and infringement of the international standards of the media freedom cause concern among journalists and human rights activists”, — the statement says.

II. VIOLATION OF RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA

1. Protection of labor rights

2 May

Khurshedi Khamdam, head of Radio Ozodi, Dushanbe

Khurshedi Khamdam, head of the Tajik bureau of Radio Ozodi told the ImruzNews weekly (#71, 29.04.2013) that he was trying his best to reinstate Abdukayum Ayubzod in the position of correspondent.

“Regrettably, nothing depends on me. The Tajik foreign ministry does not want to prolong his accreditation, and thus, we had to terminate the labor agreement with him”, — said Khamdam.

15 May

Abdukayum Ayubzod, journalist, Dushanbe

The case of Abdukayum Ayubzod, correspondent of Radio Ozodi will be investigated by the Ismoili Somoni district court in Dushanbe.

Faizinisso Vokhodova, the lawyer representing her client told journalists that they intend to demand reinstatement of Ayubzod in his former position and compensation of the salaries, which he did not received while he was illegally suspended from duties.

2. Unlawful limitation of access to information

7 May

Nahzat.tj, web site of PIRT, Dushanbe

The Party of Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (PIRT) sent an official letter to Beg Zukhurov, head of the government communication service asking the official to explain the reasons of blocking the Party’s web site – www.Nahzat.tj

Access to the web site has been blocked since 25 April. According to Saidumar Khusaini, representative of PIRT and member of the Tajik parliament, the domestic Internet providers do not comment on that either.

After a while, PIRT received an official response signed by the head of Communication Service saying that his agency has not given any errands to the Internet providers. “It might be feasible to contact the Internet provider with whom you are having an agreement”, — Zukhurov said in his letter.

PIRT considers this response illogical. The Party has an agreement with one particular company – Babilon-T. But the problems exist with other providers – ТСеll, Beeline, Megafon, Saturn Online, Istera, and others.

It would not be logical either to conclude contracts with the Internet providers. PIRT says that access to the web site is blocked only on the territory of Tajikistan. PIRT has also stated that it will apply to the court unless the problem is resolved in the near future.

15 May

Ozodagon news agency, Dushanbe

The Samak weekly (#20, 15 May 2013) published an article titled “What Beg Zukhurov can tell?”, raising the issue of access to the web site of the Party of Islamic Renaissance of Tajikistan (PIRT) and the web site of the Ozodagon news agency.

Referring to the executive director of Ozodagon, Samak says that independent experts cannot establish the reasons for blocking the web sites. Beg Zukhurov is a very peculiar public official; usuallyб he is quite reluctant to comment on his decisions affecting access to online sources of information.

16 May

Zvezda, Russian radio station, Dushanbe

On 3 May, the 201-st Russian Motorized Division deployed in Tajikistan terminated the broadcasting of Radio Zvezda (Asia Plus weekly, #33, 06.05.2013).

Deputy head of the Tajik State Broadcasting Committee Samad Khikmatov told Asia Plus that the Russian military division maintained illegal rebroadcasting of a foreign electronic medium. According to the official, Tajikistan cannot give a broadcasting license to foreign citizens.

21 May

www.kplus-tv.net – web site of the K Plus TV

Access to the recorded TV programs on the web site belonging to the K Plus TV channel is blocked. The first deputy head of the Tajik government communication service Rafikjon Shokirov told the Ozodagon weekly that his agency has nothing to do with this technical problem.

The communication service denies its relation to the blocking of the web site. It should be noted that the web site was blocked after a TV program (on 19 May) depicting the festive wedding of Rustam Emomali, the son of the Tajik president Emomali Rakhmon. The video segments were accompanied by comments of the Tajik oppositionist Dodojon Atovulloev.

27 May

Video portal YouTube

According to Asomiddin Atoev, chairman of the Tajik National Association of Internet Providers, access to the popular online portal YouTube has been blocked since 27 May. Only one of the six domestic Internet providers has not blocked access to YouTube.

“We asked Beg Zukhurov, the head of the government communication service about the reason for blocking. Neither the official, nor his deputies are willing to to comment on that; but the Internet providers received a written errand from the communication agency”, — said Atoev.

This is the third blocking of YouTube in Tajikistan since July 2012.

29 May

K Plus TV

The Tajik government communication service has been jamming the K Plus TV channel broadcasting from the territory of Kazakhstan.

The communication agency officials deny their relation to the jamming, adding that “…the problems of broadcasting as well as access to the K Plus web site are “internal technical  problems” of the TV channel”.

4. Unlawful summoning of journalist

 

27 May

Ramziya Mirzobekova, Asia Plus weekly, Dushanbe

On 27 May, the State National Security Committee summoned Ramziya Mirzobekova, correspondent of the popular weekly Asia Plus “for an interview”.

According to Mirzobekova, she required the Committee to send her an official subpoena. The subpoena was delivered a few days later. On her personal Facebook page, the journalist shared details of the conversation with law enforcement officials. The national security officers asked her about her professional activities, and at the end of the conversation, stated that her publications in Asia Plus can jeopardize the national security – referring to articles about the recent developments in the city of Khorog, the administrative center of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province.

Mirzobekova was also questioned with regard to her affiliation to the recently established Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society. The national security official reminded her that in the early 1990-s, such “organizations” brought the country to the civil war.

On her Facebook page, the journalist also described “friendly conversations” practiced by law enforcement agencies as intimidation and violation of the freedom of expression.