QUESTION: What do you think about the current lawsuits? The last time it was with Millat, and now it is with Asia Plus and other newspapers. What is your opinion about this?
AMBASSADOR GROSS: Well, as we said in our press statement, we are very concerned with freedom of press here in Tajikistan. And what we are hoping for is the court case validates the freedom of press here. It is extremely important in any country that the press has opportunity to report freely what happens, without any restrictions, threats, or punishments through judicial means or otherwise, and we are here today to observe and see what happens in court. Hopefully, the court will uphold the principle of freedom of press.
QUESTION: What if the results of the court hearings will be against the journalists? What are the next steps of the Embassy?
AMBASSADOR GROSS: We are not here to speculate what the court may or may not do. That would be inappropriate. The reason we are here is to support the principle of freedom of press and obviously, and we hope that the court upholds that principle as well.
QUESTION: Taking into account that the judicial system is not free from influence — what if the results of the hearings turn out to be against the journalists? What are the next steps of the Embassy?
AMBASSADOR GROSS: I wouldn’t want to say that until we hear what the court decides. It would be premature to talk about this before the court issues its judgment.

US Embassy in Dushanbe

Kazakh journalists are urging authorities to explain their criteria for defining «destructive» websites, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reports.

Tamara Kaleeva, chairwoman of the Almaty-based media monitoring organization Adil Soz (Just Word), said at a press conference today that several organizations uniting Kazakh journalists — including the Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan — made the call in an open letter to the government.

In August, the Kazakh government approved a controversial law that recognizes all websites as media outlets.

In conjunction with the law, a recently established government office announced that it had begun to identify websites in the country that are deemed to contain «destructive» material.

Kaleeva said the owners, moderators, and editors of online news portals in the country have no idea what criteria the new office will use to identify such content.

She said that lack of clarity poses a threat to freedom of speech as «the lack of free dialogue and transparency could lead to lawless actions by state organs.»

http://www.rferl.org/content/Kazakh_Journalists_Call_For_Clarity_On_Internet_Law/1997113.html

According to the Tajik State news agency “Khovar”, business associations of Tajikistan held a meeting in Dushanbe on 26 March, where they adopted a joint appeal to international organization accredited in the country. The appeal concerns the actions of the neighboring Uzbekistan, entailing huge economic losses for Tajikistan.

The Tajik entrepreneurs voiced concerns about the “neutral stance” of the international organizations, who have chosen the role of “impartial observers” in this situation, when one country [Uzbekistan] violates the international law, and the other country bears losses.

The meeting was organized at the OSCE Bureau’s premises in Dushanbe; it was hosted by the Tajik State Investments and Property Management Committee under the government and attended by representatives of foreign development agencies – GTZ (German Technical Assistance), USAID and IFC.

http://www.khovar.tj/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19689

The international rights group Human Rights Watch is urging Tajik authorities not to deport a detained Kyrgyz human rights activist to Kyrgyzstan.

Nematullo Botakoziev sought political asylum in Tajikistan after Kyrgyz authorities accused him of organizing mass protests in 2008 and issued a warrant for his arrest.

For the last few weeks he has been held in custody in Dushanbe.

In a statement, Human Rights Watch called on Tajik authorities to grant Botakoziev access to his lawyer and investigate allegations that his detention was arbitrary.

Andrea Berg, Central Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch, told RFE/RL’s Tajik Service she was concerned about Botakoziev’s health, as he had suffered heart attacks in the past.

«We’re asking the Tajik authorities to grant his lawyers access and the UNHCR access to him, and we’re urging them to release him because today marks one month since he’s been detained and kept in isolation and the one-month [maximum] detention period expires today,» Berg said.

Tajikistan’s ombudsman, Zarif Alizoda, said the recent Norouz holiday had resulted in a delay in the investigation into Botakoziev’s case.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Rights_Group_Urges_Tajikistan_Not_To_Deport_Kyrgyz_Activist/1994826.htm

BISHKEK — An independent Kyrgyz newspaper today said the leader of a progovernment party came to its offices and damaged some equipment, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reports.

Aslanbek Sartbaev, the chief editor of the newspaper «Uchur,» told RFE/RL that Nurlan Motuev — the controversial leader of the Joomart (Generous) movement — forced his way into the newspaper’s offices in Bishkek and smashed four computers.

Motuev confirmed to RFE/RL that he was in the newspaper’s offices, but claimed he destroyed only two computers. He said he destroyed the computers because the newspaper has been insulting and libeling him for a long time.

«I do not believe in the local courts, they never make a right and fair decision, and so I decided to stop the lies about me in this way,» Motuev said.

He added that one newspaper libeled him in the past but the court needlessly prolonged the hearings and ultimately dropped the case.

Bishkek police have launched an investigation into the incident.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Kyrgyz_Politician_Attacks_Newspaper_Office_Destroys_Computers/1993918.h

The chief editors of independent Kyrgyz media outlets gathered in Bishkek today to discuss the establishment of a union to protect their rights, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reports.

Participants at the meeting discussed the problems the independent mass media is facing in Kyrgyzstan. They include the blocking of several independent news websites, the suspension of the broadcasting of RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz radio and TV programs, the closure of several independent newspapers, and physical attacks against journalists.

The media chiefs said the union is needed to protect their rights in the event that official pressure and harassment against them continues.

Meeting organizers told RFE/RL that government officials were invited to participate in the discussion but did not attend.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Kyrgyz_Independent_Journalists_To_Create_Union/1993748.html

A cameraman for a privately owned Kazakh television channel is reported to have been severely beaten while filming a report in Almaty, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reports.

An Almaty-based media watchdog said Abzal Aghaliev of Tan television was assaulted while filming a fire at a meat-packing factory on March 18.

The watchdog, Adil Soz (A Just Word), said today that Aghaliev was assaulted by Qadyrzhan Mazhinov, executive director of the Nuralem company that owns the factory.

The group also alleged that Mazhinov smashed Aghaliev’s video camera.

Mazhinov has not commented so far on the allegations.

Police have opened an investigation.

Tan television broadcasts primarily news and entertainment programs.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Kazakh_Journalist_Beaten_While_Filming_Report/1988416.html

A court in Bishkek has ordered two independent newspapers to suspend publication for the duration of court proceedings against them.

Babyrbek Jeenbekov, the owner of the newspapers «Nazar» (View) and «Achyk Sayasat» (Open Politics), told RFE/RL he was summoned on March 17 to the Prosecutor-General’s Office and informed that a case for libel will be opened against the two publications.

He also said he has received from Bishkek’s Birinchi May district court written notification of the suspension of publications.

The papers had published an appeal by Jeenbekov’s son Ravshan, an opposition activist in self-imposed exile in the United States. The appeal was addressed to participants in the People’s Congress organized by the opposition on March 17.

Ravshan Jeenbekov accused Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev of issuing orders to police in 2002 to open fire on peaceful protesters in Aksy district. He also implicated members of Bakiev’s family in corruption.

The Kyrgyz Prosecutor-General’s Office has qualified the appeal as mendacious and insulting to Bakiev.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Bishkek_Court_Suspends_Publication_Of_Two_Independent_Newspapers_/19877

DUSHANBE — Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has rejected criticism of last month’s parliamentary elections, describing them as democratic and transparent, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports.

Rahmon made the comments during an address at the opening session of parliament’s lower chamber.

Rahmon said the February 28 parliamentary elections were democratic and transparent, and that voting took place peacefully.

It was his first response to international observers’ claims that the elections failed to meet many basic democratic standards.

The initial report by OSCE and EU monitors noted «certain small positive steps,» and «a certain level of pluralism.» But they also registered «serious irregularities on polling day including cases of ballot stuffing.»

Rahmon said that all of Tajikistan’s past problems began after an election; for example, the civil war that began in 1992 was triggered by the opposition’s refusal to acknowledge the victory of former Communist Party head Rahmon Nabiyev in the 1991 presidential ballot.

Rahmon said that in the past, political parties could not have waged their election campaign freely. He said that enmity towards opposition parties was not acceptable, and he proposed cooperating with them.

But all key parliament positions were allocated to members of Rahmon’s National Democratic Party of Tajikistan, which won 55 of the 63 parliament seats.

As in previous parliaments, the posts of parliament speaker and deputy speakers were distributed between representatives of various regions.

Former Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Shukurjon Zuhurov, who was elected from the eastern Rasht region — the main opposition stronghold during the civil war — was elected speaker of the lower house.

Former presidential administration head Amirsho Miraliev, who is from Rahmon’s native Danghara district in the southern province of Khatlon, was appointed first deputy speaker.

The two deputy speaker posts went to Nazira Ghafforova, from the northern Sughd Province, and Mirgand Shahbozov, from Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajik_President_Rejects_Criticism_Of_Parliamentary_Elections/1985638.ht

The chief editors of the Kyrgyz newspapers «Achyk Sayasat» (Open Politics) and «Nazar» (Attention) were questioned today by officials of the Prosecutor-General’s Office about certain articles in their publications, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reports.

«Achyk Sayasat» chief editor Babyrbek Jeenbekov told RFE/RL that no explanations were given as to why he and «Nazar» chief editor Kenjebek Arykbaev were summoned to the Prosecutor-General’s Office.

He said they went to the office today and were questioned about articles about opposition activities that they had published in their newspapers.

Jeenbekov said the summons might be specifically connected to the newspapers’ publication of an address by his son, politician Ravshan Jeenbekov, to delegates of the National Assembly (Kurultai). Ravshan Jeenbekov is living in self-imposed exile in the United States.

The kurultai is scheduled to be held on March 17 by Kyrgyzstan’s opposition parties and movements.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Kyrgyz_Newspaper_Editors_Summoned_For_Questioning/1985650.html