Speaking at a press conference on 19 April in Dushanbe, Nusratullo Abdulloev, chairman of the Tajik Supreme Court told the media that he has no right make comments on the legal actions against the three Tajik weeklies – Farazh, Ozodagon and Asia Plus. “I can only evaluate the validity and legitimacy of the court’s verdict – when it is made,” — he added.

In March 2010 the Sino district court in Dushanbe started hearings on the legal action against the three private newspapers. The complaints are two judges of the Tajik Supreme Court – Nur Nurov and Ulugbek Makhmadshoev, and a judge of the Dushanbe city court – Fakhriddin Dodometov. The complaints demand compensation for “moral damage” in the amount of 5,5, million Somoni ($1,2 million) claiming that the weeklies have defamed their honor, dignity and business reputation.

The dispute was caused by a publication based upon information voiced at a press conference held by Solejon Juraev, the lawyer who stated that in a court proceeding the chairing judge Nur Nurov violated the rights of defendants, and that the verdict was unfair.

Many authoritative international organizations and media communities – both local and foreign – have publicly expressed their concern about the situation.

“Persecution of citizens, in particular, rights advocates, who use their constitutional rights and freedoms, criticizing the judicial and executive powers, as well as the application of punitive measures against those who freely express their opinions, contradict the democratic principles and undermine Tajikistan’s image in the global community”, — says the public statement made by the Tajik Union of Journalists.

Media experts say that the hound on the non-state media is seen as a very negative trend leading to limitations of the freedom of speech and expression, increasing self-censorship among Tajik journalists.

Asia Plus