Coordinator of the monitoring network in Tajikistan
Abdufatoh Vohidov
Chief of legal service
Orifjon Azimov
Chief of project in Tajikistan
Nuriddin Karshiboev

Freedom of Speech in Tajikistan December 2009

In December 2009 the NANSMIT Monitoring Service received 19 reports. Fourteen of them describe the factual situation in the media in the light of socio-legal and political environment; three reports describe direct violations of rights of media professionals; and two reports describe conflicts and accusations against the media and journalists.

I. PECULIARITIES OF 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

9 December
Emomali Rakhmon, President of Tajikistan, Dushanbe

On 8 December, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon had a meeting with representatives of the Tajik mass media, executive authorities and government agencies.

The head of the state discussed the issues of influence of the mass media on the society. “I urge journalists to unite in the name of vitally important interests of Tajikistan, whereas public officials should not divide the media into “the state” and “non-state” ones.

21 December
Sherkhon Salimzoda, State Advisor to the President on Legal Issues, Dushanbe

Sherkhon Salimzoda, State Advisor to the President on Legal Issues urged Tajik journalists to comprehensively cover the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Salimzoda applied to journalists at the seminar “Mass media and the right to participate in political life and governance” organized by the Tajik government and the Friedrich Ebert Fund.

2. Evaluation of the factual status of the media and the freedom of speech

7 December
Radio Vatan, Khatlon province

On 6 December, the private Tajik radio company “Vatan” launched broadcasting in Khatlon province of Tajikistan on the frequency of 102,4 FM.

So far, Khatlon was covered only by official broadcasting companies. Radio Vatan has become the first private broadcaster who received the license and expanded the area of its information influence.

11 December
Eurasian Media Forum in Moscow

The Russian capital hosted a two-day Eurasian Media Forum attended by 150 top managers of the media, representatives of the CIS and Baltic States, politicians and public figures. The Russian news agency “RIA Novosti” was the main organizer of the Forum. Tajikistan was represented by Sadriddin Shamsiddinov, director of the State News Agency “Khovar”.

This was the fourth International Forum; the first one was conducted in 2006. Participant discussed the issues of professional cooperation, development and opportunities for joint multimedia projects.

16 December
Sukhan weekly, Dushanbe

The Tajik Union of Journalists has launched its own printing outlet – Sukhan. The new weekly is published in two languages – Tajik and Russian.

“The newspaper with the same name existed in the early 1990-s. It was founded by the well-known Tajik journalist Otakhon Latifi,” — says Pulod Nurov, executive secretary of the Union of Journalists. — “It was a very open and audacious source of information. The newspaper was covering the issues of democratic alterations in the society”.

The new outlet is designed as a creative professional platform for journalists conducive to consolidation and unity of the media community in Tajikistan.

17 December
Bulleting of the Tajik Academy of Pedagogical Sciences, Dushanbe

According to the Nuri Zindagi weekly (#51, 17.12.09), the Tajik Academy of Pedagogical issued its educational methodological magazine. The outlet contains materials on the problems of national and global pedagogical practices, teaching techniques, etc.

24 December
Farazh weekly, Dushanbe

The Farazh weekly celebrated its third anniversary. During this period the newspaper has overcome plenty of difficulties, and won the hearts of its audience. At present, Farazh is one of the most popular printing outlet in Tajikistan.

3. Journalists protecting their civil and professional rights

14 December
All media, Dushanbe

On 14 December, the Tajik Union of Journalists, NANSMIT, TajANESMI and the OSCE Bureau in Dushanbe held a round table on the topic “Access to information – guarantee of transparency and accountability”.

Participants discussed legal and practical aspects of access to information. The issue of access to information has become very relevant, especially after the adoption of the government decree “On the order of payment for provision of information to government agencies” endorsed in October 2009.

15 December
Online journalism, Dushanbe

On 15 December the Tajik-Russian Slavic University organized an open lecture on the topic “Human rights initiatives and online journalism”. The lecture is conducted within the framework of the project “Human rights and education through the media in Central Asia” implemented by the UK-based NGO Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR). The project is funded by the European Union.

The main task of the lecture is to share and disseminate information about human rights and the ways of protection of liberties by means of the Internet and online journalism.

19 December
All media, Dushanbe

On 18-19 December, IWPR conducted a ToT (training for trainers) session for representatives of Tajik NGOs and the media.

This training is organized within the framework of the project “Human rights and education through the media in Central Asia” funded by the European Union.

II. VIOLATION OF RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA

1. Ungrounded limitations in access to information

9 December
Vetcherny Dushanbe weekly, Dushanbe

The Tajik weekly “Vetcherny Dushanbe” published an article (#49, 03.12.09) about the termination of broadcasting of the Russian federal TV channel ORT. The newspaper says that residents of the Tajik capital send their letters with complaints and regrets about the missing favorite TV station. Correspondents of “Vetcherny Dushanbe” approached the State Broadcasting Committee for clarifications. They asked dozens of officials including Mr. Sukhrob Aliev, head of Teleradiocom, the technical service under the Committee. The journalists received no intelligible answer.

The newspaper approached personally Mr. Asadullo Rakhmonov, head of the Broadcasting Committee. He promised to answer, but did not respond.

15 December
All media, Dushanbe

“The Decree of the Tajik government “On the order of payment for information to the government institutions” makes the government and private mass media unequal,” — said Abdusattor Nuraliev, professor of the Tajik-Russian Slavic University. The statement was made at around table organized by NANSMIT, the Tajik Union of Journalists, and TajANESMI under support of the OSCE Bureau in Tajikistan.

The week-known Tajik lawyer Rakhmatillo Zoirov criticized the Decree. He revealed 12 discrepancies with the Tajik law “On access to information”. Nuriddin Karshibaev, chairman of NANSMIT said that the incompliance between the Tajik laws and bylaws leads to misinterpretations in the legislation.

2. Violation of economic rights in the media

24 December
SMT TV, Dushanbe

The Ozadagon newspaper (#51, 24.12.09) published an article titled “Who’s stronger – SMT or ORT?”. “It’s been several years since the Russian ORT channel rebroadcasts its programs on the territory of Tajikistan without an official license fro the Tajik Ministry of Communication and Transport”, — says the article. — “During the last few months, the two stations – the Tajik SMT and the Russian ORT – have been broadcasting on the same frequency.”

ORT is being broadcast by the Russian 201-st infantry division deployed in Tajikistan. The military unit does not have the license, whereas the SMT TV has it.

Zinatulloh Ismoilov, director of SMT complaints that his company has all relevant permissions, but it has been experiencing problems because of the careless attitude of the communication officials. “We approached the Ministry several times. They promised to help, but nothing’s changed”, — said Ismoilov.

Experts say that the “broadcasting incident” turns into a political farce. And it is taking place on the eve of the parliamentary elections.

III. CONFLICTS. VIOLATIONS INCRIMINATED TO THE MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS

1. Claim for protection of honor, dignity and business reputation affected by publication of certain data

9 December
The Committee on Emergency Situations and Civil Defense, Dushanbe

The Paikon weekly (#39, 09.12.09) published a letter of the chairman of the Committee on Emergency Situations and Civil Defense, who addressed Tajik journalists asking them to properly check the data they receive.

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 Karshibayev