The National Association of Independent Mass Media (NANSMIT) supports the reforms in the media. Democratic alterations require equal conditions and opportunities for healthy competition amongst the media with different forms of property, which leads to pluralism in the society.

In October 2010, the Tajik parliamentarian Davlatali Davlatzoda suggested to reduce allocations from the national budget for financing of the government newspapers. The parliamentarian considers that many ministries and government institutions continue to print their own outlets, which do not play any essential role in the information environment, while the government keeps subsidizing them spending big amounts from the national budget.

Parliamentarians promised to consider the practicability of further financing of the government newspapers in the process of budget drafting for 2012, as well as the feasibility of financial support to the media and public organizations.

Russian lawmakers are working on a draft law to abolish the compulsory support to the government and municipal media; at the same time, the law establishes other ways of supporting and promoting independent and interesting periodicals.

Experts of NANSMIT consider that many official newspapers are not interesting for the audience; they publish boring tables and reports misspending the money from the national budget. In distinction from the government periodicals, the private media cover the most topical subjects and developments while facing big challenges and financial difficulties. Besides that, the authorities on different levels practice the so-called “voluntary-forced” subscription in order to artificially support particular official periodicals.

In our opinion, at the current stage of development, Tajikistan badly needs new and pluralistic media, as well as new broadcasting structures.

NANSMIT expresses its readiness to working with the government and the parliament in the area of media reforms.

NANSMIT