Police have said Kyrgyz journalist Gennady Pavlyuk’s hands and feet were bound when he was found unconscious after apparently being thrown from the window of a sixth-floor apartment, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reports.

Almaty City Interior Ministry spokesman Yevgeny Lysenko told RFE/RL that Pavlyuk was found in very grave condition on December 16 and he had masking tape around his hands and feet.

He is currently in a coma in an Almaty hospital under armed guard. Doctors have said his condition is very grave.

Lysenko said Pavlyuk arrived to Almaty from Bishkek on December 16 and was staying at the Kazakhstan Hotel.

Omurbek Tekebaev, the leader of the Kyrgyz opposition Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party, told RFE/RL that Pavlyuk was in the party’s offices in Bishkek to discuss details of a joint media project before leaving for Almaty.

Pavlyuk is a prominent Kyrgyz journalist of Russian origin. He used to work for the «Vecherny Bishkek» («Evening Bishkek») newspaper and Russia’s weekly «Argumenty i Fakty.»

He is also the founder of the «White Steamer» newspaper and website.

Pavlyuk is the third ethnic Russian journalist from Kyrgyzstan to have been attacked or seriously injured in the past two weeks.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Kazakh_Police_Say_Kyrgyz_Journalist_Thrown_From_Building_/1909727.html

A prominent Uzbek photographer/videographer has been charged with defamation and damaging the country’s image because of the content of her photos and videos, RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reports.

Umida Ahmedova, 54, took a series of photos and video at obscure Uzbek villages that she used for two documentaries in a project sponsored by the Swiss Embassy in Tashkent.

Ahmedova told RFE/RL that Uzbek officials disapprove of her photos used in the documentaries «The Burden Of Virginity» and «Customs Of Men And Women,» which focus on poverty and gender inequality in Uzbekistan.

Ahmedova, who has contributed photographs to RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service, said the charges against her were «groundless» and «absurd.»

Tashkent police investigator Nodir Ahmadjonov told RFE/RL that experts in the Prosecutor-General’s Office found her photos and videos to be defamatory and insulting.

The Uzbek Communication and Information Agency initiated the case against Ahmedova, who has been ordered not to leave Uzbekistan while an investigation is carried out.

If found guilty, Ahmedova could face a fine and be sentenced to up to two years in a labor camp or up to six months in prison.

Ahmadjonov added that Ahmedova could be released under an amnesty without being acquitted.

Ahmedova’s films were shown at the One World film festival in Prague in 2006, where they were popular with audiences.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Uzbek_Photographer_Charged_With_Defamation/1906455.html

Ferghana.Ru found out that the criminal cases on article 139 («slander») and 140 («insult») were filed against prominent Tashkent-based photographer and documentary film maker Umida Akhmedova in Uzbekistan. The maximum punishment assumes 2-3 year community works or 6 month arrest.

According to Umida Akhmedova, the Mirabad district regional department of internal affairs (RDIA) captain Nodir Akhmadzhanov informed her that criminal cases on slander and insult of Uzbek people were filed against her; the case was initiated by Uzbek Agency for press and information against the authors, cooperating with Swiss Embassy Gender Program in the production of books and movies. Akhmedova is incriminated in the production of «Women and men: from dawn till dusk» photo album, produced in 2007 under support of Swiss Embassy Gender Program. The album consists of 110 pictures, reflecting lifestyle in Uzbekistan.

The investigator explained Umida Akhmedova that the case against her was produced, based on conclusions of Tashkent public prosecutor’s office experts, noting that the album «is the insult and slander of Uzbek people». At the same time, it is absolutely unclear which photo (not the photomontage, not the screen version) may be «slander» or «insult». It is also not clear who and when authorized Uzbek agency for press and information, the state structure, to represent the outraged honor of Uzbek people.

Umida Akhmedova shared first time she was called by police on November 17. Captain Nodir Akhmadzhanov invited her to Mirabad RDIA to give the report of witness on her «Women and men: from dawn to dusk» album. The investigator interviewed Umida for two hours and asked questions, related to Akhmedova’s participation in the production of photo album and as such movies as «Men and women: rites and ritual» and «The burden of virginity».

«He does not even know what the ethnography is – Umida Akhmedova told Ferghana.Ru – I said I did ethnography. He asked «What is that?» I said «In my work I am mainly interested in the ethnographic side of people’s lifestyle. I photograph ethnic rites, traditions and weddings. Where is the slander? The question remained without answer».

The next conversation with Captain Nodir Akhmadzhanov took place on December 16. The investigator said that since Umida was the author of the album, from now on she would be the suspect; he also advised her to find the lawyer.
Note. Umida Akhmedova was born in the town of Parkent, the Tashkent Oblast of Uzbekistan. In 1986 she graduated from photography department of All-Soviet State Institute of Cinematography (ASSIC) in Moscow, becoming first female cameraman in Uzbekistan. As a cameraman director she produced at least 10 movies. In the mid 1990s she turned to photography only.

In 2003-2005 Tbilisi hosted her personal exhibitions within the framework of Gender and Mass Media International Conference. In 2004 she won «Modern photography in Central Asia» grand prize at Inter-Press-Photo contest in Russia. In 2006 she organized personal photo exhibition in Copenhagen. Umida also worked on such documentaries as «Men and women: rites and rituals» and «The burden of virginity»; the latter produced ambiguous reaction and big scandal in Uzbekistan.

Fergana.ru

Источник: http://enews.ferghana.ru/article.php?id=2597

A reporter for the Russian BaltInfo news agency was beaten in Kyrgyzstan’s capital today, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reports.

Aleksandr Evgrafov told RFE/RL that two men in police uniforms forced him into a car that had no license plates and tried to search him.

When he resisted they beat him, he said.

Evgrafov said the men instructed him not to write «bad things» about Kyrgyzstan, adding that he should not try to «exonerate former Kyrgyz authorities.»

Evgrafov said the attack is connected to his journalistic activities.

On December 9, unknown assailants attacked and beat Aleksandr Knyazev, the director of the Bishkek branch of the Commonwealth of Independent States Institute.

Knyazev has often criticized the foreign policy of the Kyrgyz government.

The same day, former Kyrgyz Security Council Secretary Bolot Januzakov was also beaten and hospitalized.

Januzakov was a close associate of former Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev, who fled the country in 2005 and currently lives in Moscow.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Russian_Journalist_Beaten_In_Kyrgyzstan/1906005.html

On 14 December the Tajik Union of Journalists, NANSMIT and TAJANESMI jointly with the OSCE Bureau in Dushanbe held a round table to discuss the issues of access to information.

Participants of the round table discussed legal and practical issues of access to information. Particular attention was paid to the recent government decree “On the order of payment for information to government bodies”. Agenda of the round table is available here: http://www.nansmit.tj/?page=events&id=86

Abdufattokh Vokhidov, expert of the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT) expresses the opinion of his colleagues saying that, “This decree is not in compliance with legal guarantees for the media, and it can impede access to information”.
Abdusator Nuraliev, professor of the Russian-Tajik Slavic University also stated that “Publicly important information cannot be commercial”. “The Tajik Constitution and the Media Law guarantee the right of media professional to acquire information”, – he added.
Note: On 31 October 2009 the Government of Tajikistan endorsed the Decree “On the order of remuneration to state institutions and organizations for provision of information”.

Khovar, State News Agency

The Zhambyl regional appeals court in southern Kazakhstan has upheld the verdict against jailed independent journalist Ramazan Esergepov, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reports.

Esergepov’s wife, Raushan Esergepova, told RFE/RL that her husband intends to appeal to Kazakhstan’s Supreme Court.

Esergepov, the owner and chief editor of the Almaty-based weekly «Alma-Ata Inform,» was sentenced to three years of jail this summer for revealing state secrets in an article printed in his newspaper in November 2008.

The weekly has since stopped publishing.

Esergepov and his relatives say the case against him is politically motivated.

Esergepov was arrested by the Committee of National Security (KNB) in January.

His wife says he has not been allowed to be represented by his own lawyer since he was arrested and forced to have a state-appointed attorney defend him.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Kazakh_Court_Rejects_Appeal_By_Jailed_Journalist/1903662.html

BISHKEK — A Kyrgyz political analyst was severely beaten and robbed in Bishkek late on December 9, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reports.

Four assailants attacked Aleksandr Knyazev near his apartment and took his briefcase and laptop.

Knyazev said one of the assailants shouted, «That is for your politics!» as he left the scene of the attack.

Knyazev is as a well-known political analyst who has often criticized the foreign policy of Kyrgyzstan’s current government.

He is also the director of the Bishkek branch of the Commonwealth of Independent States Institute.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Kyrgyz_Analyst_Beaten_Robbed_In_Bishkek/1900456.html

The Kyrgyz Supreme Court has ruled that the case of slain journalist Alisher Saipov should be sent back to an Osh city court for further investigation, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reports.

Sapiov’s father, Avaz Saipov, initiated the Supreme Court appeal, hoping that his son’s murder would be reinvestigated by a different court.

But the Supreme Court’s ruling means the same court will be conducting the fresh investigation.

Former policeman Abdufarid Rasulov has been accused of involvement in Saipov’s murder and was awaiting trial.

Twenty-six-year-old Alisher Saipov, who was murdered in broad daylight in 2007, was an ethnic Uzbek and editor in chief of an Osh-based newspaper who often wrote articles critical of Uzbek President Islam Karimov and his government.

He also worked as a correspondent for RFE/RL and Voice of America.

In 2007 Saipov was shot dead as he left his office in central Osh.

His father told RFE/RL that he was unhappy with today’s Supreme Court decision.

He insisted he has evidence that shows his son was killed by agents from Uzbekistan in retaliation for the critical articles he wrote.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Kyrgyz_High_Court_Returns_Journalists_Murder_Case_To_Osh_Court/1899852.

The number of freelance journalists jailed around the world has almost doubled in the past three years and reflects a changing global news business, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

A report by the New York-based press freedom group found that as of December 1 there were 136 reporters, editors, and photojournalists behind bars, an increase of 11 from 2008. Almost half of those jailed are freelance media members.

It said the number of freelance media jailed had grown as the Internet allowed more journalists to work independently and some news organizations started relying on freelancers rather than staff for international coverage to cut costs.

«The days when journalists went off on dangerous assignments knowing they had the full institutional weight of their media organizations behind them are receding into history,» said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon.

«Today, journalists on the front lines are increasingly working independently. The rise of online journalism has opened the door to a new generation of reporters, but it also means they are vulnerable,» he said in a statement.

China was found to have jailed the most journalists for the 11th year in a row, holding 24 members of the media, followed by Iran, Cuba, Eritrea, and Burma, the report found.

Most of the 23 journalists jailed in Iran were detained during a crackdown on protesters and media after the June reelection of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, CJP said.

Cuba is holding 22 journalists, 20 of whom were jailed when former leader Fidel Castro targeted independent press in 2003. Eritrea has imprisoned 19 journalists and Burma is holding nine.

Another 21 countries have jailed journalists, the report found, including the United States, which has detained for more than a year a freelance Iraqi journalist who worked for Reuters.

The number of online journalists in jail continued to rise to 68 this year. Print reporters, editors, and photographers account for 51 and television, radio, and documentary filmmakers make up the rest.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Number_Of_Jailed_Freelance_Journalists_Soars_CPJ_Finds/1898740.html

On 6 December Radio Vatan launched broadcasting in Khatlon province of Tajikistan at the frequency 102,4 FM.

So far, Khatlon province was covered only by government radio and TV stations. Radio Vatan has become the first private radio station that received a license for broadcasting in country regions.

The radio company intends to organize broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Radio Vatan appeared on 7 May 2003. Vatan’s information service is an official partner of the Tajik news agency Avesta and the Deutche Welle World Service. Vatan produces news programs every 30 minutes in Russian and Tajik languages.
Estimated audience of Radio Vatan is 2,5 million listeners.

Avesta