ORAL, Kazakhstan — An appellate court in western Kazakhstan has upheld a guilty verdict against an opposition journalist in a controversial libel case.

In July, Lukpan Akhmedyarov, a correspondent for the «Uralskaya Nedelya» weekly in the city of Oral, was found guilty of insulting a local official and ordered to pay 5 million tenge ($33,000) in compensation.

International media-freedom advocacy group Reporters without Borders condemned the court’s decision, calling it a move «to strangle the journalist financially.»

In April, Akhmedyarov survived a vicious attack in which he was stabbed and shot with a pneumatic pistol.

In September, new charges of libel were field against Akhmedyarov.

That same month, Akhmedyarov won the prestigious international Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism.

Akhmedyarov says the attack and lawsuits against him are politically motivated.

http://www.rferl.org/content/kazakhstan-appeal-fails-journalist-akhmedyarov/24726998.html

The UN Human Rights Council has affirmed for the first time the importance of journalist safety as a fundamental element of freedom of expression.

The 47-member body passed the resolution, which was sponsored by Austria. It calls on all states to «promote a safe and enabling environment for journalists to perform their work independently» and to ensure «impartial, speedy, and effective investigations» into acts of violence against journalists.

The International Press Institute issued a statement saying it was pleased that the Human Rights Council «highlighted the impact of journalist safety on the right of citizens in all countries to be informed.»

http://www.rferl.org/content/un-rights-council-journalist-safety/24722164.html

WASHINGTON – On October 8, 2012, Tajikistan’s network of researchers will gain an important new resource with the launch of the Tajikistan Virtual Science Library (VSL). The Tajikistan VSL is a website that provides free and easy access to more than 10 million full-text research articles.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA), the site is part of a larger program of technical consultations and trainings organized by the Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Health, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, DOE/NNSA, and CRDF Global.

After the launch, seminars will familiarize the academic community with the operation of the website, its contents, and its use in research. An extensive national workshop series is planned for 2013 to ensure that users and librarians throughout the country derive the full benefit from the program.

For more information about the Tajikistan VSL, or to make sure that your institution has access to the website, please contact help@TajikistanVSL.org.

WHAT: Tajikistan Virtual Science Library Launch Event
WHEN: October 8, 2012 at from 9:30am-12:30pm
WHERE: Dushanbe, Tajikistan: Academy of Sciences hall, 33 Rudaki Ave.
WHO:
Speakers:
· U.S. Embassy: Information Officer Nicole Bayer
· Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan: Vice-President
· Ministry of Education: Minister, Deputy Minister, or representative
· Ministry of Health: Minister, Deputy Minister, or representative
· Ministry of Culture: Minister, Deputy Minister, or representative
· Academy of Agricultural Sciences: President or vice-President
· CRDF Global: Associate Program Director Charles Dunlap, PhD.

Attendees:
· U.S. Embassy: Public Affairs Section
· U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA): Annie Winterfield
· Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan: Vice-President, VSL coordinator Sakina Karimova
· Ministry of Education: Minister Saidov, leading specialist of International Relations Department Nasimova T.F.
· Ministry of Health: Minister, Deputy Minister, International coordinator, key staff
· Ministry of Culture: Minister, Deputy Minister, International coordinator, key staff
· Academy of Agricultural Sciences: President, vice-President, key staff
· Scientific Institutes: Directors, Deputy Directors, Head Librarians
· Universities: Presidents, Head Librarians
· CRDF Global: Associate Program Director Charles Dunlap, PhD., Program Manager Katherine Casey
· Press: invited in consultation with the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section

http://dushanbe.usembassy.gov/

Human Rights Watch (HRW) says human rights workers in Russia currently face a «hostile climate» and the situation is becoming worse, pointing to one of HRW’s employees in Russia who has recently received threats sent by text message.

HRW said on October 4 that senior researcher in Moscow Tanya Lokshina was sent threats from unknown sources «two to five times per day from September 28 to 30, 2012.»

Lokshina, said such threats were nothing new, but the current ones were marked by an unprecedented «level of cynicism and meanness.»

«To be honest, it’s not the first time that I’ve received threats, including text messages. This is not the first time that the workers of our organization and our Moscow bureau have faced threats. But the level of cynicism and meanness of what I received on my mobile phone, nine messages within three days, was in fact unprecedented,» Lokshina said.

HWR executive director Kenneth Roth said it was clear from the threats that people were following Lokshina.

«Tanya Lokshina, the senior researcher in Human Rights Watch’s Moscow office has just received a series of texted threats from unknown sources. These threats demonstrate that the sender clearly was following Tanya’s every move. They knew where she lived, what she was doing,» Roth said.

«They made explicit reference to the fact of her pregnancy, they threatened harm to herself and to her unborn baby. They were clearly made with the intent of scaring Tanya and Human Rights Watch to stop our monitoring and reporting on human rights in Russia.»

HRW said Lokshina worked on a wide range of issues but is widely known as one of Russia’s leading experts on human rights in «Russia’s troubled North Caucasus region.»

Roth said HRW would not allow «threats» to prevent the organization from continuing its work in Russia.

«Human Rights Watch worked in the Soviet Union in the darkest days. We certainly are not going to allow a cheap set of vile and depraved threats of the sort that were sent to Tanya to stand in the way of our continued work today,» Roth said.

Roth said the fact that the threats included confidential information known only to Lokshina and a very small circle of friends suggested information was obtained through surveillance, with the possible involvement of law enforcement and security officials.

Roth said HRW will be aggressive in pursuing these threats with authorities inside Russia and outside that country.

«Human Rights Watch intends to use every available avenue of address both nationally and internationally to ensure that an investigation of vigorous quality is pursued and that the perpetrators behind these threats are brought to justice,» Roth said. «The climate for human rights advocacy in Russia is as bad as we’ve seen in 20 years.»

Russia’s Interior Ministry said Lokshina had filed a report with authorities and that «this document will be considered in accordance with the procedures envisioned by the legislation.»

With reporting by ITAR-TASS and IFX Rus

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Источник: http://www.rferl.org/content/hrw-says-dangerous-for-rights-workers-in-russia/24729448.html

DUSHANBE, October 3, 2012, Asia-Plus — To protect rights and interests of media and ensure solidarity of journalists of Tajikistan, heads of media and media organizations of Tajikistan have worked out a plan of actions to protect rights and interests of journalists, the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (NANSMIT) reports.

The plan, in particular, includes an action, dubbed “100 Days of Freedom in Tajnet.” This action stipulates holding online events in Tajnet, posting modular advertising materials on social networking sites, airing public service announcements (PSAs) on radio, creating banners for all media, general avatar for journalists for 100 days, etc. The action has started today.

A statement released by the action organizers notes that by September 8, 2012, the number of websites blocked in Tajikistan has reached 50. “Among them are websites that failed to comply with norms of the country’s legislation and morals. At the same time, there are local news websites such as www.news.tj and www.tojnews.org among them. What unites them is they were blocked ILLEGALLY, without court’s decision, bypassing the country’s legislation. ‘Departmental feudalism’ is becoming a norm in such an important sector as ICTs (information and communications technologies), unintentionally turning the authorities into “enemy of Internet,” the statement said.

Media organizations also plan to carry out individual work with managers of all Internet-cafes, release elucidative leaflets, hold roundtables, and so forth.

They also plan to lodge application to the Constitutional Court regarding pre-trial blockage of access to websites.

http://news.tj/en/news/100-days-freedom-tajnet-action-launched-tajikistan?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm

Freedom of Speech in Tajikistan

September 2012

In September 2012, the Monitoring Service received 22 reports. Twelve of them describe the factual situation in the media in the light of social, legal and political environment; ten reports describe direct violations of rights of media professionals.

I. 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

11 September

Davlatali Nazriev, head of Information, Analysis and Foreign Policy Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dushanbe

Davlatali Nazriev, the head of the Tajik Foreign Ministry’s Information Department told
the media that the Tajik state press services work poorly in terms of timely and objective information.

This statement was made at a round table “Contemporary challenges in Tajikistan’s information environment and the role of the media” regarding the recent military operation in the city of Khorog, administrative center of Gorno Badakhshan.

According to Nazriev, such events require timely and objective media coverage. The official added that certain western media were providing inadequate information.

20 September

Shodi Shabdolov, chairman of the Communist Party of Tajikistan, Dushanbe

The leader of the Tajik Communist Party and parliamentarian Shodi Shabdolov told the Tajik weekly Asia Plus about his recent meetings with the electorate in Sughd province.

Shabdolov said that the population in certain districts – Ainy and Matchoh in particular – live in conditions of information vacuum.

“The printing media available in those districts do not meet requirements of their readers. The people want to learn more about the situation and events in their country, in their region. They want to learn about the laws being adopted and the decisions of the government. They want to know what’s going on in GBAO», — he noted.

25 September

Muzaffar Ashurov, President’s Office, Dushanbe

Muzaffar Ashurov, head of the Department of Constitutional and Human Rights under the President’s Executive Office stated that “[during the events in Khorog] certain mass media were providing materials justifying the actions of criminals and creating conditions for repetition of such events”.

The official made this remark on 24 September, at an OSCE meeting on commitments in the area of human dimension.

The accusation against the Tajik non-state media was voiced after a presentation made by Olga Tutubalina, deputy editor of the Asia Plus weekly.

In her speech, Tutubalina stated that the Tajik authorities regularly block news web sites – both local and foreign.

27 September
Ibrohim Usmonov, journalist, Dushanbe

The Tajik weekly Asia Plus published an interview with a journalist and researcher Ibrohim Usmonov (#72, 24.09.2012) where he contemplates the impact of the Internet on Tajikistan’s information environment.

“The traditional media have lost their former influence. Only the information network can provide the audience with instant response on current events. The Internet is a weapon of mass influence; however, it does not mean that the authorities should impose prohibitions. On the contrary, the government must be open – to avoid grounds for criticism”.

2. Actions of public officials defining the status of the media and the factual situation

21 September
Beg Zukhurov, head of the government’s Communication Service, Dushanbe

On 21 September, after a two-month blocking, some of the local Internet service providers opened access to the web site of the Tajik leading news agency Asia Plus.

It remains unknown whether the Tajik Communication Service under the President has officially ordered to unblock access to the web resource. According to Asia Plus, the providers did not have any written errand on the blocking; however, it is quite obvious that there was a “command from above”. The expert see a clear relation between the blocking of access to the web site and the recent publications in Asia Plus criticizing the authorities.

Commenting the situation, Beg Zukhurov, head of the Communication Service told Radio Ozodi (the Tajik service of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty) that he has ordered the Internet providers to restore access to Asia Plus. “The time has come for this web site [Asia Plus] to become a decent one and stop attempts of inappropriate criticism”, — he was quoted as saying.

In the mean time, Zukhurov told Asia Plus that he gave no any orders on blocking. “We have a special group [for censorship] tracing the web sites defaming the country and the government, but Asia Plus is not in that list”, — he said.

The official added that the Internet providers blocked the web site on their own initiative, and he is ready to figure out why they have done this.

3. Factual situation in the media and the freedom of speech

7 September

Shabakai Avval, state TV

On 7 September, the Tajik state television switched to digital broadcasting in the mode 24×7.

Shabakai Avval (the First Channel) intends to expand its broadcasting coverage not only in the country, but also abroad.

At present, four state TV channels broadcast in the country – Shabakai Avval, Safina, Jahonnamo, and Bakhoriston (a TV station for children).

7 September

All media, Dushanbe

At a round table “The role of mass media in public stability and national unity” held in Dushanbe on 7 September, some journalists proposed to wear certain “uniforms” while covering specific events.

On 6 September, Tajik journalists went to a march of protest organized spontaneously by vendors from one of the markets in Dushanbe to protect their rights. A number of media professionals had problems with the law enforcement agencies. The chief editor of the Tajik weekly Nigokh Saimiddin Dustov spent three hours at a police station.
29 September

The Persian TV Channel, Dushanbe

The Tajik weekly Asia Plus published an article titled “What impedes the launching of a Persian television in Dushanbe?” (#71, 20.09.12).

According to the medium, the Tajik Foreign Ministry is trying to create a proper legal basis for the TV channel, which would belong to three neighboring Persian-language countries – Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Iran with the headquarters in Dushanbe.

“As soon as the legal basis is created, the editing and broadcasting equipment delivered from Iran will be exempted from customs fees”, — Davlatali Nazriev, head of the Foreign Ministry’s information department was quoted as saying.

According to the Iranian embassy in Dushanbe, the equipment worth of 2 million Euro has been delivered a while ago. “However, the equipment got stuck in the airport, and the Tajik customs service insists on paying $400 thousand for clearance”, — a source i9n the embassy said.

The Iranian source also added that the constant postponing of the launching of the TV channel has something to do with the official position of the Afghan authorities regarding the broadcasting policy of the new TV station and with ideological and creative contents of TV programs.

Сентябрь, 20
All media, Dushanbe

On 27 September, the Public Union under the President’s Office held a session of the Social Partnership Club to discuss the issues of formation of secure information space and switching to digital broadcasting.

Shahlo Akobirova, director of NGO Khoma and Asomuddin Atoev, director of the virtual academy ICT (information-communication technology) made relevant presentations regarding digital broadcasting and secure information space.

In 2006, among 104 states, Tajikistan signed the Treaty “Geneva 2006” obliging the country to entirely switch to digital broadcasting.

A number of relevant issues emerged in this regard; one of them is the necessity to strengthen the secure information space and informed society.
3. Действия журналистов и СМИ по защите своих прав

20 September
National Association of Independent Mass Media, Dushanbe

The Tajik media community asked the Prosecutor General’s Office to express a legal opinion regarding the actions of law enforcement officers against reporters who covered the events in Dushanbe, which followed the fire at the Korvon wholesale market on the southern outskirts of the capital.

Commenting on that, chairman of NANSMIT Nuriddin Karshiboev said that at least nine cases of violations of professional rights were registered by the monitoring service on 6 September, during the spontaneous march of protest attended by the market vendors.

Karshiboev added that leaders of Tajik media organizations have developed a plan of actions to protect the interests of the media community and ensure solidarity. The main provision of the plan is a dialogue with heads of the law enforcement agencies and the Prosecutor General’s Office.
20 September

All media, Dushanbe

The Tajik media community intends to apply to the General Prosecutor’s Office with a complaint about violations of rights of journalists in the country.

The Tajik news portal TJinform quoted Khilvatshokh Khojaev, Secretary General of the Tajik Media Council as saying that the number of cases of violation of professional and civil rights of journalists has grown recently”.

Khojaev referred to the recent events in the city of Khorog, administrative center of Gorno Badakhshan and the incidents in Dushanbe related to the Korvon market disorders. Law enforcement officers confiscated photo and video equipment; some reporters were detained at police stations.

II. VIOLATION OF RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA

1. Limitation of access to information 

24 September

Information agency TojNews, Dushanbe

The Tajik Communication Service under the President’s Office gave an order to local Internet service providers to block access to the TojNews web portal.

According to the Indem company, the founder of TojNews, the Internet service providers initially received SMS messages from the Communication Service, which was followed by an official written notification.

“Regrettably, the Internet providers – in defiance of the national legislation and the international law – have followed the order and closed access to www.tojnews.org, — says a statement issued by Indem. — For ten days, we have been trying to receive official comments on these actions, but to no avail”.

The statement also says that the actions of the authorities are unlawful; this can push the independent media towards adversaries of the government.

2. Impediments to professional activities

7 September

Saimuddin Dustov, editor, Nigokh weekly, Dushanbe

On 6 September, the Tajik police detained Saimuddin Dustov, the chief editor of the Nigokh weekly who was collecting information about the incident at the Korvon market in Dushanbe and protestors who tried to defend their commercial rights. After four hours, the editor was released, and the police apologized for the detention.

According to Dustov, the police officers acted impolitely. The situation changed when the chief of the municipal police arrived to speak with protestors.

7 September
Information agency Tojnews, Dushanbe

A correspondent of the Tajik private news agency Tojnews told the NANSMIT monitoring service about the impediments created by police officers for journalists covering the marching of protesters from the Korvon market in Dushanbe. The journalist told that she is personally acquainted with the head of the municipal police, and she asked him to take measures and let the media do their work. The police commander gave an order to his subordinates, but the situation was barely under control, and the officers kept treating journalists like other protestors, i.e. quite rudely.
7 September

Asia Plus weekly, Dushanbe

On 6 September, the Tajik police detained temur varki, the correspondent of the Tajik weekly Asia Plus who had an errand to cover the incident at the Korvon market in Dushanbe.

According to the journalist, certain individuals in plain clothes who introduced themselves as police officers forcedly took his ID card away from him, after which he did not see them anymore.
7 September

Ozodagon weekly, Dushanbe

Ibodullohi Tohir, correspondent of the Ozodagon weekly was also detained by the police on 6 September.

According to him, law enforcement officers were dressed in plain clothes. The journalist decided not to apply to any law enforcement agency regarding the fact of violation of his professional rights since he cannot identify the persons who detained him.
7 September

BBC, Persian service, Dushanbe

Zevarshohi Muhammad, correspondent of the Persian service of BBC was detained by the police on 6 September. Unknown individuals dressed in civilian clothes told him to put away his video camera; then, he was pushed by the crowd, and the camera smashed down. Protestors helped him to pick up the pieces of the broken video camera.
3. Violation of the principle of transparency of judicial proceedings

3 September
Khoji Akbar Turajonzoda, theologian, Khujand, Sughd province 

On 3 September, the Khujand municipal court commenced hearings on the lawsuit initiated by the Tajik theologian Khoji Akbar Turajonzoda.

The chair of the proceeding Matluba Khabibulloeva did not permit the Asia Plus correspondent to participate in the process explaining that “the court is conducting only preliminary hearings”.

According to Faizinisso Vokhidova, the defense lawyer protecting the interests of Turajonzoda, the Tajik legislation does not have any restrictions for media coverage, even if the proceedings are preliminary.

It should be noted that the defendants in Turajonzoda’s litigation, where he complains about his affected honor and dignity, are the head of the Sughd province Council of Ulems (spiritual leaders), the chief imam of the Isfara city mosque, and a journalist from the Sughd province television.

4. Violation of economic rights

11 September
All media, Dushanbe

On 10 and 11 September, the Sharki Ozod printing facility experienced continuous outages of electricity. Sharki Ozod provides its services to almost all Tajik periodicals.

Editors and media managers have different opinions about the reason of the blackouts. Some of them say that it has a lot to do with the incident at the Korvon market.

The municipal electric company said that the outages have no political grounds whatsoever; they were caused by damages within the grid. The line that feeds the printing house goes through the territory of Korvon – the market affected by the recent massive fire.

13 September

Maorifi Tojikiston, Ministry of Education, Dushanbe

Shodi Shokirzoda, editor of Maorifi Tojikiston, the official printing body of the Ministry of Education approached the Tajik State Postal Service complaining about the money that should have been received a while ago from subscribers. It is noted in his letter that the editing board is unable to print new issues of the magazine because the transfer still has not been made.

There is nothing silly about food shortages. There are, however, silly statements. On September 26, Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon urged his countrymen to store two years’ worth of food reserves in order to prepare for the upcoming harsh winter.

Rahmon also reminded his countrymen that rising commodity prices makes the effective use of agricultural resources imperative.

In a country where food shortages are a serious issue, urging people to store two years worth of food reserves over the duration of several months, may prove difficult.

In Tajikistan, the majority of the population spend between 70 and 80 percent of their income on food and 47 percent survive on less than $1.33 a day.

In 2011, high food and fuel prices led to crop and livestock losses. Rahmon blamed the increasing food prices partially on local farmers, saying that prices increased because “we did not work properly last year and did not fulfill the instructions in time.”

This latest presidential decree comes at a time when there are fears of a global food crisis. This year, the United States experienced its worst drought in more than 50 years, raising fears that it could lead to major hike in maize and soybean prices.

According to the World Bank, droughts in the U.S. and Eastern Europe caused global food prices to increase by 10 percent in July.

This situation shouldn’t bother Tajiks, however, as Rahmon appears to have a plan in place to handle any food shortages that might arise…

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Источник: http://www.rferl.org/content/silly-dictators-rahmons-solution-to-food-shortages-tajikistan/24720708.

DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN – A group of journalists from Dushanbe visited the Nurek 500 kilovolt (kV) switchyard reconstruction project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Tajikistan.

The project supports the construction of a new 500 kV switchyard at the Nurek hydropower plant using an advanced gas insulated switchgear technology. The existing switchyard, built more than 30 years ago, is in need of complete replacement due to deteriorating equipment and unstable geological site.

“The project will ensure a sustainable and reliable electricity supply to support economic development,” said Asel Chyngysheva, Officer-in-Charge of ADB’s Tajikistan Resident Mission, who led the media tour. “It will also mitigate the risk of natural disasters disabling the switchyard and will stabilize the flow of electricity coming from this strategically important power plant.”

The Nurek hydropower plant with a total installed capacity of 3,000 megawatt produces more than 70% of Tajikistan’s total electricity supply.

ADB is providing a grant of $54.77 million, with the Tajik government and Barki Tojik contributing $12.1 million for the project, which is due for completion in 2014.

Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998, and to date the institution has cumulatively approved a total assistance of more than $966 million in concessional loans, grants and technical assistance to the country. ADB’s operations benefit the population by reducing isolation, increasing communication, broadening access to electricity, improving social services, and creating more income-generating opportunities.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region. In 2011, ADB approvals including cofinancing totaled $21.7 billion.

www.adb.org

By Richard Solash
September 24, 2012

Attacks on Internet freedom are on the rise, and the tools employed by repressive governments are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

That’s according to «Freedom On The Net 2012,» a newly released report by U.S.-based rights watchdog Freedom House, that assesses 47 countries’ online track records between January 2011 and May 2012.

Sanja Kelly, the report’s director, says more «traditional» methods employed by repressive governments, such as filtering and blocking of undesirable content or imprisonment of prominent online figures, are being supplemented with more nuanced means.

«Threats to Internet freedom are becoming more diverse and are becoming much murkier than in the past,» Kelly said.

«What we’ve seen over the last year and a half is that more and more governments are turning to tactics such as proactive manipulation of online content and extralegal surveillance to more covertly manipulate and influence internet content.»

Of the countries surveyed in the report, more than a quarter used cadres of paid pro-government bloggers to try to discredit the opposition, spread false information, or prop up the official state line. Freedom House says the tactic was in the past «largely limited to Russia and China,» but has now extended to Belarus, Ukraine, Iran, and beyond.

Freedom House says cyberattacks against government critics or efforts to impersonate and discredit activists online are also becoming more common, employed from Bahrain to Burma, Kazakhstan to Syria, and Uzbekistan to Zimbabwe.

Pro-Government Bloggers

«Freedom On The Net» highlights reports in the Russian media of an alleged plan by President Vladimir Putin’s ruling United Russia party to invest more than $300,000 in an online scheme to undercut opposition blogger Aleksei Navalny.

While the Internet is considered to be a relatively open space in Russia, Kelly says the authorities have stepped up their attacks in response to the recent wave of antigovernment protests, many of which were organized through online networks.

«When we talk to the people on the ground, we hear about an increased number of phone calls by authorities, particularly in regions and on the local level, telling you that unless you stop posting online, not only will you suffer the consequences, but your family will too,» said Kelly.

Freedom House also reports an uptick in various methods of surveillance, including new regulations passed in Kazakhstan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia that increase restrictions on user anonymity.

Just under half of the countries in «Freedom On The Net 2012» passed new legislation during the survey period that could hamper free speech online.

The report also notes an increase in physical assaults — sometimes with deadly consequences — against bloggers and citizen journalists from Central Asia to the Middle East.

Overall, Iran, Cuba, China, and Syria were judged to have the least online freedom, while countries including Uzbekistan, Belarus, and Pakistan were also classed «not free.» Estonia, the United States, and Germany are rated freest.

Azerbaijan, Libya, Pakistan, and Russia were among the nations considered «particularly vulnerable to deterioration in the coming months.»

According to Kelly, Baku is beginning to implement sophisticated surveillance of the Internet and authorities are stepping up their harassment of bloggers. It may be a sign of things to come.

«When the Internet Governance Forum, which will take place in a couple of months [November 6-9] in Baku, is over, I think the strong sense is that the authorities will not have to hold back because the international attention is not going to be on them and they’re going to pursue some of these measures more harshly,» said Kelly.

Despite the negative trends, Freedom House also says pushback by civil society and technology companies have also increased, with a «victory» reported in half of the countries surveyed. For example, proposals for national firewall in Pakistan were defeated after protest by civil society.

Richard Solash, RFE/RL

Источник: http://www.rferl.org/content/freedom-house-says-online-repression-increasing-diversifying/24717793.h

Photographers who work in conflict situations can apply for a grant.

The Aftermath Project is offering a US$20,000 grant for photographers who tell the other half of the story of conflict — the story of what it takes for individuals to learn to live again, to rebuild destroyed lives and homes, to restore civil societies and to address the lingering wounds of war while struggling to create new avenues for peace.

Proposals may relate to the aftermath of numerous kinds of conflict. The conflict may have been at the community level — for example, violence between rural ethnic groups or an urban riot in an industrialized country. It may have been a regional one, such as a rebel insurgency, or it may have been a full-scale war. There is no specific time frame that defines “aftermath,” although the project generally seeks to support stories that are no longer being covered by the mainstream media, or which have been ignored by the media.

Proposals should include an explanation of the specific aftermath issues related to the project being proposed, as well as an overview of the applicant’s plans for covering the story during the course of the grant year.

The deadline for submissions is November 5.

For more information, download a .PDF file here: http://www.theaftermathproject.org/pdf/2013LetterApFinal.pdf

http://www.theaftermathproject.org/pdf/2013LetterApFinal.pdf