Tajikistan / Europe & Central Asia

  
Dushanbe, Tajikistan, is seen on November 2, 2015. Journalist Avazmad Ghurbatov was recenty beaten by unidentified assailants in Dushanbe. (AFP/Brendan Smialowski)

Tajik journalist Avazmad Ghurbatov beaten by unidentified assailants

New York, May 12, 2020 – Tajikistan authorities should conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the attack on journalist Avazmad Ghurbatov and bring the perpetrators to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Read More ›

A National Guard officer is seen in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on March 26, 2020. CPJ recently spoke with several people close to imprisoned journalists in Europe and Central Asia about the challenges of observing Ramadan behind bars. (AFP/Vyacheslav Oseledko)

COVID-19 lockdowns pose challenges for imprisoned journalists observing Ramadan

This year, the Islamic month of Ramadan, which started on April 24 and will continue through May 23, is particularly challenging for Muslim journalists in jail to observe safely, their family members and friends told CPJ.

Read More ›

The Tajik Ministery of the Interior is seen in Dushanbe on July 30, 2018. Tajikistan recently banned the independent Akhbor news website. (AFP/AFPTV/Shodmon Kholov)

Tajikistan bans independent Akhbor news website

New York, April 28, 2020 – Tajikistan authorities should immediately restore access to the independent regional news website Akhbor and allow its correspondents to report without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Read More ›

People are seen in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on November 3, 2015. Tajik authorities recently detained journalist Daler Sharifov. (Reuters/Brendan Smialowski)

Tajikistan journalist Daler Sharifov held on incitement charges

New York, February 6, 2020 — Tajikistan authorities should immediately release journalist Daler Sharifov, drop all charges against him, and allow him to work unobstructed, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Read More ›

CPJ calls on Tajik president to ensure journalists can report the news freely and safely

CPJ writes to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to express serious concerns regarding threats to journalists, censorship of independent news outlets and the internet, and restrictions on accreditation of journalists in Tajikistan as the country prepares to hold parliamentary and presidential elections in 2020.

Read More ›

President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon speaks during the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, on September 19, 2017. The independent Tajik news agency Asia Plus has been offline since August 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Independent Tajik news agency Asia Plus kicked offline

Washington, D.C., September 10, 2019–Websites and email addresses belonging to embattled independent news agency Asia Plus in Tajikistan have been down since August 19, according to the agency and Radio Ozodi, the Tajik-language service of the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).

Read More ›

Downtown Dushanbe, Tajikistan, is seen on November 3, 2015. Reporter Humayra Bakhtiyar and her family have been harassed by Tajik authorities. (AFP/Brendan Smialowski)

Tajik authorities harass journalist Humayra Bakhtiyar and family

In July 2019, Humayra Bakhtiyar, a Tajik journalist living in exile who was recently granted asylum in a European Union country, told CPJ in a phone call that Tajik authorities have harassed and intimidated her family over the past several years as retribution for her critical reporting.

Read More ›

RFE/RL journalist Barotali Nazarov recently had his press accreditation temporarily revoked in Tajikistan. (Photo: RFE/RL, used with permission)

Tajik authorities revoke press accreditation of RFE/RL reporter Barotali Nazarov

Washington, D.C., July 1, 2019 — Tajikistan authorities should immediately reinstate video journalist Barotali Nazarov’s press accreditation and cease using accreditations as a means of censorship, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Read More ›

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon addresses the UN General Assembly in September 2015. A Tajik court sentenced independent journalist Khayrullo Mirsaidov to 12 years in prison, according to reports. He was arrested in December 2017 after publishing an open letter to Rahmon and others asking them to crackdown on corrupt local authorities, reports stated. (Reuters/Mike Segar)

Tajik journalist sentenced to 12 years after alleging official corruption

New York, July 11, 2018–A Tajik court today found independent journalist Khayrullo Mirsaidov guilty of embezzling and misusing state fund and false reporting to police and sentenced him to 12 years in a high-security prison, according to media reports and the journalist’s friends with whom CPJ spoke. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the ruling…

Read More ›

Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon at the Independence Palace in Minsk, Belarus on November 30, 2017. Tajik authorities arrested journalist Khayrullo Mirsaidov weeks after he published an open letter to Rahmon and several other officials asking them to crack down on corruption. (Reuters/Vasily Fedosenko)

Tajik journalist arrested after alleging official corruption

New York, December 13, 2017–Tajik authorities should immediately release journalist Khayrullo Mirsaidov and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Read More ›