#ozodi

[mariacallous]

Hundreds of Tajikistani citizens are currently stuck in Moscow airports, according to the country’s foreign ministry. As of Saturday night, the agency reported, 954 people from Tajikistan were being held “in unsanitary conditions” in Vnukovo Airport’s temporary detention zone, including people studying at Russian educational institutions under the Russian government’s foreign student quotas. Meanwhile, dozens of other Tajikistanis are reportedly stranded in the city’s other airports.

On Sunday, the ministry reported that 322 of the people held at Vnukovo had been released “after many hours of waiting” and that the Russian authorities planned to “put 306 people on a so-called deportation list.” Twenty-seven people have reportedly been deported already. “Such restrictive measures are being applied exclusively to citizens of Tajikistan,” the agency said. That evening, it released a recommendation for its citizens to “temporarily refrain from traveling to Russian territory by all types of transport unless absolutely necessary.”

On Saturday, Tajikistani Foreign Ministry representatives met with Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan Semyon Grigoryev. According to the ministry’s report on the meeting, the officials discussed “difficulties” that Tajikistani citizens have faced when crossing the Russian border in recent years. On April 29, the Tajikistani ministry said it had sent an official note expressing its “serious concern over the widespread cases of emphatically negative treatment” of Tajikistani citizens on Russian territory as well as “widespread violations of their rights and freedoms.”

According to Tajikistan’s Radio Europe/Radio Free Liberty affiliate, Radio Ozodi, several Tajikistani citizens said on April 26 that they had been held in Vnukovo for three days and that 500 of their compatriots were still stuck there.

On April 25, the outlet Asia-Plus reported that approximately 180 vehicles with Tajikistani license plates had been stuck at the Russia-Kazakhstan border for three days and were not being permitted to enter Russia.

“Other citizens are being allowed [into Russia] — it’s only Tajiks that aren’t. There are about 180 cars, most of them with Tajikistani plates. Each car has between five and 10–12 passengers, most of them women and children,” one traveler told journalists.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Sunday that the situation at the border is linked to “increased security measures” in response to the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack last month and the “continuation of the terrorism threat.” She claimed the border checks were being conducted “regardless of the citizenship of the individuals crossing the border.”

Central Asians in Russia have faced increased scrutiny from law enforcement since the Crocus City Hall attack, in connection with which four Tajikistani citizens have been charged. In late March, Tajikistan’s Labor Ministry reported an outflux of labor migrants from Russia. Deputy Labor Minister Shakhnoza Nodiri said the situation was “less about complaints of persecution than about our citizens’ fears and panic,” though she added that there had also been a spike in recorded harassment incidents against Tajikistani citizens.

[apptworadioapps]

Radio Tajikistan FM & AM + Radio Online - (Radio Android Application 🇹🇯📻)

Sure, here is an article about radio stations in Tajikistan:

Radio is a powerful medium that has the ability to bring people together and disseminate information. Tajikistan, a country in Central Asia, has a number of radio stations that serve its diverse population.

One of the most popular radio stations in Tajikistan is Radio Ozodi. This station is a part of the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and broadcasts in Tajik and Russian languages. It covers a wide range of topics, including news, current affairs, sports, and entertainment.

Another popular radio station in Tajikistan is Radio Dushanbe. This station broadcasts in Tajik language and covers news, current affairs, and music. It has a wide reach and is popular among both urban and rural audiences.

Radio Khovar is another well-known radio station in Tajikistan. It is the official radio station of the government of Tajikistan and broadcasts in Tajik language. The station covers news, current affairs, and cultural programs.

Radio Navruz is a privately owned radio station that broadcasts in Tajik and Russian languages. It covers news, music, and cultural programs and is popular among younger audiences.

Radio Varzish is a sports-focused radio station in Tajikistan. It covers local and international sports events, including football, basketball, and tennis. The station broadcasts in Tajik language and has a wide reach in the country.

Radio Avicenna is a health-focused radio station in Tajikistan. It covers health and wellness topics, including nutrition, exercise, and mental health. The station broadcasts in Tajik language and is popular among health-conscious audiences.

In conclusion, radio stations in Tajikistan serve a diverse population and cover a wide range of topics. From news and current affairs to sports and entertainment, these stations play an important role in informing and entertaining audiences across the country.

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[doonitedin]

Taliban seize $6 million in cash, 15 gold bricks from ex-Vice President Amrullah Saleh's house

Taliban seize $6 million in cash, 15 gold bricks from ex-Vice President Amrullah Saleh’s house

Image Source : AP US diplomatic cables revealed that one Afghan Vice-President flew to Dubai with 38 million pounds in cash and that drug traffickers and corrupt officials were shifting 170 million pounds a week out of the country where average incomes were scarcely 430 pounds a year, the report said.   Taliban fighters have claimed in a viral video that they have seized up to $6 million in cash…

[selenocysteine]

Tajikistan: The Taliban's Toughest Critic

The surprising speed with which the Taliban took control over most of Afghanistan after foreign forces began withdrawing from the country left Afghanistan’s neighbors in a difficult predicament. All of them had considered the possibility the militant group could seize power, but suddenly they needed to publicly state what their policy toward Taliban-ruled Afghanistan was. Generally, the response was that the Taliban in charge was the reality and the neighboring countries were willing to at least talk with these new leaders of Afghanistan.

Except Tajikistan. Pakistan -- long a backer of the Taliban -- clearly welcomed the group's success in Afghanistan. China, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan all conceded there was nothing they could do about Afghan internal politics and held out hope that some form of cooperation with the Taliban might be possible. But Tajik authorities have taken a different position and that has raised questions about why Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and his government continue to make clear their strong opposition to a Taliban government in Afghanistan. First, it is worth remembering that Rahmon was Tajikistan’s leader more than 20 years ago when the Taliban had control of most of Afghanistan. None of the other current leaders in the countries bordering Afghanistan were in power when the Taliban was ousted by a U.S.-led military invasion in 2001. Rahmon supported a group led by ethnic Tajiks in Afghanistan who were fighting the Taliban in the late 1990s and he has given moral support to the ethnic Tajiks in Afghanistan now -- including the holdout group in the Panjshir Valley that continues to oppose Taliban rule. There is a large population of ethnic Tajiks in Afghanistan -- where they make up about 25 percent of the population -- and the Tajiks in Tajikistan feel a strong connection to them. That is not true of any of the other states neighboring Afghanistan. In fact, Rahmon’s public concern for the Tajiks in Afghanistan has earned the generally unpopular leader of Tajikistan some rare public support in his country, an important detail as he positions his eldest son, Rustam, to take over as president.

Tajikistan's Civil War There is another reason it would be difficult for Rahmon’s government to publicly engage with the Taliban. 

During Tajikistan’s 1992-1997 civil war, the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) was the major group in an alliance of forces fighting against the Tajik government. The war ended with a peace agreement that provided for 30 percent of the positions in government to be filled by representatives of the wartime opposition. The IRPT was legalized and was the second largest party in Tajikistan after Rahmon’s People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan.

The IRPT was also potentially the biggest threat to Rahmon’s increasing grip on power and in September 2015 -- after years of pressuring the IRPT and its leadership and whittling down its places in state bodies -- the government used a bizarre and vague incident involving a high-ranking officer in the Defense Ministry to make dubious claims that the IRPT had tried to stage a coup. The IRPT was quickly declared an extremist group and its activities banned in Tajikistan. The IRPT is an Islamic-based political party, but it is far more moderate than the Taliban. It is difficult to see how the Tajik government could establish ties with the Taliban, let alone consider recognizing a Taliban government, while continuing to hunt and repress members of the IRPT. And Tajikistan’s chief Islamic cleric, Saidmukarram Abdulkodirzoda, made it clear in a September 11 interview with state news agency Khovar that improving ties with the Taliban is out of the question. “Islam is compassion and brotherhood," Abdulkodirzoda said. "But today the terrorist movement known as the Taliban call themselves an Islamic state and execute women, children, and brothers." Abdulkodirzoda had more to say and, since all of Tajikistan’s top clerics are carefully vetted by the government, his views can be taken as the government’s views.

The big question is how Rahmon and his government can feel so confident in confronting the Taliban. The answer to this is more difficult to discern. Tajikistan is, in terms of territory, the smallest of Afghanistan’s neighbors and economically it is the poorest. Though small, Tajikistan’s military has been receiving help from powerful countries for many years. Russia is the biggest supplier of arms to Tajikistan, but China has been increasing its aid to the country's armed forces for more than a decade. And the United States, NATO, the European Union, and the OSCE -- while not supplying weapons -- have been helping with money and equipment for border posts, surveillance equipment, winter and summer clothing, off-road vehicles, and other such items. None of that is likely to cow the Taliban or, more importantly for Tajikistan, some of the extremist groups that have been fighting alongside the Taliban for years, many with roots in Tajikistan. And Rahmon seems quite aware of this. Not many countries welcomed the Taliban coming to power in Afghanistan. Official press statements often express a fatalism about the turn of events, but there is not much enthusiasm for what has happened since the U.S.-led military withdrawal began on May 1. Tajikistan’s government is no doubt saying what many governments are thinking.

The Carnegie Endowment's Paul Stronski mentioned this during a recent Majlis podcast and suggested Tajikistan is a messenger for the views of other countries. Tajik political expert Khairullo Mirsaidov agreed, telling RFE/RL’s Tajik Service, known locally as Ozodi, “Rahmon could not have made such a statement without Russian consent. Now that the United States has left the region, Russia does not want to give full control of Afghanistan to Pakistan.” He added: “It also gives momentum for Rahmon to take an opportunity for internal use of the topic, bringing him closer to his own people.” Russia has a military base in Tajikistan and China has a small military post in the eastern part of the country. Both Moscow and Beijing have expressed confidence that it is possible to deal with the Taliban, but both are concerned by the presence of militants from their own countries who are in groups currently inside Afghanistan that are allied to the Taliban. And there are many countries with citizens still inside Afghanistan and the governments of those countries need to keep this in consideration when commenting on events in the country. After Rahmon said during an August 25 meeting with visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi that Tajikistan would not recognize any Afghan government that was seen as exclusive, he specifically mentioned that he expected ethnic Tajiks to be included. The next day, French President Emmanuel Macron invited Rahmon to visit Paris. Which proved that there are obviously some dividends to be gained by openly opposing Taliban rule in Afghanistan -- and Rahmon seems to appreciate that.

RFE/RL Tajik Service Director Salimjon Aioubov contributed to this report.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-taliban-relations/31458393.html

[campplay]

143 soldiers fleeing Afghanistan entered Tajikistan

143 soldiers fleeing Afghanistan entered Tajikistan

The progress of the Taliban, which started with the withdrawal of the USA in Afghanistan, cannot be stopped. Having captured many regions, the Taliban entered the capital, Kabul. President Ashraf Ghani left the country, claiming that it was to prevent bloodshed in Kabul and the destruction of the city. Ozodi Radio, broadcasting in Tajik, announced that 3 planes and 2 helicopters, including 143…

[globalexpressnews]

Ashraf Ghani fled Kabul with $169 million in cash

Ashraf Ghani fled Kabul with $169 million in cash

Image Source : AP/ REPRESENTATIONAL. Ashraf Ghani fled Kabul with $169 million in cash. Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mohammad Zahir Agbar, has claimed that President Ashraf Ghani had “taken $169 million with him” when he fled Afghanistan. He said that Ghani should be arrested and the wealth of the Afghan nation be restored, Ozodi reported. Speaking at a news conference in Dushanbe on…

[tefftheory]

So proud + happy to share CONCRETE MAGNOLIA – fashion story I art directed and photographed July, 2016 with a phenomenal group of women. From producer and stylist, Jennifer Nnamani of Beau Monde Society, to the assistant, Ozodi Onyeabor and of course, model/muse/MUA, Ronyca Kelly and designs sourced from 7 women designers based in the NYC area.

View the entire story here.

[samarkandtours]

Dusti Square located in the center of Dushanbe is the heart of the capital and entire Tajikistan. Its name is translated as “Friendship Square”. However, locals call this place “monument of Ismail Somoni” or “Park Somoni” as there is a monument to the founder of the Tajik state Ismail Somoni.

Dushanbe as a city appeared only in the second half of the 19th century. The central square appeared even later; it appeared as Lenin Square in the 1930’s. Different state establishments began growing there: the Main Post Office, then House of Government, and other statutory institutions. After becoming independent in 1991, square was named “Ozodi” meaning “freedom”. Later in 1997 the monument to Ismail Somoni, Arch of Independence and other sights were built there.

https://samarkandtours.com/tajikistan/dushanbe/dusti-square/

[omgstupendousbouquetbasement]

Tajikistan Ban on Website ‘Direct Attack on Press Freedom,' Editor Says 

While the world was distracted by the spread of COVID-19, Tajikistan’s Supreme Court banned the Prague-based news outlet Akhbor, ruling that the site’s content served the interests of “terrorists and extremists.” 

The court in March ordered Akhbor to be blocked in Tajikistan and ruled it could not operate legally as a media outlet. 

Akhbor’s chief editor and founder, Mirzo Salimpur, formerly with Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service (Radio Ozodi), said the ban had a clear message: Independent press will not be tolerated by the government in Tajikistan. 

“It’s a direct attack on media freedom,” Salimpur said.  

In a February 18 statement, the country’s chief prosecutor’s office said it took legal action “to protect the constitutional system, national security, rights and interests of the Tajik people, and to counter terrorism and extremism.”  

The Tajik authorities accused Akhbor of promoting outlawed groups such as the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT).  It was country’s largest opposition party until the government declared it a terrorist organization in 2015.  

Salimpur denied that his site represents or serves the interests of anyone other than the Tajik people who, he said, lack access to credible news and analysis.  

Western donors fund Akhbor

Publishing in Tajik and Russian and funded by Western donors, Akhbor covers issues relating to Tajiks across Central Asia, Russia and beyond. It does not have any full-time staff inside the country but relies on an extensive informal network of activists, bloggers and stringers.  

Steve Swerdlow, a U.S.-based human rights attorney who has been monitoring the Tajik media landscape, said Akhbor was a useful source of independent news.   

“Akhbor is one of the news sites I turn to on a daily basis to track the most important developments in Tajikistan,” Swerdlow said.  

“Since founding his small but scrappy outlet in late 2016, Salimpur elevated Akhbor into one of the best sources for daily, independent news on Tajikistan available, often uncovering what the Tajik authorities do not want to disclose.” 

Swerdlow believes the court’s decision was punishment for Akhbor’s critical coverage of the government’s response to the pandemic.  

COVID-19 cases confirmed

The country’s health ministry Thursday confirmed Tajikistan has 15 cases of COVID-19. 

“Akhbor’s series of articles covering President [Emomali] Rahmon’s persistent denial of the reality of the virus and his decision to regale himself with mass celebrations of thousands of people around the Nawruz holiday in late March greatly angered the authorities,” Swerdlow said.  

The Ministry of Communications referred VOA to the Supreme Court ruling. It did not respond to a follow-up request for comment. The National Association of Independent Mass Media did not respond to VOA’s request for comment.  

Edward Lemon, professor of Central Asian studies at the Daniel Morgan Graduate School in Washington, told VOA he views Akhbor as an independent news website.  

“The website presents information that is independent and often critical of the government. As with other media outlets, they can be somewhat sensationalist and spread stories that are not accurate,” Lemon said. 

“But when Radio Ozodi went through its period of not being critical of the government, Akhbor was a go-to source on information for many, and broke key stories like the arrest of business magnate Radjabali Odinayev in 2017,” he said. 

'We cover corruption'

Salimpur told VOA that the prosecutor’s office did not contact Akhbor before opening a criminal case against it.  

“They aren’t banning us because they associate us with the opposition,” Salimpur said. “One or two stories out of our 500 reports on our site are about those groups. They’re blocking us because we cover corruption and other deeply rooted problems.”  

Some local media said they see the ban as a political move. Journalist Zafar Sufi, a columnist and founder of the media group Ozodagon, said he believes the Supreme Court ban highlights Akhbor’s independence.   

“The government watches it and acknowledges its output. The chief prosecutor’s office and the Supreme Court through their actions are basically recognizing this as a serious platform. … Its honest and deep coverage, quest for transparency and justice are being recognized by the state,” Sufi commented on his Facebook page.  

Blocking preceded ban

Even before the ban, Akhbor was subjected to blocking. Accessing the site inside Tajikistan requires use of a VPN. Salimpur’s main concern is the safety of the site’s users and followers.  

VOA asked Tajik legal analyst Shokirjon Hakimov about measures that could be taken against those relying on Akhbor or working for it informally.  

“As of this moment I know of no cases where readers or visitors of the site have been punished. But one may encounter trouble if authorities catch you promoting or spreading content about extremism or terrorism or commenting on them,” he said.   

Hakimov thinks the ban will harm society, since no one benefits from losing access to information.  

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the ban, calling it "blatant censorship.” 

“[The ban] potentially puts people’s lives in danger amid the coronavirus pandemic, when independent media is more important than ever,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia coordinator.  

Reporters Without Borders ranked Tajikistan 161st out of 180 countries in its 2020 World Press Freedom Index, in which 1 is considered the most free.

from Blogger https://ift.tt/2KQPlW8 via IFTTT

[ssbprep]

Accreditation Battle Continues Between RFE/RL and Tajikistan

Accreditation Battle Continues Between RFE/RL and Tajikistan

Advertisement

On January 21, the Tajik Foreign Ministry issued six-month accreditations to four employees of RFE/RL’s Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, while continuing to stall on issuing accreditation to seven of the service’s journalists.

In late October 2019, Tajik authorities renewed the accreditation of seven RFE/RL employees — six for six months and one for three months —…

[thedushanbediaries-blog]

Street Art: the Statue of Ismail Samani 

Even in a country so historically conscious, it’s certainly difficult to ignore the defining presence of Isma'il ibn Ahmad (Ismail Samani) amongst Tajiki culture and society. His name and likeness, gracing Mountain Peaks, the national currency, and even the 100 Somoni bill, is an icon of Tajikistan’s colourful history and is honoured as such in the form of a large (and very golden) statue. Built in 1999 on the 1100th anniversary of the founding the of the Sasanids dynasty, the ‘impressively’ looking monument gazes over Ozodi Square in the heart of the nations capital, Dushanbe.

Sure, not every country on Earth dedicates a 25 metre tall statue to an 1100 year old leader, but his role as the founding father of Central Asia is one that isn’t easily lost over time. Having been suppressed as a symbol of national pride throughout he Soviet years, the reinstatement of Ismail as the cultural figurehead of the Tajiki state during the final years of the 20th century was hugely important to the socio-historical revival of Tajikistani self governance. As such, the pride of place taken by this statue has artistic as well political value, representing a victory for the people in regaining historic memories and identity. 

Indeed, while the statue itself ranks as #5 out of 60 ‘Things to Do’ on tripadvisor.com, the value of the monument is cemented deeply within the historical framework of a nation still recovering from the transition to independent rule. In this sense, travellers wishing to visit the statue and its surrounding grounds gain not only a free insight into the history of the nation, but also its vision looking forward into the future.

Image © Marlies Iserlohe 2017

[dailybrian]

Tajikistan: State agency-linked company monopolizing public Wi-Fi

New on www.DailyBrian.com

https://www.dailybrian.com/aw/tajikistan-state-agency-linked-company-monopolizing-public-wi-fi/?utm_source=TR&utm_medium=DailyBrian&utm_campaign=SNAP%2Bfrom%2BThe+Daily+Brian

Tajikistan: State agency-linked company monopolizing public Wi-Fi

Lank to thishere Artikul:  Lank to thishere Artikul: ...

[seemabtechno]

Newspapers from Tajikistan: Here is a list of the dominant online Newspapers, Magazines, news websites, online television and radio channels from Tajikistan on the latest political and social matters.

o        Asia Plus

o        AKN

o        Avesta

o        ASIA-Plus

o        Eurasia Insight Tajikistan (EN)

o        avesta.tj

o        Jumhuriyat

o        Faraj

o        khovar.tj

o        Khovar

o        NYT Tajikistan

o        Khovar.tj - Агентии Миллии Иттилоотии Точикистон

o        Radio Tiroz

o        Ozodi

o        Times of Central Asia

o        Tajikistan humanitarian news and analysis a service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (EN)

o        Главная | Новости Таджикистана-ИА «Азия-Плюс» - AsiaPlus

o        Tojikiston

o        Радиои Озод - Radio Free Europe

o        Новости СНГ - SNGnews

o        ХУШ ОМАДЕД БА САҲИФАИ АСОСӢ AKH

o        ·          

[selenocysteine]

Radio Ozodi

Radio Ozodi is a trusted source of local news, attracting outsized audiences with compelling reporting on issues not otherwise covered by Tajikistan’s state-run media.

Fast Facts

RFE/RL’s Tajik Service, operating out of its Dushanbe bureau, is the only Tajik-language media consistently challenging the state’s tightly controlled press and propaganda with high-impact reporting on the most popular digital platforms about local politics and economics, societal issues, and human rights.

According to a Media Preferability survey conducted by national media monitors Media-Consult and Zerkalo, Ozodi.org is the number one news website in Tajikistan.

Its local reporting on religious freedom, Islamic State recruiting, law enforcement, family reunification, and women’s and minority rights is relied on by international agencies and monitoring groups, and has been commended by the International Red Cross, The UN Committee on Women’s Rights, and the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Its local network inside the country affords it unique reporting opportunities, including coverage of the fatal attack against foreign cyclists in 2018 that was quoted by the BBC, NPR, ABC, Fox News, Russian channel 1, the Guardian, The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and other major international media.

Radio Ozodi is a critical source of local language news for Tajik labor migrants in Russia – over 1 million -- who rely on it for information about their native country that is uncensored by Tajik-state media, and for news that is independent of the Russian press.

Radio Ozodi’s website and Facebook pages have been blocked by authorities in response to reporting deemed to be undesirable, including coverage of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2015, radicalism and extremist recruiting, official corruption, and the country’s leaders. Users in Tajikistan must access ozodi.org through proxies.

In 2018, The Institute for War and Peace Reporting recognized correspondent Sarvinoz Ruhulloh for reporting on the problems of women and children, and Orzu Karim for coverage of extremism and terrorism.

In press freedom rankings, Tajikistan is designated Not Free by Freedom House and ranked 186/198. Authorities control most of the country’s broadcasting facilities and internet service providers, practice selective accreditation of journalists, and actively intimidate journalists.

Facts & Stats about Tajikistan

Population: 8.92 million (World Bank estimate, 2017)

Most Common Languages: Tajik, Russian, Uzbek

Press Freedom Index (Freedom House): Not Free, 87th out of 100 (2017)

Press Freedom Index (RSF): 161 out of 180 (2019)

Corruption Index (Transparency Int.): 152 out of 180 (2018)

Global Peace Index (IES): 114 out of 163 (2018)

Human Rights Watch: Report on Tajikistan (2019)

Amnesty International: Tajikistan Report (2017/2018)

(read more: https://pressroom.rferl.org/rferl-tajik-service-radio-ozodi)

[ypaithros-blog]

Καρδίτσα: Το πρόγραμμα ελέγχων στις κτηνοτροφικές μονάδες για την οζώδη δερματίτιδα

http://www.ypaithros.gr/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/anotera-via-i-ozodis-dermatitida-ton-vooeidon.jpg

[selenocysteine]

RFE/RL Criticizes Tajikistan’s Attempts To Interfere With Coronavirus Reporting

WASHINGTON -- RFE/RL President Jamie Fly has criticized the government of Tajikistan for obstructing the efforts of the broadcasters' journalists to cover the coronavirus pandemic in the Central Asian nation. Fly expressed frustration at the government’s attempts to interfere with the operations of the service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, at a time when information "is needed more than ever.” Fly spelled out his objections to Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin in a letter dated March 31. Fly's letter comes as Muhriddin's ministry is set to decide on long-standing accreditation requests from Radio Ozodi journalists on April 1. The ministry has been reluctant since late October to fully grant one-year accreditations to 18 RFE/RL journalists and staff members of RFE/RL’s Tajik Service whose credentials have been withheld by the ministry or which expired on November 1. The Tajik Foreign Ministry on January 21 said it had issued six-month accreditations to four employees of the bureau, including a driver. Accreditations for seven other journalists, including two former bureau chiefs, whom RFE/RL's Tajik Service had to replace due to the lack of accreditation, are pending, it added. The RFE/RL president said authorities have refused to meet with Radio Ozodi’s reporters and have excluded them from public health briefings. “We suspect, bizarrely, that it was precisely our active reporting about the virus that led the government last week to ban Ozodi’s website and censor this coverage," Fly said. Radio Ozodi plays an outsized role in Tajikistan, a poor Central Asian state bordering China and Afghanistan. Critics have assailed the government there for not acknowledging that there have been coronavirus cases in the country and that they are being registered as other diseases. Fly deplored the actions, describing them as "an effort to control who works for Ozodi and what they report," and as a betrayal of an explicit pledge made by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to RFE/RL last year. He decried other efforts to harass and intimidate Ozodi staff members, including comments posted by some government officials applauding the denial of accreditation, accusing Ozodi journalists of “incitement” and “disloyalty to the state,” and labeling the service’s Dushanbe bureau “a nest for espionage.”

April 01, 2020 06:05 GMT

https://www.rferl.org/a/rfe-rl-criticizes-tajikistan-s-attempts-to-interfere-with-coronavirus-reporting/30521481.html?ltflags=mailer