The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan opened a criminal case on the fact of attacking journalists of Radio Ozodi and Present Time, theft of their personal and office property under Article 248 part 2 (“Robbery”) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan. The journalists were recognized as victims.
Lawyer Abdurahmon Sharipov, whose services are provided to the victims by the NGO Independent Center for the Protection of Human Rights, said the following: On May 31, an investigator of the DMIA-2 of Sino district of the capital reported that a criminal case had been initiated under Article 248 part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan on the fact of attacking journalists and stealing their property, as well as openly taking property of the Radio Ozodi Bureau in Tajikistan.
According to him, on June 1, journalist Mulloradjab Yusufzoda told him that on May 28 in the evening on the capital’s Lokhuti street, during a family walk, an unfamiliar man approached him and said that the property confiscated from journalists was with him. And if he withdraws his complaint from the DMIA-2 of Sino district, it will be returned to them. He has also added that if the complaint is not withdrawn, then the journalist Mulloradjab Yusufzoda should think about the health of his family members.
On June 2, lawyers Abdurahmon Sharipov and Nargis Khodieva, together with the acting head of the Radio Ozodi Bureau in Tajikistan, at the request of journalist Mulloradjab Yusufzoda, drew up a statement on the application of measures to ensure the safety of journalists as participants in criminal proceedings, which was transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan on the same day.
On the same day, the lawyers, together with the acting head of the Radio Ozodi Bureau in Tajikistan, visited the head of the investigative department of the DMIA-2 of Sino district and handed over a power of attorney for the participation of the representative of the Radio Ozodi Bureau in Tajikistan as the offended party in this criminal case.
“On June 7, within the framework of the criminal case, investigative actions were launched: interrogations of journalists and a representative by proxy of the Radio Ozodi Bureau in Tajikistan as victims, as well as checking the testimonies of the victims at the scene,” said lawyer Nargis Khodieva.
According to the lawyer, on June 8, a written notification was received from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan addressed to the head of the Radio Ozodi Bureau in Tajikistan that the statement on the application of measures to ensure the safety of journalists, as participants in criminal proceedings, was submitted for execution to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the city of Dushanbe.
On May 18, 2022, the Independent Center for the Protection of Human Rights received a written request from the head of the Radio Ozodi Bureau in Tajikistan to provide legal assistance in connection with the attack on journalists from Radio Ozodi and Present Time. The organization provided the services of lawyers Abdurahmon Sharipov and Nargis Khodieva.
On May 17 in Dushanbe, unidentified men in civilian clothes attacked journalists of Present Time TV channel and the Tajik service of Radio Liberty (Radio Ozodi).
According to Anushervon Aripov, the film crew of Present Time was returning from the interview with Ulfathonim Mamadshoeva (a civic activist and journalist believed by the authorities to be one of the organizers of the illegal rally in Khorog).
“There were three of us – the operator, our driver and me. We got into the car and were about to go to the office, when suddenly a tinted white foreign car without numbers blocked our way. Three unidentified people in civilian clothes jumped out of there, took our phones, dragged us outside, forced us to open the trunk, took away all the equipment. They ignored our requests to introduce themselves. We said that we were journalists, and they replied, “We know well who you are,” and left,” says Aripov.
A similar incident occurred with Radio Ozodi’s journalists Mulloradjab Yusufi and Barot Yusufi in the same location – near the house of activist Ulfathonim Mamadshoeva.
“We recorded an interview with her in the yard and were returning to the car. Suddenly, two strangers approached us, forcibly took our mobile phones from us and inflicted several blows on our face and body. One of them called me by my name and threatened to shoot me,” Mulloradjab Yusufi said.
Journalists from Present Time and Radio Ozodi covered the events in Khorog, local media are prohibited from doing so under threat of closure. On the morning of May 17, the independent Asia Plus news agency reported that it would refrain from covering the events in GBAO due to pressure from the authorities.
Journalists from Present Time and Radio Ozodi covered the events in Khorog. Local media are prohibited from doing so under threat of closure. On the morning of May 17, the independent news agency “Asia Plus” reported that it would refrain from covering the events in GBAO due to pressure from the authorities.
