For 6 months now, 5 employees of the Tajik service of radio “Svoboda” have been denied accreditation. Tajik media organizations called on the authorities to resolve this issue. Earlier, the US Congress expressed its concern about this. We publish the text of the statement in full.
“The National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan and the Media Council of Tajikistan express their concern about the situation regarding the accreditation of the correspondents of radio “Ozodi” at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan and urge the authorities not to use the mechanism for accrediting foreign media journalists as an instrument of limitation freedom of speech in the country. The accreditation mechanism should facilitate the effective exercise of the professional rights of journalists, and not limit their professional activities. The repressive method of using journalist accreditation negatively affects the country’s image in the information community.”
For more than 6 months, five employees of radio “Ozodi” have been denied accreditation, another nine correspondents, whose accreditation expires on November 1, are awaiting a decision of the authorized authorities. “Unfortunately, the stipulated terms, not exceeding one month from the day of receipt of the corresponding written appeal, are not fulfilled by the authorized state body. Sharing the fears of the administration of radio “Ozodi”, we cannot be indifferent to the problems of our colleagues from radio “Ozodi”, because they are all citizens of Tajikistan, and circumstances with accreditation prevent them from realizing their right to work and a deserved salary.
Expressed dissatisfaction with the “unfounded” and “contrary to journalistic ethics” publications of journalists of radio “Ozodi” and other fictitious reasons, that served as a deprivation of their accreditation, fundamentally contradict the provisions of paragraph 21 of the current Regulation on accreditation, which states “Foreign correspondents have the right for the free transfer of their materials (radio, video and information on TV) excluding any censorship of them.”
We are convinced that the requirement for accreditation of foreign media journalists should not contradict international standards of freedom of information and the norms of the country’s legislation. It is noteworthy that the current Regulation on the accreditation of foreign media correspondents in Tajikistan is outdated, and refers to the norms of the old Press Law.
We call on the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan to revise the Regulation on the accreditation of foreign media correspondents on the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan (approved by the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan dated January 27, 1995, №108) in order to bring this subordinate act in accordance with international obligations and norms of the legislation of the country. The country’s media organizations are ready to assist in the development of a new by-law that meets international standards and applicable national legislation.
The US Congress sent a letter to the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, in which it expressed concern about reports of harassment, threats, and denial of accreditation of journalists from the Tajik Bureau of Radio “Free Europe” / Radio “Svoboda” (radio “Ozodi”).
The letter, signed by democrats’ representative, Adam B. Schiff, and republicans’ representative, Steve Chabot, says the U.S. Congress, which sponsors Radio “Free Europe” / Radio “Svoboda” and advocates for the development of a free and independent press, is concerned about the ongoing a situation that “could undermine US-Tajikistan relations and undermine the image of Tajikistan”.
The letter, dated October 9, states that to date, 9 journalists and employees of the radio “Ozodi” have been suspended from activities due to the lack of accreditation issued by the MFA of Tajikistan.
Among them are the head of the Bureau of Dushanbe, as well as a journalist who, since 2017, has been waiting for permission from the MFA to carry out professional activities. In June of this year, the MFA revoked the accreditation of the video operator of radio “Ozodi”, Barotali Nazarov (Barot Yusufi). In addition, the letter said, the accreditation of another 9 employees of radio “Ozodi” is coming to the end in November of this year.
The letter states that Radio “Free Europe” / Radio “Svoboda” adhere to international journalism standards and their mission is to provide truthful information to their audience.
In the end, the authors of the letter urge the President of Tajikistan to assist in continuing the activities of the radio “Ozodi”and obtaining accreditation for its staff.
This is not the first time that the accreditation process causes concern. In 2016, after the publication of an article on the new post of one of the daughters of President Emomali Rahmon in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the MFA revoked the accreditation of six employees of the Tajik Service of Radio “Free Europe” / Radio “Svoboda”.
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