In Tajikistan, journalists condemned detention of correspondents of radio “Svoboda”

The illegal detention and pressure on journalists of radio “Svoboda” caused a wide resonance in Tajikistan. In this regard, the European Congress of Tajik journalists and bloggers issued a special statement. Below is the text of this statement.

“On October 7, 2019, Afson Akobirshoev and Takhmina Khakimova, correspondents of radio “Svoboda” in Tajikistan, were detained in Dushanbe by law enforcement officials while carrying out their professional activities.

Despite the fact that “the identities of the detainees were established” at the place of detention, the journalists were forcibly taken to the police department of Firdavsi district of Dushanbe and interrogated as part of a police investigation unknown to them before.

The police deleted the footage from the cameras without the consent of the journalists. After 2.5 hours, they were released.

Later, four civilian law enforcement officers entered the office of radio “Svoboda” in Dushanbe and put pressure on the media staff, demanding the deletion of publications about the detention of journalists. They were denied.

The European Congress of Tajik journalists and bloggers strongly condemns the illegal actions of police officers, who have gone beyond their official powers, and calls on the administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, which is demonstrating increasing openness as part of the ongoing police reform supported by the European Union, to respond to the offense properly.

We also urge the journalistic community and civil society of the country not to hush up cases of human rights violations, pressure on the media and individual journalists, to publicize every case of censorship, and to actively protect the rights of citizens to freely exchange information guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan.”