DUSHANBE, January 5, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The Association of Writers of Social and Political Essays of Tajikistan (Association) has selected recipients for the Muteullo Najmiddinov Award 2008.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, the Association head Muhammadjon Toshtemirov said that three journalists had been selected as prize winners.  “Khurshed Atovullo, editor-in-chief of the Dushanbe Tajik-language weekly Farazh , is selected as recipient for the award for a number of essays on the corruption and freedom of speech subjects, Zinnatullo Ismoilov, director of independent TV station Simoi Mustaqili Tojikiston (SMT), is given the award for a number of economic materials, and Vladimir Frolov, deputy editor-in-chief of the Dushanbe Russian-language weekly Kuryer Tadzhikistana , has been selected as recipient for the award for a number of materials on friendship and cooperation between the peoples of Tajikistan and Russia,” Toshtemirov said.

According to him, the competition was held under support of the Russian Embassy in Dushanbe.

The award of 800 somoni will be handed over to them together with the certificate in the near future, the Association head noted.