DUSHANBE, July 16, 2011, Asia-Plus -- The Media Alliance of Tajikistan (MAT) considers that Suhrob Sharipov, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan, and Sherkhon Salimzoda, Prosecutor-General of Tajikistan, have played an important role in release of the BBC reporter Urunboy Usmonov.

The MAT Secretary General Khurshed Atovullo, who is also editor-in-chief of the Farazh weekly, remarked this in an interview with Asia-Plus.

“On the one hand, the fact that there are officials supporting journalists gives hope, while on the other hand, they have done that only after statements made by international media organizations, embassies of the countries the European Union and other international organizations,” said Atovullo, “I, however, think that release of Urunboy Usmonov is the first step and it is till premature to say that they will always deal fairly by detained journalists.”

He reminded that Muhammadyusuf Ismoilov, a correspondent for Nouri Zindagi in Asht district, has still been in custody since November 2010.