Media ombudsman institution has begun operating in Tajikistan.  Media ombudsmen are called upon to monitor the objective and impartial coverage of events in the country’s media as well as the observance of journalistic ethics. 

The media ombudsman institution has been established in Tajikistan under support of international organization Internews Network, Nouriddin Qarshiboyev, the head of the Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit), told Asia-Plus in an interview.  

“Media ombudsmen now work with six regional media outlets: TV Asia; TV SM-1 (Sughd province); Farazh and Samak weeklies; Center for Investigative Journalism; and SughdNews agency.  

“Media ombudsmen do not have the right to interfere in the choice of theme for article or obstruct the publican of an article,” Qarshiboyev stressed.   

Shamsullo Fozlov, Gulnora Amirshoyeva and Azamkhon Akbarov have become the first media ombudsmen in Tajikistan.  

The first media ombudsmen will work in Tajikistan on a voluntary basis.

Nouriddin Qarshiboyev considers that the objective and impartial coverage of events as well as the observance of journalistic ethics will prevent litigations of local media with government agencies, physical and legal entities.