The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) Teresa Ribeiro has called on the Tajik authorities too release all imprisoned journalists

Ms. Ribeiro, in particular, noted in her message on Telegram that the 7-year prison sentence to journalist Zavqibek Saidamini in Tajikistan is yet another blow to media freedom in the country.

All imprisoned journalists must be released and enabled to report on matters of public interest, including on security issues.

“They [journalists] must be given an opportunity to cover issues related to society, including security issues.  Journalism is not a crime,” Ms. Ribeiro added.  

Earlier, in response to news reports that a court in Tajikistan sentenced independent journalist Zavqibek Saidamini to seven years in prison, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued a statement, which in particular, notes that “Tajik authorities have done their utmost to shroud their prosecution of journalists in secrecy.”

“…Available evidence suggests Zavqibek Saidamini, like his fellow journalists Daler Imomali, Abdullo Ghurbati, and Abdusattor Pirmuhammadzoda, is being jailed not as an ‘extremist’ but as an outspoken proponent and practitioner of media freedom, which authorities seem to fear greatly,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, in New York.  “Authorities in Tajikistan should either disclose convincing evidence that these journalists have indeed committed a crime or let them, and all other unjustly imprisoned members of the press, go free at once.”

The statement, which was released on November 4, says the four (Zavqibek Saidamini, Abdusattor Pirmuhammadzoda, Daler Imomali and Abdullo Ghurbati) are among six journalists currently detained in Tajikistan on accusations of major criminal offenses that CPJ considers retaliation for their reporting.

Meanwhile, U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on November 1 sent a letter to the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon sharing their concerns over an escalation of violent harassment of journalists and the government’s failure to protect freedoms of speech and press.

“The recent escalation of repression against journalists and independent media, and specifically those affiliated with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)’s Tajik Service, Radio Ozodi, have given us cause for great concern,” the senators wrote.  “Arbitrary arrests, politically-motivated prosecutions, and violent harassment of RFE/RL employees are unacceptable and threaten to erode the progress our two nations have made toward building a closer, mutually beneficial relationship.”

“We call upon your government to halt all violence and intimidation against journalists,” the senators concluded.  “Additionally, we request that you release journalists who have been unjustly arrested, drop any related charges, and restore access and communication to their lawyers and their families.”