CONTENT

2 I. FOREWORD 3 II. HISTORY 3 War 4 Killing of journalists 5 Newspapers closed, media in exile 6 TV stations closed 7 III. LEGISLATION 7 General 8 Overview of the legal base 8 The Constitution 8 Law “On Press and Other Media” 9 Law “On Television and Radio” 10 Regulations on “Order of Licensing in Sphere of Television and Radio” 10 Criminal code (libel) 11 IV. SYSTEM / STRUCTURE OF MEDIA 11 General 11 Self-censored journalism 13 Lack of professionalism 13 Private radios: a new opening? 14 Media structure 14 Statistics 14 Electronic media 14 State Television 15 Private televisions 16 Financing of TV stations 16 Radio 17 Licensing 18 Press 18 State-owned press 18 Private media 19 Akbarali Sattorov’s press group 20 Sharif Hamdamov’s press group 20 Newspapers with political content 21 Economy of the newspapers 23 V. ACTIVITIES OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS FOREWORD 2 ......

I. FOREWORD

The weakness of the media in the development of a reasonably plu- fact that the political leadership, Tajikistan is due to many different ralistic and free media system. But, which signed and committed itself to reasons, at the same time structural the absence of the functioning of the freedom of speech and freedom of and linked to the general political, judicial system makes it impossible the media, is the same leadership social and economic circumstances at present to have a basis to under- clearly accused to have been, just a in the country: consequences of the stand and, in the absence of juris- few years ago, directly involved in civil war, loss of competent journal- prudence, what, for example, does numerous murders of journalists. ists (killed or exiled), high costs of “libel” mean in Tajikistan today. The Time is therefore needed before any production (price of paper for news- same absence of clarity concerning significant change can take place in paper amounting sometimes to 30% the conditions to obtain a TV or ra- the Tajik media field. Beyond the le- of the expenses, usual high costs of dio license and the fear of editors to gal or technical changes that might TV production), self-censorship, contest any refusal in Court also be necessary to introduce into the pressure exerted on journalists and make it impossible to work out a media structure, the chances for fu- editors by politicians not used to rela- basis for a coherent policy between ture development for media and tively free press, ruined economy. state- and privately- owned elec- journalism will depend on the readi- The fact that there is presently no tronic media (with the hope to turn ness of the politicians, the media ac- daily newspaper in the country the former into a public service). tors, the representatives of various speaks for itself: for economic rea- Like the Constitution of the Republic public bodies, and of the Tajik soci- sons it is not likely that a daily could of Tajikistan and the democratic prin- ety to engage in a large debate on start up soon and become sustain- ciples contained therein, the laws on the role that the media should and able in the long run. The general bad the media in the country have no could play in present Tajikistan. situation of the media and journal- deep roots, neither among the ma- ism is at the same time appealling This report is the result of a month- jority of media actors and politicians, and perfectly understandable: no- long research in Tajikistan by two nor in the society. The state itself and one would probably consider that any media specialists André Loersch and its functioning are still marked by important institution in the country Mark Grigorian, in September 2000. their very origin: a product of the (the government, the state, the ju- The objective of the research was to cessation of hostilities, with a Peace dicial system, civil society) is func- provide an overview of the overall Agreement signed in 1997 largely tioning in a comprehensive way. media situation in the country, which based on Western inspired political could serve as a base for possible To function, the media requires rela- models, which cannot have been future activities of the Swiss Agency tive understanding and acceptance assimilated in such a short time by a of Development and Cooperation of its role. Despite their contradic- society which only left the Soviet SDC in media field in Tajikistan. tions and the need for a revision, the Union to enter into a brutal civil war existing Constitution of the Republic in 1992. The general weakness of the of Tajikistan, laws, and legal media Tajik media and the fear of the jour- regulations can provide a basis for nalists can only be reinforced by the HISTORY ...... 3

II. HISTORY

The history of media and journalism ation in Tajikistan has been deeply ists (CPJ) attribute, without hesita- in the post-soviet Tajikistan (1991- affected by the long list of killings, tion an overwhelming responsibility 2000) is, on the one hand, marked tortures, arrests, exile, beatings, that to the current Tajik leadership for the by a short period of relative open- many journalists suffered from dur- terror exerted toward the journalists. ness that the media experienced at ing the eight years following that But, more than three years after the the time of the independence (Sep- short opening. The Tajik media now signing of a peace agreement be- tember 1991) until the beginning of seems still deeply conditioned by this tween the Tajik government and the the civil war (mid 1992). On the other recent past which left the journalists United Tajik Opposition (UTO) under hand, it is also characterised by a with a legacy of a fear that “they feel the auspices of the United Nations, longer period of terror for journal- in their bones”, as a Dushanbe-based no significant effort has yet been ists and editors. Not having been in- editor put it during an interview. made to officially establish the depth and systematically studied, the Some well-established international responsibilitiy for the murders of so first period is difficult to imagine con- organizations such as the New York- many journalists. sidering that the present media situ- based Committee to Protect Journal-

War ......

It is a widely spread belief in space given to media issues during During the first round of talks held Tajikistan that the media played a the Inter-Tajik talks that the govern- in Moscow in April 1994, Oleg Panfilov crucial and negative role in the start- ment and UTO initiated in 1994 un- recalls that the “constructive activ- ing of the civil war which, in 6 years, der the auspices of the United Na- ity of the mass media in Tajikistan caused at least 50,000 dead, with tions. A book by the Tajik journalist and its limitation in accordance with some estimations going up to Oleg Panfilov, due to be published in the goal of supporting the process 150,000 victims. But, contrary to the Moscow and covering seven years of national reconciliation” was con- repression which affected the jour- (1992-1998) of events in the media sidered by the negotiators as a meas- nalists, this issue is unfortunately not field in Tajikistan, indicates that me- ure of trust in the process of political precisely documented. Nonetheless, dia was then in no way considered normalisation. the importance and the influence of as a public space for debate or in- During the second round of talks in the political leadership -both from the formation but as a dangerous Teheran in June 1994, the government and the opposition side- weapon, the use of which had to be opposition’s representatives failed in attributed to media is testified by the negotiated in parallel to cease-fires. HISTORY 4 ......

getting the government’s delegation well as demands for liberation of the the completion of the second stage to accept to include in the “text on journalists from the opposition’s side of the military protocol, contained in the agreement to a temporary cease- have also been regularly mentioned the General Agreement, under which fire a point on the re-start of activi- during the successive Inter-Tajik UTO fighters were to be integrated ties of the media forbidden by the talks, as well as the right of repre- into government forces”2 . It is with authorities”. Nonetheless, the final sentatives of both sides to have ac- this conceptual legacy, with the close document contains a mention of the cess to National Television. Last but link between the role of the media media, under the section dedicated not least, the lifting in August 1999 and that of political and armed forces to the “cessation of hostile activities” of the ban imposed on political par- during the conflict, that the Tajik so- aiming at the “cessation of using all ties and mass media, which had been ciety now faces the challenge to es- channels of information and mass imposed in December 1993, came as tablish a reasonably well-functioning media with the intention of under- part of the General Agreement media system in accordance with the mining the process of national rec- signed by UTO and the government democratic goals proclaimed by the onciliation”1 . Freedom of press, as in June 1997. It was “contingent on Constitution of the Republic.

Killing of journalists ......

The first years of the war constitute by people close to the victims (mainly quently been targeted during the the darkest period for Tajik media. colleagues), to paramilitaries of the fighting. A speech or an article criti- In 1994, the New York-based Com- People’s Front of President Emomali cizing certain political groups would mittee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Rakhmonov, or to armed groups af- be enough to provoke the death of noted that “over the past three years, filiated to it. Even if reasons for the some of the journalists, and report- Tajikistan has been the scene of one murders remain unclear in some ing on sensitive subjects such as “the of the most brutal, yet least noticed, cases, many of the killed journalists criminal and political Mafia” in campaigns against press freedom in appeared to be Pamiri, originating Tajikistan6 could prove fatal. the world”.3 With 27 confirmed cases from the region of Gorno-Badakhsan, Such a record brought President of murder, the death toll of journal- often considered as an Islamist Rakhmonov the questionable honour ists in Tajikistan between 1992 and stronghold by the government’s par- to be classified in 1996 in the fifth 1994 is “one of the highest CPJ has tisans and which population had fre- rank on the “Ten Worst Enemies of ever documented”4 . As a compari- the Press” annual list established by 1 Quotations from the manuscript of Oleg Panfilov, son, “in recent years, only Algeria kindly put at the disposal of the authors of the present report. The book is due to be published in Moscow. CPJ, with the names of statesmen and the former Yugoslavia have seen Olev Panfilov, a Tajik journalist, lives in Moscow since 1992. On the side of the opposition, he participated considered accountable for “abysmal comparable numbers of journalists as a special advisor in the 1994-1997 inter-Tajiks talks. press conditions in their own coun- 5 killed because of their profession” . 2 “Tajikistan, Freedom of Expression still Threat- ened”, Human Rights Watch, November 1999, vol. tries”. Mr Rakhmonov was only sur- Shot dead in front of their houses, 11, No. 14 (D). passed this year by the leader of the kidnapped and then left dead in a 3 “A Retreat to Tyranny : Tajikistan Unreported War Against Press Freedom”, Committee to Protect Algerian Armed Islamic Front Abu street or in a field, most of the mur- Journalists, 1994. 4 Ibid. Abdul Rahman, Chinese President ders recorded by CPJ were attributed, 5 Ibid. 6 Case recorded by CPJ of Khushvakht Haydarsho, secretary of the editorial board of the Tajik newspa- per Jumhuriyat, who was shot dead on May 18, 1994, near his home in Dushanbe. He published a series of articles on “the criminal and political Mafia” in Tajikistan. THE MEDIA SITUATION IN TAJIKISTAN / André Loersch & Mark Grigorian ...... 5

Deng Xiaoping, Nigerian President The pressures exerted against jour- cializing in sensitive issues like Viktor Sani Abacha and Turkish Prime Min- nalists remained constant after 1994, Nikulin, specialist of armed and po- ister Mesut Yilmaz7 . The same year, even if in less dramatic proportions litical conflict in Tajikistan (shot dead President Rakhmonov was classified than between 1992 and 1994. The in Dushanbe in March 1996)11 , or in in a similar macabre list, the “hit pa- decrease may be due to the fact, investigations about the drug trade, rade” established by the French stated by CPJ, that almost all inde- like Jumakhon Hotami, Ministry of organisation Reporters sans pendent journalists had fled the Interior Press Centre Chief who had Frontières: 14th out of 25 statesmen8. country by that time.9 But, even at chaired a television program called Interestingly enough he, neverthe- a reduced frequency, the incidents - “fight against crime” (shot down in a less, was not the first Central Asian murders, harassment, beatings- re- suburb of Dushanbe in July 1999)12 . leader on the list, but the third: the corded by organizations such as CPJ, According to data of the Moscow- Turkmen Saparmurat Niyazov ap- Reporters sans Frontières or Human based organization Glasnost Defence peared fourth and the Uzbek Islam Rights Watch would be enough to Foundation, not one single year from Karimov seventh. President keep a constant pressure on the jour- 1992 until 1999 passed by without a Rakhmonov does not appear on the nalists and continuously remind them Tajik journalist being killed. The year last CPJ’s list of the “Ten Worst En- of the danger of their profession. The 2000 is no exception with at least emies of the Press” established on targets would frequently appear to two victims, the last being Iskandar May 3, 2000. In the sixth position, be either journalists having a repu- Khatloni, a Tajik journalist living in Central Asia is, however, repre- tation of relative independence like Moscow, killed at his home by un- sented by the Kazakh President Mohyedin Alempour, chief of the Per- known men in September. Nursultan Nazarbayev. sian service of BBC (shot dead in Dushanbe in December 1995)10 , spe-

Newspapers closed, media in exile ......

The ban on the activities of opposi- thorities to close down. As a result, publication, the Russian-language tion parties was imposed by the Su- wrote CPJ in 1994, “today, the na- Biznes i Politika, can hardly be con- preme Court of Tajikistan in June tional press in Dushanbe consists of sidered a newspaper. It publishes 1993. Activities of groups such as the a few state-owned newspapers, with mostly advertisements and sparse Democratic Party, the Islamic Revival one exception (…) The sole private statistical information about the Party, the National movement economy”.13 “Rastokhez” (Revival) and the Asso- 7 List reproduced in a study in Dortmund Univer- sity in 1999 on the situation of the media in Tajikistan : Some media were coming out in ex- ciation “Lahli Badakhshon” were ter- Christoph Schüpp “ Studienarbeit, Medien in Tadschikistan unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der ile, among which the well-known minated. In December 1993, the reg- Situation von Journalisten ”, Universität Dortmund, Institut für Journalistik, Germany. newspaper Charoghi Ruz, closed by istration of six newspapers of these 8 Christoph Schüpp, op cit. 9 “Tajikistan : Year in Review”, Committee to pro- the end of 1992, which resumed organizations was invalidated. Ac- tect Journalists, 1995, quoted in Christoph Schüpp, op cit. publication in Moscow. Charoghi Ruz cording to Oleg Panfilov, 19 news- 10 Case recorded by CPJ, mentioned in Christoph Schüpp, op. cit. came out in 1994-1995 thanks to a papers were then forced by the au- 11 Oleg Panfilov, op. cit. 90,000 U$ grant form the National 12 Recorded in “Tajikistan, Freedom of Expression still Threatened”, op. cit. 13 “Tajikistan, Freedom of Expression still Threat- ened”, Human Rights Watch, November 1999, vol. 11, No. 14 (D). HISTORY 6 ......

Endowment for Democracy. The issues of Charoghi Ruz are distrib- (bulletin Jaikhun). By August 12, founder of the newspaper is Dodojon uted in the country, after being 1999, the ban on the opposition par- Atovulloev, and the Editor-in-Chief smuggled into Tajikistan. Several ties and their newspapers was lifted Salim Ajubov. Because they do not media of the Islamic Revival Party and some of them resumed or feel that their security would be guar- were coming out in Afghanistan started publication, such as Najot and anteed, they have still not yet de- (newspaper Najot, radio station Voice Mizon (see below). cided to return to Tajikistan. Some of Free Tajikistan) and in Pakistan

TV stations closed ......

On February 21, 1994, the Chairman does not appear to be strictly linked Requirements of “objective” cover- of the Supreme Soviet of Tajikistan to the events of the civil-war and, age of events in Tajikistan since 1992 Rakhmonov signed a Decree of the according to Christoph Schüpp, could repeatedly resulted in the termina- Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of just be related to political rivalry, tion of importing Russian newspapers Tajikistan “On Putting in Order the economy (control of the limited ad- into the country, and occasionally Activities of Television and Radio in vertisement market by the state TV) became the reason of armed skir- the Republic of Tajikistan”, of which, or an attempt to stop the intrusion mishes for the TV and Radio in particular: “Pending acceptance of of Western productions broadcast by centers.On May 6, 1992, supporters the mentioned law [“On Television the private televisions14 . Apart from of the opposition captured the tele- and Radio”], suspends in the entire some local initiatives, tolerated by vision building in Dushanbe. On the territory of the Republic the activi- the authorities, Tajikistan was then same day, an attempt from the op- ties of non-state structures of tele- left, in terms of local broadcasters, position to capture the radio build- vision and radio”. As a result, the only with the strictly government- ing ended in an armed confrontation main experiences of private televi- controlled national television. For which lasted around two hours.15 sion in Tajikistan (initiated in 1989 political reasons, when the news cov- with the creation of the broadcast- erage of Tajikistan would not suit the ing company Ekran, which changed government, the re-broadcasting of its name in 1993 to Somonen, and Russian TV channels in Tajikistan was followed by the launching of would simply be interrupted, which Dzhaikhon-oro and Temurmalik in happened several times. As for ra- Khudjand) were interrupted. Presi- dio, no private station had started dent Rakhmonov’s decision, however, functioning in Tajikistan until in.

14 Christoph Schüpp, op. cit. 15 Oleg Panfilov, op.cit. THE MEDIA SITUATION IN TAJIKISTAN / André Loersch & Mark Grigorian ...... 7

III. LEGISLATION

General ......

Apart from some contradictory and with the total non-existence, in some tion: laws “On Press and Other Me- restrictive aspects of the texts on cases, of clear procedures to appeal dia” and “On Television and Radio”, media law, the legal situation of the against decisions taken by the au- together with laws “On Copyright and media in Tajikistan also suffers from thorities (such as the refusal to give adjacent Rights” and “On State Se- an absence of court practice on de- a broadcasting license to a private crets”. The evolution of the media law cisive issues which usually strongly television or radio) contribute to since the declaration of the country determine journalism practice (like deepen the present “great gap (…) in 1991 is generally perceived as a libel), as much as of a comprehen- between the norms declared by the restrictive one. An in-depth analysis sive vision of the media system. “In Constitution and reality.”18 In theory, published in June 1999 in the state- the last five years in the judicial prac- freedom of speech and freedom of owned newspaper Narodnaïa Gazeta, tice in Tajikistan, no examination of the media are guaranteed by the co-signed by Djunaid Ubodov and cases of libel are known”, wrote Said Constitution. But, as far as the ap- Bahodoor Kosimov (the latter Man- Yunusov in a study published in plication of these principles is con- aging Director of the organization 199916 . More generally, “there is vir- cerned, “every manifestation of dis- Internews in Tajikistan), gives an il- tually no court practice of cases con- agreement with the policy of the gov- lustration of this evolution. Adopted nected with the activities of the me- ernment is being punished.”19 This in December 1990, the law “On Press dia.”17 Such assertion might be ex- might take different forms: “the sei- and Other Media” was born, so the cessive: some cases have been ex- zure of the issues of some newspa- authors, “in a period of democratic amined by some courts in Tajikistan, pers, the unclear interdiction by the romanticism”. It “clearly forbids but their decisions only represent authorities to publish some material, whatever interference from the side some isolated precedents, not dis- physical persecution and intimidation of acting bodies, governmental and cussed or contested in a comprehen- of independent journalists.”20 public organs, in the activities of sive framework. They do not, there- media (art. 36), establishing the The legal basis of freedom of speech fore, form a basis for the develop- criminal character for any violation and media activities in Tajikistan are ment of a coherent jurisprudence. of this fundamental principle of in- essentially defined by the Constitu- Cases like the one of Vose, described dependence and functioning of the further in the section “Criminal code media”21 . On the contrary, say the (libel)”, only give the image of a ju- 16 Said Yunusov, Media Laws and Practice in authors, the law “On Television and Tajikistan. In: Press Laws and Practice in the Coun- tries of CIS and Baltics. – Glasnost Defense Founda- dicial system being under the influ- tion, Moscow, 1999. Radio”, adopted in 1996, clearly lim- ence of politicians. This absence of a 17 Ibid its in its 6th article the principle of 18 Ibid developing jurisprudence together non-interference to the only “creative 19 Ibid. 20 Ibid. 21 Djuinaid Ibodov, Bahodoor Kosimov, “ Mir informatsii bez granits ? ” (“ World of Information without borders ? ”), Narodnaïa Gazeta, Dushanbe, 24 June 1999. LEGISLATION 8 ......

activity of TV-radio- organization”, gosudarstveni” – “state” TV or ra- larger mission, frequently devoted to thus providing the authorities with dio, and “non-state” TV or radio, with public media in other countries, such a “perfect legal tool” to make ob- no mention of any kind of public ser- as aiming to represent different stacles or to interfere in any form vice. The mission of the state broad- points of view or to maintain a par- and by any means in the concrete caster is roughly defined, with ac- ticular form or culture. In fact, the activity of any “undesirable media”.22 cent on the obligation to put on the only form of pluralism established by air “official announcements, decisions law in the media concerns the lan- Reading through the legal texts con- of legal bodies, executive and judi- guage, article 19 of the law “On Tele- cerning the media hardly reveals any cial powers officially available” (ar- vision…” stipulates that “TV and ra- idea of any comprehensive media ticle 6). The whole functioning of the dio companies broadcast in the state strategy from the legislator’s side. state media thus appears essentially languages, and also in other lan- In terms of electronic media, the orientated towards the activities of guages”. texts acknowledge two forms of the acting state structure, with no broadcasters: “gosudarstveni i ne-

Overview of the legal base ......

The Constitution split the unity of the state are pro- Law “On Press and Other Media” The Constitution of Tajikistan, like hibited”), and article 11 (“Propa- The law “On Press and Other Media”, constitutions of some other post-so- ganda of war is prohibited”). But, like the same laws of Kazakhstan, viet countries, contains substantial Said Yunusov pays special attention Uzbekistan and Armenia, was principles in terms of defense of hu- to article 1423 , considering that the adopted in 1990 before the Soviet man rights and freedoms, including formula of “public order” is so broad Union was officially dissolved by the the freedom of speech. At the same that it could be used to restrict all leaders of Russia, Ukraine and time, it includes grounds for restric- human rights and freedoms, includ- Belarus. It is a replica of the Soviet tion of those freedoms. ing the freedom of speech. The Con- law with the same name, and repeats stitution also guarantees the invio- its spirit and logic. This law was Article 30 of the Constitution declares lability of private life (article 23), a amended on 14.03.92; 01.02.96; that: norm that may limit the freedom of 12.12.97 and 11.12.99. According to “Freedom of speech, press, right the media, and does not include free- different analyses in Tajikistan, the to use mass media is guaranteed dom of speech in the list of freedoms amendments decreased the level of for everyone”; that cannot be limited by Martial Law freedom of speech. According to the “State censorship and persecution (Article 47). The text of the Consti- Article 2 of the law “On Press…”, the for criticism is prohibited”; tution does not mention the right of media in Tajikistan is free, every citi- “The list of information concern- the people to receive information. zen of the country has the right to ing state secrets is determined by freely express his or her views and the law.” opinions, disseminate them in any 22 The article 6 of the law states that : “ Interfer- Common restrictions of freedom of ence of governmental organs, local authorities and form in the press and other media, their acting bodies, political parties, public speech are contained in article 7 organisations and any citizen in the creative activity and censorship is forbidden. Article of TV-radio-organisations, together with censorship, (“Propaganda and actions directed to as well as control over the ideological content of the TV-radio-programs is forbidden ”. (Free translation). 23 “The rights and freedoms of citizens can be re- stricted only to ensure rights and freedoms of other citizens, public order, defense of the constitutional order and territorial integrity of the republic.” THE MEDIA SITUATION IN TAJIKISTAN / André Loersch & Mark Grigorian ...... 9

5 says that the state, the political der to repress any criticisms in re- deprived of accreditation, if they and public organizations, as well as spect of the authorities in position25 ). “systematically prepare and spread officials are obliged to provide infor- According to Nicolas Daniloff, articles misinformation about the internal mation to the media. In case the of this kind (they exist in respective and foreign policy of the Republic of state officials and public organs pre- Armenian and Azerbaijani laws on Tajikistan, so harming its interests”. vent journalists from doing their du- press) are controversial, because ties, force them to publish or not to they limit the freedom of speech, Law “On Television and Radio” publish information, they could be while mistakes in journalism, as well This law, which was adopted on punished and fined (article 36). as in any other sphere of human ac- 14.12.96 and amended on 30.06.99, tivities, are inevitable26. appears more restrictive for the free- An important element of journalism dom of speech than the law “On is contained in article 29, which says The same restrictions are mentioned Press…”. It places state- and private- that a journalist has no right to un- in article 22 of the law, according to TV and radio in unequal conditions, veil his sources of information, ex- which media containing the type of giving advantage to the state TV and cluding the cases, when this might information mentioned in article 6, radio. First of all, by giving the State be requested by a court. Lawyer should be forbidden. The same ar- Committee for Television and Radio Djunaid Ibodov24 believes that the ticle states that it is forbidden to pre- (usually described as “Gosteleradio”) phrase “has no right” is too strict, vent distribution of media, “includ- the competence to give licenses to and should be replaced by “may not” ing by requisitioning its circulation the private TV and radio stations, or “could not”. This article contains or a part of it”. This means that, in which are de-facto its potential com- also limitations. It forbids to unveil several cases, the actions of the of- petitors. In its first draft, this law was any information that can make pub- ficials of the printing house Sharki however not even taking into con- licly known the identity of a juvenile Ozod are illegal (see below). A court sideration private broadcasters. “As delinquent without his prior consent, can decide to close a media outlet, if a result of our lobbying, we suc- and contains a ban to predetermine the provisions of articles 6 and 22 ceeded in obtaining the introduction a court decision. The Law on Press are violated. The presence in the law of the status of private media in the contains several other limitations. of a chapter on the “Rights and Ob- law”, says Bohodoor Kosimov from Article 6, under the title “Inadmis- ligations of Journalists” is in itself Internews27 . sible Abuse of Freedom of Speech”, controversial, as such rules belong bears the key restrictions. Accord- more to the general understanding The state TV and radio have priority ing to that article, the media cannot of the functioning of the media than in using the state wire networks (ar- publish state and other secrets; calls to pure legislation, except the usual ticle 8), and the state has the mo- to coup d’état; war propaganda, vio- relevant aspects of the civil and the nopoly for international activities, i.e. lence and cruelty; racial, national, re- penal code (such as respect of the re-broadcasting foreign TV- and ra- ligious discrimination or intolerance; privacy or libel). Article 33 of the law dio-stations, foreign programs, buy- pornography, calls to commit crimi- also appears questionable and may ing programs and selling them. (ar- nal and other crimes, as well as in- become a basis for arbitrary and ticle 5). The social defense of the formation defaming the president political decisions. According to that employees of state TV and radio com- and the country (such provisions are article, foreign journalists can be panies are established by the law qualified by Reporters sans 24 Said during a seminar on “Legislative Education (article 31), which also clarifies the of Journalists”, – in Kairakkum, September 13-15, Frontières as means frequently used 2000. sources of financing for state com- by authoritarian governments in or- 25 Reporters sans Frontières, introduction to the panies (article 32). Annual Report, 2000. 26 “Paradoxes in the Caucasus: A Report on Free- dom of the Media in Azerbaijan and Armenia”, by Nicholas Daniloff for the Committee to Protect Jour- nalists, January 1998. 27 Interview Cimera, Dushanbe, September 2000. LEGISLATION 10 ......

Article 3 lists the principles of activi- plays the most important role in ob- Memorial Fund in Memory and De- ties of TV and radio stations. They taining broadcasting licenses (see fence of the Journalists, they met the are: below the chapter “Media system”, deputy procurator who, at the end - objectivity of information; section “licensing”). of the meeting, according to the - reliability; Human Rights Watch report “ac- - right of the citizens to receive Criminal code (libel) knowledged that he was at fault and information; Article 135 of the Criminal Code gives that he was only obeying the orders” - free expression of (own) views the following definition of libel: “The of the Chairman of the Executive and opinions; spreading of notoriously false infor- Committee. On January 1999, more - respect towards general norms mation attacking someone else’s than one year after the journalists of morale; honour and dignity or undermining had won their first case, they were - strict observance of profes- his reputation”. Court practice has not attacked again, this time for slan- sional ethics. yet established a substantive defini- der, and sentenced to three years of tion of libel in Tajikistan. The slight imprisonment. They were finally lib- Only juridical persons in the Repub- information about such cases, like erated after letters of protest were lic of Tajikistan can be founders of the one of Vose, gives more indica- sent to President Rakhmonov by vari- TV and radio organizations (article tion on the defective functioning of ous national and international jour- 11). The activities of TV and radio the judicial system in Tajikistan than nalist organizations. companies can be terminated by a it provides a base for the develop- court, but the law does not say on ment of any consistent jurisprudence what grounds, or in what cases could on this subject. Described to the au- a court take such a decision. Control thors of this report during direct in- over the ideological contents of the terviews, the same case was also re- programs is prohibited. State organs corded by Human Rights Watch in and officials, political parties and its above-mentioned report. In 1999, public organizations, as well as pri- the procurator of Vose, in southern vate persons cannot intervene in the Tajikistan, launched a criminal case “creative work” of the TV and radio for libel against the editors-in-chief organizations (article 6). The right of two newspapers which, in 1997, to obtain information for TV and ra- had published critical articles on the dio organizations and their workers Chairman of the Executive Commit- is stated in article 20. tee of Vose. The latter had then al- ready attacked the journalists who Regulations on “Order of Licens- made the articles, but the latter won ing in Sphere of Television and the case. Despite this discharge, the Radio” editors-in-chief were then harassed, Signed on 14.11.97, this is the very notably by the police, who tried to document according to which broad- bring them by force to an interroga- casting licenses are given to elec- tion. When both of them went to the tronic media. “Regulations on Order Vose procurator’s office in 1999 ac- of Licensing in Sphere of Television companied by a representative of the and Radio” is the document which THE MEDIA SITUATION IN TAJIKISTAN / André Loersch & Mark Grigorian ...... 11

IV. SYSTEM / STRUCTURE OF MEDIA

General ......

No daily newspaper, no private tele- including the obligation of the au- broadcasters, one is also particularly vision broadcasting in the capital thorities to provide journalists with struck by the absence of any clear Dushanbe, no private radio in the information on their activities. But vision of the media system that whole country: like the entire soci- such laws have generally been the would be adapted to Tajikistan in the ety, the media system in Tajikistan fruits of a relatively long experience near future. All debates on media finds itself in a difficult transitional of democracy, of a concrete practice now seem to focus on the opposition period. The sometimes contradictory and numerous debates. between the “state controlled” me- and limiting laws in vigour concern- dia, with no reference to its possible In Tajikistan some legal adaptations ing the media, and the lack of con- future transformation into a “public might be needed but, more gener- crete judicial cases as a basis for a service, and the “independent” or ally speaking, it is the whole social, further development of the freedom “private” media, based on models political and economical environment of the press are not the only rea- developed in countries with a com- in which a media system can nor- sons for that. In fact, a purely legal pletely different political and eco- mally function which is lacking. Be- approach to the question would nomic background. Very little atten- yond the legal technical problems prove a too restrictive one to envis- tion seems to be paid to the plural- and the general non-functioning of age action to contribute to develop- ism of the media, and the comple- the judicial system, its apparent sub- ing the media in Tajikistan. Analyses mentary role different types of me- mission to the political power, it is underlining the deficiencies of the dia should play. And with no broader the broad lack of discussion on the laws are of course well-founded from understanding of those notions, new role of media which is in cause. Le- a theoretical point of view. For ex- laws run the risk to remain empty gality is one important concept, but ample, the observation that “the ab- words. so is the one of legitimacy when press sence in the Law of norms obliging comes into question. If better un- Self-censored journalism the authorities’ organs and other derstood, this concept would, with If nothing else, the atmosphere of the subjects to put information at the dis- no doubt, be as efficient as a new Tajik capital Dushanbe gives a first posal of the media can reduce to nil law to bring more quality into the indication of the psychological con- that same right to receive informa- content of the media, and more tol- sequences of the civil war, with the tion”28 is not only relevant within the erance towards the journalists. Be- streets rapidly emptying as dusk ap- Tajik context. It also fits with the path yond the reluctance of the state ap- pears. Even if indicators show a de- followed during the last decade by paratus to deliver licenses to private crease of violence in town, the feel- some countries in Western Europe in ing of uncertainty is still well spread, the sphere of the right to informa- 28 Djuinaid Ibodov, Bahodoor Kosimov, “ Mir and so is the mistrust of the police, tion, with new laws and regulations informatsii bez granits ? ”, Narodnaïa Gazeta, Dushanbe, 24 June 1999, op. cit. often considered helpless. This gen- SYSTEM / STRUCTURE OF MEDIA 12 ......

eral atmosphere, more incentive to a occasional interruptions of programs editor of a private newspaper in withdrawing attitude than to the tak- of Russian television and radio in Dushanbe, however, the question is ing of risks, no doubt also influences 1998. But even in the absence of sys- not only linked to self-censorship: the journalists in their everyday tematically organized censorship, “Self-censorship is another problem. behaviour and work, the carefulness “journalists exercise significant self- I have much more information for expressing itself, in this case, in avoid- censorship, a skill they honed in the every issue than the one I publish. I ing to address particular controver- Soviet era, because they are acutely know everything that happens. I sial or sensitive issues. “There are no aware that criticizing or publishing know why the military operations courageous journalists in Tajikistan,” sensitive information on government have started, why RTR (Russian state says Galina Nazarova29, National Co- figures or policy, controversial politi- television) says that Khattab is in ordinator of WIMCA (Women in the cal actors, powerful war lords or drug Tajikistan33. But, if I publish some of Media of Central Asia). “But, I cannot bosses could result in reprisals. This this stuff, none of my sources would judge them. Our journalism needs re- in itself is so effective that informa- confirm the information.”34 Jan habilitation. Fear broke down many tion on these subjects rarely reaches Malekzade, Deputy Head of Mission of our colleagues.” the Tajik media.”31 Some observers for the Organization for Security and consider that self-censorship simply Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in There appears to be no systemati- affects the whole information pro- Tajikistan, talking about the weekly cally organized censorship in duced by the media. “All topics are Asia Plus, often considered as one of Tajikistan in the sense that, for ex- self-censored,” says Zuhra Halimova, the most serious newspapers in ample, there is no special body dedi- Executive Director of the Open Soci- Tajikistan, says: “The director of Asia cated to reading all newspapers prior ety Institute in Dushanbe. “Newspa- Plus is not openly critical towards the to their printing and entitled to ban pers write about everything, but in government, but he does what he any article from being published. a very diplomatic way. The journal- can – he must manoeuver. The edi- Direct censorship occurs occasionally ists are cutting edges.”32 tor of Biznes i Politika cannot put and is conducted by the employees everything she wants in the news- of the state publishing house Sharki Self-censorship naturally influences paper because of the danger that she Ozod, which is printing almost all much more editors than journalists. could be harassed”.35 Furthermore, newspapers in Dushanbe. One case As Zuhra Halimova puts it, “the edi- the journalists would not feel sup- of censorship of an article in Biznes i tors are thinking and thinking again ported enough to take too many Politika was recorded by Human – for 100 times, probably, before risks. As Mukhtor Bokizoda puts it, Rights Watch30, and a similar case publishing “sharp” material. They ask not only “the journalists have no sup- was told to CIMERA by Mukhtor themselves, will this or that story port from the government”, but “they Bokizoda of the Memorial Fund in change anything, could something have no support either from their col- Memory and Defense of the Journal- happen with the newspaper, journal- leagues. All this prevents the writ- ists of Tajikistan: “A story about the ist or themselves, or not?”. For the ing of critical articles. There are no Prime-Minister Abdumalik guarantees that the author of such Abdulazhanov was ready [to be pub- 29 CIMERA interview, Dushanbe, September 2000. an article would not be “liquidated”; lished in Surush]. People from the 30 A paragraph in a story published in the Novem- ber 5, 1998 issue, came out blank in all copies of and harassment by telephone is very printing house came and told the Biznes i Politika. See: Human Rights Watch. Tajikistan. Freedom of Expression Still Threatened. frequent.” As an illustration of this editor to take that story away from November 1999, op.cit. Error! Reference source not found. lack of solidarity and culture of as- the front page. He did not. Then they 31 Human Rights Watch. Tajikistan. “Freedom of sociation, it was striking to see more took acid and erased [from the zinc Expression Still Threatened”, op.cit. 32 CIMERA interview, September 2000. than thirty editors and journalists forms] whatever they wanted.” Hu- 33 Khattab, a warlord or Arab origin is a well-known Chechen field commanders. The Russian television gathered in a seminar on media le- man Rights Watch also reports about reported in September 2000 that Khattab had come to Dushanbe and that he would then have been hid- ing somewhere in Tajikistan, intending to join the Uzbek opposition. The report was immediately con- tested by Tajik officials. 34 CIMERA interview, September 2000. 35 CIMERA interview, September 2000. THE MEDIA SITUATION IN TAJIKISTAN / André Loersch & Mark Grigorian ...... 13

gal issues, being unable to say what ing this period. Biznes i Politika briefly In reality not only more precise in- the case of the journalists sentenced mentioned that after several weeks formation on the subject could have in Vose was about36 (see above of confrontation, the fighting had been easily found by curious jour- “Criminal code (libel)” section). been brought to an end and that an nalists, but also an interlocutor ready agreement had been found with the to give information to media was ap- Lack of professionalism rebel commander. In the same week, parently available. On 14th Septem- Self-censorship is accompanied by Asia Plus mentioned the armed clash, ber, BBC announced the news of the (and results in) low professionalism. but as a sub-part of an entire page agreement, mentioning, as a source, Local media professionals and ana- dedicated to the general who headed the Iranian radio from Mashhad on lysts are unilateral in criticizing the the governmental forces against 12th September.39 On that day, the low level of journalism and the ex- Mullo Abdullo’s paramilitaries. As in Iranian radio put on the air a report isting journalism education. Nazarova Biznes i Politika, there was no preci- of a correspondent in Dushanbe who, admits that “stories printed in the sion on the issue of the conflict and unlike his colleagues from the Tajik social-political newspapers are not in- on the precise content of the agree- media, managed to find an interlocu- teresting. The people do not buy ment passed between the two sides. tor to comment on the events in the them, because they are not inter- person of the former opposition com- Asked about the reasons for this ab- esting”. In terms of content, self-cen- mander Salamsho Muhabbatov, pres- sence of detailed information, Umed sorship is not enough to explain the ently “member of the government of Babakhanov, Director of Asia Plus, lack of substance of the information Tajikistan”. Except this example, due mentioned two causes: the lack of offered to the public, causing some to the lack of training or the diffi- professionalism of the journalists, people to rely more on external culty to find proper information, jour- and the non-availability of the infor- sources of information than on na- nalism in Tajikistan appears also to mation. From their side, journalists tional media to get news on current suffer from a lack of professional from the Russian service of Sadoi events taking place in Tajikistan. In habits -including simple curiosity-, Dushanbe (third channel of the state 1997, the Chairman of the Leninabad probably due to the absence of any television, broadcast in Dushanbe province made a statement which solid journalistic tradition. and its surroundings) explained their can still be considered relevant: “To silence on this issue with arguments get objective and accurate informa- Private radios: a new opening? having little to do with journalism. tion, I and many friends turn to for- Given the price of paper, the lack of They did not mention this event, they eign broadcasters, particularly Radio potential resources from advertise- said, because they had no one “on Free Europe”.37 ments and the general low financial the spot”. Asked then if they at least capacity of the potential readers, In September 2000, armed clashes had mentioned the fact that the news there is little chance that any daily in the Darband District, in Central had been given by other media (the newspaper with a significant content Tajikistan, opposed government little information published by Biznes in terms of news and analysis can forces to a former opposition com- i Politika or Asia Plus could have been be produced soon in Tajikistan and mander, Mullo Abdullo, and some of mentioned), they said they did not. become self-sufficient. Given the de- his supporters. From a journalistic Asked if they tried themselves to get pendency of the private televisions point of view, there could hardly be more information on that, they said on greetings program and the gen- at that time more actual events go- they had not. Asked why, they could eral costs of TV production, the de- ing on, with, maybe, the real end of not give a precise answer.38 velopment of televisions able to com- the civil war being at stake. Never- pete with the state television will also theless there was hardly any infor- 36 During the seminar “Legislative Education of Journalists”, – Kairakkum, September 13-15, 2000. take a long time. In this overall situ- mation available in the media dur- 37 Nurmuhammad Niyozi, quoted in “Tajikistan : Journalists Live in Danger And Fear”, Radio Free Eu- ation, private radio might bring an rope, 18 March 1997. 38 CIMERA interview, September 2000. 39 “Tajik rebel group agrees to integrate into gov- ernment forces – Iranian radio”, BBC, 14 September 2000. SYSTEM / STRUCTURE OF MEDIA 14 ......

enlightenment and open the door to Radio delivered its first license to a eration), and OSCE will supervise the more pluralism in the media, mak- private radio. The latter was sup- implementation of the whole process ing available a new daily voice to the posed to start broadcasting in during the first two years. This pre- public. Radio costs are far more be- Kurgan-Tyube in October 2000. Its cedent might hopefully be the start low those of television. There is pres- structure will be private, but the of a new policy of the state towards ently no private radio broadcasting project will be launched with the sup- private broadcasters, some of them in Tajikistan, but in August 2000, the port of an external donator (Swiss having in vain purchased a license State Committee for Television and agency for Development and Co-op- for years.

Media structure ......

Statistics vate radio station (in Kurgan-Tyube) non-private newspapers also include Around 250 media outlets were reg- had received a license from the State regional, city, and district papers istered in Tajikistan in August 2000. Committee for Television and Radio. spread throughout the country. This According to the Mass-Media Depart- data gives a general overview of the The Mass-Media Department also ment of the Executive Apparatus of present structure of the press, their stated that from all media outlets the President of the Republic of ownership, and its locations in towns registered: Tajikistan40 , there were among them: or in the regions. But those figures • 43 newspapers • 191 newspapers might be subject to quick changes. • 4 journals • 50 magazines During the three weeks preceding • 6 news agencies • 7 news agencies the writing of this report, at least two • 18 TV stations • 19 TV stations new publications (weekly) have been were non-governmental, i.e. private, launched in Dushanbe, but without At the time of the writing of this re- or belonging to different companies bringing any significant change to the port (October 2000), only one pri- (enterprises), or political parties. The global news offer.

Electronic media ......

State Television sible in many mountainous villages includes also TV organizations in the The State Television, Tajikistan Tele- of Gorno-Badakhshan Oblast (East centers of oblasts, and in Khorog, the vision (TVT), has one channel, with of the country, situated on Pamir center of Gorno-Badakhshan Autono- a national audience (reaching be- mountains and foothills), the govern- mous Oblast. These are small com- tween 70% and 80% of the popula- ment installed satellite dishes to panies, broadcasting on the fre- tion, according to various estima- reach this area. The State television quency of the national TVT channel, tions). TVT is considered to be the usually for 1-2 hours per day, be- main informational and state propa- 40 CIMERA interview with Abdurakhmon tween 6 and 8 p.m. In the capital Abdumannonov, Head of the Mass-Media Department ganda support. As it is hardly acces- of the Executive Apparatus of the President of city, Dushanbe, another publicly Tajikistan, September 2000. THE MEDIA SITUATION IN TAJIKISTAN / André Loersch & Mark Grigorian ...... 15

owned television is working, Poitakht, not have its own production. It broad- One TV station is operation in the which belongs to the municipality. It casts pirate copies of films and con- central part of the country, to the is on the air for four hours per day certs. Still waiting for an answer to West of Dushanbe in the town of (7 – 11 p.m.). The Russian channels its application, Asia presently works Tursunzoda. ORT and RTR can be seen almost in without any license. According to the In the South, in Khatlon oblast TV the whole country, and are re-broad- Chairman of the Leninabad branch stations are situated in the following cast on the basis of an intergovern- of the State Committee for TV and towns: mental agreement with Russia. Radio Narzullo Dadybaev, the local • Asht Uzbek state TV can be seen only in authorities “friendly close their eyes • Kanibodom some parts of the country. on that”42. Asia is producing news, • Istara as well as several social and cultural • Panjakent and Private televisions programs. • Vorukh, which is a small en- Around 15 private Televisions are The most popular station in Khujand clave in Kyrgyzstan braodcasting in different regions of is SM-1. It broadcasts almost 9 hours • Kurgan-Tyube the country, none of them having a during the week, and 12-14 hours • Kulyab national diffusion. In Dushanbe, only on Sundays. Its license allows it to • Vose one private TV station, Somonion has broadcast for only 9 hours, but in • Vakhsh received a license to broadcast. It this case again the local authorities was already issued in 1998, however Not all of them have licenses to close their eyes on this violation. the owner, Ikram Mirzoev, could only broadcast (see below, section “Li- Apart from its own programs, SM-1 pay the fee in June 200041 . Even censing”). also broadcasts news of the State TV, though his TV station is licensed to and after 1 a.m. – Deutche Welle in There is no private TV station in broadcast one hour per day, Mirzoev German. SM-1 produces news, pro- Gorno-Badakhshanskaya Autono- claims that Somonion is in fact broad- grams of public interest, literary and mous Oblast, the one working in the casting seven hours on Sundays, on religious programs. On Sunday town of Khorog being in fact a branch the seventh decimeter channel. This mornings it broadcasts a two-hours of TVT and is broadcasting for two affirmation could, however, not be entertaining and informational pro- hours daily on the frequency of TVT. checked. The authors of the reports gram, and a weekly program is run The relatively strong media presence could not manage to see Somonion on Thursdays about the activities of in the northern part of the country is programs, and some observers think the municipality (20-30 minutes), due, according to local journalists, that Somonion is simply not broad- which pays for that program. to the fact that the civil war, in gen- casting at all, notably because of out- eral, passed by this region, and also dated equipment. Small TV stations are working in to the fact that historically, the Leninabad oblast in the following In the televisions field, the biggest Leninabad oblast has always been towns43: diversity can be found in the north- better developed, as compared to • Ura-Tyube ern part of the country – the other parts of the country. It is es- • Matcha Leninabad oblast. In Khujand, its pecially obvious in comparison with • Nou capital, four stations are on the air: the almost non-existence of any kind • Ghulakandoz the local branch of TVT (see above), of media in Gorno-Badakhshan, a • Chkalovsk and three private stations: remote region, which is situated in Temurmalik, SM-1 and Asia. Pamir and gets isolated from the cen- Temurmalik is broadcasting three ter of the country for about 6 months 41 CIMERA interview, September 2000. hours per day, but the station does 42 CIMERA interview, September 2000. per year, when the snow makes the 43 Information about the geography of the non-gov- ernmental TV stations is taken from a Tajikistan TV map, kindly provided by Christine Kiernan, Country Director of Internews in Tajikistan. SYSTEM / STRUCTURE OF MEDIA 16 ......

crossing of the mountain passes im- sponsors for obedient stations, and continue in a way that I will not be possible. to close the intractable ones on the unhappy with your work’”, said a ground of non-payment. “The sta- journalist in a interview, on condi- The Russian military base (201st Di- tions are often sponsored by wealthy tion of anonymity. vision) rebroadcasts the Russian people having strong a strong posi- channel TV-6, apparently without li- An average monthly salary for a jour- tion in their region”, says Christine cense. For Ikram Mirzoev however, nalist is around 20 U$. SM-1 pays Kiernan, Country Director of the status of the Russian base is so more – $ 40-50. Internews. Usually, these people are high that they have no need to ob- even members of the authorities. For tain a license, i.e. the government Radio instance, in Anis, a small town in would not reject them the right to According to a survey undertaken by Leninabad oblast, the Mayor of the broadcast (see below, the section the Independent Center of Sociologi- town himself owns the TV station. “Licensing”). cal Research “Zerkalo” in January “They all are would-be independent,” 2000, four radio stations were avail- says Jan Malekzade, the Deputy Financing of TV stations able in Dushanbe. Two are Russian Head of the OSCE Mission in Short announcements, congratula- – Radio Nostalgie, and Mayak. Two Tajikistan. “But all TV stations are tions (birthdays, other holidays) and others are different channels of the depending on local authorities”. In ads (even though quite rare) consti- Tajikistan State Radio – Sadoi Vose, the station is owned by the tute the main source of income for Dushanbe and Radioi Tojikiston45 . textile factory which pays the sala- the local TV stations. Nevertheless, ries of the employees of the station. Radio Nostalgie was re-broadcast in according to Bahodoor Kosimov “they The director of the factory supports Dushanbe by radio station NiC, which all are self-sustainable and cover all the station, and the station recipro- was registered, had no license, but their expenses. They have no big ex- cally seems to support him, as was had a special agreement with the penditures, however”.44 In the North, the case during his conflict with the Russian 201st Division. Broadcasting an advertising spot costs up to 10 local “Khokim” (Mayor of the town). was suspended by the decision of U$ for each broadcasting, while in The Khokim tried to close down the NiC46 in summer 2000. In January the South the rate is no higher than station, but lost three trials. As a 2000, Sadoi Dushanbe was sharing 2 U$. Another source of income is result, he was fired. the highest popularity among listen- provided by latent advertising. Ac- ers in Dushanbe with Radio Nostalgie. cording to Kosimov, the stations The clue for a successful existence “The style of Sadoi Dushanbe is not never sell news items, but they pro- for non-governmental TV stations lies traditional for Tajik radio,” writes duce and broadcast 10-15-minute in maintaining good relations with “Zerkalo”47 . Sadoi Dushanbe broad- films, which positively present an local authorities. This helps them to casts “debates with listeners (…), so- enterprise or a kolkhoz. avoid different kinds of possible pres- called live interactive talk-shows, sures (direct torture, tax police, The fee for the use of the frequen- [with] participation of experts – poli- threats to take away the transmit- cies represents a high cost. “I pay ticians, economists in discussion ters, etc.) As an example, it happens 1’200 U$ per year, and it amounts to about life in Tajik society, and mod- that “a police chief calls you and 60% of my annual income,” says ern Tajik and foreign music.48” says: ‘Listen, you are working be- Makhmud Dadabaev, the director of cause I do not interfere. You should Sadoi Dushanbe reached 29% of SM-1. Very high for small local sta- popularity among listeners, and Ra- tions, these sums constitute another dio Nostalgie 30%. The “moderately key factor for keeping them under 44 CIMERA interview, September 2000. 45 According to the information of the Tajik Branch conservative” (Zerkalo) Russian control, because local authorities al- of Open Society Institute Soros Foundation, Sadoi Dushanbe is half-owned by the government and the Mayak came into the third position ways have the possibilities to find city municipality. 46 CIMERA interview with Zuhra Halimova, Septem- ber 2000. 47 Information and Analytical bulletin Zerkalo # 1, January 2000, p.11. 48 Ibid, p. 11-12. THE MEDIA SITUATION IN TAJIKISTAN / André Loersch & Mark Grigorian ...... 17

with 22% of respondents’ sympa- ter. Then they have to obtain a li- tions of the law which would have thies, attracting mostly adult and cense for broadcasting, delivered by made the Committee unable to take aged listeners. The state radio sta- the Committee for Television and any decision before those adapta- tion Radioi Tojikiston was laying at Radio of Republic of Tajikistan. On tions would be accomplished. And the bottom of the chart with 7% of the basis of a certificate from this then we simply got tired of all those listeners.49 Two radio stations, NiC Committee, they have then have to procedures.” and Asia Plus, were registered in obtain a technical permit from the Patience seems to be the first virtue Dushanbe in 1998, but they still have Ministry of Communications. for anyone having the intention to not received broadcasting licenses. Licenses are supposed to be obtained start a TV or radio station. Even Both of them have already received in accordance with the “Regulation though the law envisages the possi- equipment grants from UNESCO, and on the Order of Licensing in Sphere bility for the applicants to contest in Asia Plus received a grant from the of Television and Radio” and they are court a negative answer from the Open Society Institute to pay for the valid for 5 years. According to the Committee for Television and Radio license and registration, and get Regulations (paragraph 7) the deci- (paragraph 24), this never happens some training, which has already sion about giving or refusing a license in practice. “No one applies to the been conducted. should be taken within 30 days after court”, because those who would, Another radio station, Homs, founded the request has been made. How- says Kosimov, would then face “the by the UNMOT (UN Military Observ- ever, the same paragraph stipulates whole state machine working against ers in Tajikistan) was broadcasting that in some cases, additional exami- them, and it will mean they will never music, and recently stopped broad- nation by experts may be needed. achieve what they want. We must casting. In such cases, the decision should be diplomatic, and wait, wait…” be taken within 30 days after Somonion, having easily obtained a Licensing completion of the examination. So license, appears as an exception. It There is apparently no comprehen- far, the practice of the Committee for is generally believed that this is due sive strategy for the future develop- Television and Radio of the Republic to the fact that its owner, Ikram ment of private electronic media in has been marked above all by an Mirzoev, had been himself an em- Tajikistan, whether composed of a extreme reluctance to deliver li- ployee of the Committee for TV and regional or national audience, which censes. Applicants have often been Radio and had good relations with would be guiding the state policy for receiving evasive answers, justifying its direction. An opinion which could the delivering of licenses and distri- the postponing of a definitive answer be confirmed by the fact that it was bution of frequencies. From a legal by upcoming changes in the law, or tolerated that he paid his license with point of view, the whole procedure no answer at all. The private com- a two-year delay, when the law appears to be a pure formality. But pany Asia Plus, which has a news clearly says that paymentt should be as seen above, in practice, possibili- service and a weekly newspaper has, effected beforehand to receive a li- ties to broadcast sometimes seem to for example, been waiting more than cense. In total, despite these admin- depend more upon the particular two years for its radio license. “We istrative obstacles, 19 TV stations relations TV owners are able to es- have been waiting for months with- have so far succeeded in receiving a tablish with local authorities -even out receiving any kind of answer”, license, not all of them using it, and being able to broadcast without a li- recalls Umed Babakhanov, director none of them broadcasting in cense- than on the central of the agency. “Then we were given Dushambe, with the exception of government’s policy. From an admin- stupid arguments, evoking adapta- Somonion. According to Kosimov, the istrative point of view, TV stations capital city would be given special and radios have first of all to regis- 49 Ibid. No newer polling results are available. attention by the government, as it SYSTEM / STRUCTURE OF MEDIA 18 ......

was not keen to be confronted there mental Sadoi Mardum, printed in state structures – the government, with any alternative opinion. Radio Tajik, which is coming out twice a the parliament, several ministries, Homs, which had been launched by week. Other governmental newspa- the Committee of Youth of Tajikistan. UNMOT is not on the air anymore. pers are said to be willing to come Another one – Minbari Khalq out twice a week before the end of (People’s Tribune) is founded by the The most revealing indicator on the 2000. According to the information ruling People’s Democratic Party of present state of the Tajik printed of NANSMIT (National Association of Tajikistan, which is closely affiliated press is the absence of any daily Independent Media of Tajikistan), at to the government. Two are run by newspaper in the whole country. least 20 newspapers are regularly opposition parties/groups, others are Most of the newspapers with infor- coming out in the capital Dushanbe. private. mation content are weeklies, with a Eight of them have been founded by few exceptions, such as the govern-

Press ......

State-owned press tion, literary works, analyses,” ac- pers, funded by external donors (see 148 government-controlled newspa- cording to Abdumannonov below, “activities of the international pers form the state system of the Abdurakhmon.50 organizations”). press. Its structure has remained All oblast newspapers are state-sub- basically the same since the Soviet Private media sidized. The state-budget subsidies period. It is a pyramid with, on top, Two relatively big press groups hold are directed to them through the Min- the central, metropolitan newspa- leading positions in the market of the istry of Culture. Another part of fi- pers, followed by the provincial non-governmental press in nancing comes from the Khukumats (“oblast”) newspapers, the regional Tajikistan. (regional administrations, municipali- ones (“raion”) and, at the bottom, ties). The Leninabad oblast One of them belongs to Akbarali the small municipal press (district). administration’s Leninabadskaya Sattorov, who owns: At the first level, there are three of- Pravda comes out twice a week, ficial governmental newspapers: • Digest-press (in Russian) which makes it unique for the re- Jumhurriet (Republic, in Tajik); • Charkhi Gardun (in Tajik) gional press, an exceptional case for Narodnaya Gazeta (People’s News- • Avicenna (in Russian) the whole Tajikistan where almost all paper, in Russian) and Khalk Ovozi • Vechernij Dushanbe (in Russian) newspapers are weeklies. At a lower (Voice of the People, in Uzbek). One • Aladdin (in two languages) administrative level, the local news- newspaper – Sadoi Mardum (Voice papers are in principle totally funded The second big media owner is Sharif of the People) belongs to from the local budgets. In a few re- Hamdamov, who owns: thepParliament. These newspapers gions, OSCE launched projects of re- publish all Presidential decrees, all • Crime-Info (In Russian) habilitation of those local newspa- bills, approved by the parliament, • Oila (in Tajik) other official information. “Their mis- • Tojikiston (in three languages 50 CIMERA interview with Abdumannonov – Tajik, Russian, English) sion is to cover the events in the re- Abdurakhmon, Head of the Mass-Media Department of the Executive Apparatus of the President of public. They publish official informa- Tajikistan, September 2000. THE MEDIA SITUATION IN TAJIKISTAN / André Loersch & Mark Grigorian ...... 19

Others are founded by news agen- cause of a too low salary, he decided The same combination of commer- cies and business companies. to change his profession. Sattorov cial approach with the aims of tradi- was then importing goods from China tional press was applied to Sattorov’s The analyses of the polling center and selling them in the market when, next newspaper: “Avicenna”. “The Zerkalo in January-March 2000 show as he recalls: “One day I looked aim of that newspaper is to provide that the ten most popular newspa- around me and thought: ‘Am I going medical information, medical educa- pers in the country were51: to spend all my life in the market? I tion,” explains Sattorov. “To attract Newspaper Founder (Owner) am a journalist, I have a profes- readers, we print crosswords, Digest-press sion.”52 So, in 1994 he bought Rus- puzzles, logical games and problems. Akbarali Sattorov sian, Kazakhstani, Uzbek newspapers The newspaper is so popular that Charkhi Gardun and started a newspaper, which con- people keep calling us from hospi- Akbarali Sattorov sisted of articles reprinted from the tals, asking, whether the medicines Avicenna foreign press “about life of popular they were given are good for them Akbarali Sattorov people, high-life chronicles, interest- or not.” Officially, Avicenna is a Crime-info ing events, facts, family and love supplement to Charkhi Gardun. It is Sharif Hamdamov stories53.” After 6-7 months “Digest- printed in Russian on 16 pages of A3 Vechernij Dushanbe Press” became the most popular format, its declared circulation is Akbarali Sattorov newspaper in Tajikistan. “This type 2,500. Biznes i Politika of digest is always popular,” believes Sattorov’s only newspaper present- Sham company, NANT news agency Sattorov. Digest-Press is printed in ing a content closer to the informa- Asia + Russian, on 16 pages of A3 format. tive role of the press is Vechernij Asia + news agency The declared circulation is 8,00054. Dushanbe. He bought that newspa- Oila His next newspaper was Charkhi per in 1998 after Javokhir Kabilov, Sharif Hamdamov Gardun (Wheel of Fortune). It is also the then editor of the newspaper Sadoi Mardum an example of market-oriented en- (called at that time Vechernie Vesti), State (Parliament) tertainment medium, in Tajik. was forced to emigrate. Vechernij Narodnaya Gazeta Charkhi Gardun prints stories con- Dushanbe, declares its owner, is pro- State (Government) centrating on moral and family prob- presidential: “I am financing this The eight first places were occupied lems, love stories. But, according to newspaper and, therefore, I decide, by privately-owned newspapers, and Sattorov, this is only a part of the which party or political figure it will only the last two – by state media. contents of the newspaper. He says support”. It is in Russian, has 16 Akbarali Sattorov with his four news- that the main goal of Charkhi Gardun pages of A3 format, and its declared papers in the 1st-3rd and 5th places is to inform the society about the cul- circulation is 2,500. Sattorov’s most is the doubtless leader of the press tural life of the country. The love sto- recent newspaper is Aladdin, for chil- market. ries and dramas are needed to at- dren. It contains puzzles, games, tract the attention of the readers and logical problems, easy crosswords for Akbarali Sattorov’s press group make the newspaper financially vi- children, entertaining materials. Akbarali Sattorov graduated from the able. Charkhi Gardun appears on 16 Aladdin is printed on 16 pages of A3 faculty of journalism in Saint-Peters- pages of A3 format. The declared cir- format. The declared circulation is burg State University in 1990. He culation is 2,500. 2,500. Sattorov presents himself as then worked for the parliamentary a pure businessman. “Before open- Sadoi Mardum, where he headed the 51 See Zerkalo # 1-3, 2000. The aggregate ratings ing a new newspaper, I must be sure of newspapers are determined by calculating the av- political department until 1993. Be- erage ratings for three months altogether. that it has at least 2,000 potential 52 CIMERA interview, September 2000. 53 Zerkalo, # 1, p.9. 54 “The owners of the commercial newspapers will never declare their real circulations. They put lower figures in the newspapers to avoid taxation problems,” according to Galina Nazarova. SYSTEM / STRUCTURE OF MEDIA 20 ......

readers”, he says, adding: “I am do- Hamdamov became disappointed newspaper,” says Galina Nazarova. ing business on information. I do not with the little support that the “It has its own identity. It does not care, who will occupy the ministerial founders of the newspaper were pro- reprint articles from Russian press. posts. I have no political interests. I viding and decided to separate from Their own material is of high quality. am interested in money, bread. I them. So, in 2000 Tojikiston was re- It differs from other newspapers in have 120 employees, and I must registered with new founders but the country both by style and con- think about them.” with its old name. It is printed in tent. People read it.” Mukhtor three languages: Tajik, Russian and Bokizoda, the Chairman of the Fund Sharif Hamdamov’s press group English, on 16 pages of A3 format. for Memory and Defense of Journal- Crime-Info: This newspaper prints Its circulation is not declared. Accord- ists’ Rights56 , agrees with Nazarova: criminal chronicles, long stories about ing to the owner it is 6,000. He says “Biznes i Politika gives interesting bloody murders and rapes. It also it used to be 12,000 when Tojikiston information. Sometimes it also raises contains a question-and-answer belonged to the law-enforcement serious problems.” Biznes i Politika page where attorneys answer the bodies, because the latter were buy- comes out in Russian on 4 pages of questions of the readers. Another ing half of the circulation. A2 format. According to the editor, three pages are dedicated to private its real circulation is about 5,00057. Owners of both media groups are announcements. The newspaper also making business with tabloid press. Asia Plus was founded by the news publishes horoscopes, tests and But both have one “serious” news- agency of the same name. Zerkalo crosswords – an important set of en- paper, which should satisfy more so- describes Asia Plus as an intellectual tertaining materials. Though Crime- phisticated audience. While Vechernij edition58. Nevertheless, the news info is published in two languages, Dushanbe is one of the most popu- presented, which is of a social and Russian is more popular. Many sto- lar newspapers in the country, political nature, only represent 5 or ries are reprinted from the Russian Tojikiston is relatively new (the first 6 pages of the newspaper’s total of press. The newspaper is printed on issue of the renewed formula was 16. The other pages are filled with 16 pages of A3 format. Its declared printed on September 8, 2000), and announcements, ads, and tabloid- circulation is 3,000 but, according to it intends to attract the expatriate style articles about, for example, the owner, the real figure would be community’s attention. “We would dogs that were sent to the outer 21,000. like to inform our readers in their own space and returned to Earth as men, Oila (Family) is out of politics. “This language,” says the Editor’s Note in or two lesbians who will give birth to newspaper is the carrier of melo- the first renewed issue55 . However, children of two gays59. Asia Plus is drama, soap operas,” says Galina Digest-Press, Avicenna, Crime-Info, published in Russian, it is printed on Nazarova. “This makes it popular Charkhi Gardum are not pure tab- 16 A3 pages. Its declared circulation mostly among women. It is con- loids. They lack original materials, is 1,500 copies. stantly publishing family issues”. It they are not focused on Tajik life and On the political parties’ side, Najot is printed in Tajik, also on 16 pages Tajik characters, most of the stories is one of the oldest opposition news- of A3 format. Its declared circulation being taken from the Russian press. papers in the country. Founded in is 2,000 but, according to the owner, 1991 by the Islamic Revival Party, it the real figure would be 18,000. Newspapers with political content was banned on June 21, 1993 ac- Biznes i Politika generally benefits Tojikiston was founded by the law- cording to a decision of the Supreme from a good reputation. “It is a good enforcement agencies of Tajikistan in Court of Tajikistan60. It then came out

1997 and Hamdamov was the edi- 55 Tojikiston, September 8, 2000, # 33 (167). in exile, in Afghanistan, from Decem- tor. The newspaper was focusing on 56 CIMERA interview, September 2000. ber 1994 until 199761. It resumed its crime. After three-years’ work, 57 CIMERA interview, September 2000. publication in Tajikistan in Novem- 58 Zerkalo # 1, 2000, p.10. 59 See Asia + # 34, from September 15, 2000. 60 Oleg Panfilov, op. cit. 61 CIMERA interview with Mukhiddin Idizoda, Edi- tor-in-Chief of Najot, September 2000. THE MEDIA SITUATION IN TAJIKISTAN / André Loersch & Mark Grigorian ...... 21

ber 1999 after the ban had been Economy of the newspapers therefore they have no problems with lifted in August of the same year. In The competition among editors is not the rise of prices of the printing ser- August 2000, the state press distri- the only factor which explains the vices or taxes. One of the state news- bution agency refused to sell Najot, general lack of information on the papers – I do not want to name its because it is not printed in Sharki financial resources of the media in title – owes the printing house about Ozod, the government-controlled Tajikisan. The regular tax inspection 1.5 billion rubles (about 680,000 U$). printing house. Mukhtor Bokizoda visits after publication of material Our newspaper would be immedi- states that Najot is printed in a pri- unpleasant to the authorities obvi- ately closed if I had only a 300,000 vate printing house. This fact is not ously only reinforces the mistrust of rubles debt (about 140 U$).” mentioned in the newspaper because the media-owners in giving precise The second group consists of non- the editors allegedly fear that such figures. Nonetheless, the few partial governmental newspapers with po- a mention would attract a tax inspec- elements gathered during this en- litical content: Asia Plus, Biznes i tion of this company, in an attempt quiry indicate that, from an economic Politika, Vechernij Dushanbe, Najot, to find a way to interrupt the publi- point of view, the newspapers in Mizon, Tojikiston. None of these cation of this opposition newspaper. Tajikistan can be divided into three newspapers is self-sufficient. Najot Mukhiddin Idizoda, the editor, is said groups. The first group consists of is financed by the Islamic Revival to be constantly intimidated. He re- governmental press – Sadoi Mardum, Party; Mizon is said to be financed ceived threatening telephone calls Jumhurriet, Khalk Ovozi and by the same party though some ob- announcing that his wife would be Narodnaya Gazeta. The state covers servers claim that the source of their raped and his children killed. He in- all their expenses. “None of them finances come from the information formed Said Abdollo Nuri, the leader corresponds to any popular demand,” agency of the same name. Asia Plus of the Islamic Revival Party, but the writes Gulchekhra Mansurova, “as benefits from a grant from the US latter allegedly did nothing to guar- they primarily publish resolutions, Embassy which helps it to survive. antee his security. “I am scared, I government decisions and official Otherwise, it is financed by its news will leave the country,” says chronicles, and cannot afford to “im- agency. Vechernij Dushanbe and Mukhiddin Idizoda. provise” and thus improve their con- Tojikiston are financed from the in- tent. With their miserable circulation Mizon is a newspaper founded by the come that their owners gain from the of 700 to 2,000 copies, 75% of cir- news agency of the same name, and tabloids of those media groups. culation is secured by subscriptions its first issue was published on Sep- Sharif Hamdamov says about sold to state bureaucrats, and only tember 7, 2000. According to Tojikiston: “We are trying to develop 25% goes into retail. According to Asadullo Valizoda62, the founder and a social-political newspaper for the the Chief Editor of one of these pa- Editor-in-Chief of the agency and elite. It is not self-sustainable, and pers, the cost of printing them would newspaper, it has the intention of will never be. We are printing it on be 4 times higher than the whole- being critical in respect of the pow- the income from two other newspa- sale selling price.”63 ers, whatever their political orienta- pers – Oila and Crime-Info.” The main tion. Some sources indicate that “The independent and state news- sources of the financing of Biznes i Mizon’s position would be close to papers are not in equal conditions,” Politika remain unclear. those of the Islamic Revival Party. says the editor of a private newspa- The third group is formed by “tab- Mizon comes out on 8 A3 pages and per. “The governmental newspapers loids”, which are income-generating with a declared circulation of 1,500. are completely financed by the state, enterprises and, as seen above, According to Valizoda, the real fig- sometimes contribute to helping the ure would be higher than 2,000. 62 CIMERA interview, September 2000. 63 Gulchekhra Mansurova. “The Market Economy newspapers with political content to and Mass Media in Tajikistan”, CAMsP, www.camsp.osh.kg/pechbilleng/pubister4.htm survive. Their main source of income SYSTEM / STRUCTURE OF MEDIA 22 ......

comes from street-sales. Some fi- first year of functioning of this news- mately $ 24/ in private press vs nancing comes to the newspapers paper only foresees advertisement 30,000 /about $ 14/ in governmen- from advertising. However, there are income as 2% of the total budget. tal press). very few advertisers in the country. Latent advertising constitutes a big- All newspapers buy paper from in- “There are almost no advertisers ger source of income. It is widely termediary private companies. The because there is no production – the used and it takes the form of articles price mentioned by editors varies country is in a deep economic cri- published in a newspaper and posi- from $ 650 to $ 1.000 per tone. The sis,” says an editor. “The potential tively describing either a personality high price of the paper available in advertisers, in their turn, are afraid or an enterprise. An editor says: Tajikistan -which does not produce of making their names known be- “Usually, I go to the director of a big any- is a big obstacle for any devel- cause they are scared of the racket enterprise and tell him: ‘Listen, your opment of the press in the country, and of the taxation office. But, mostly enterprise has to tell the people of and the possible transformation of of the racket. The international agen- Tajikistan about your problems, your any of its weeklies into dailies. Ac- cies are the biggest advertisers. In everyday life and (if there are some) cording to Umed Babakhanov, the fact, they are publishing announce- achievements. You pay for the space price of the paper alone would rep- ments but, they are doing that in the newspaper.’ Usually, I do not resent 30% of the expenses for Asia openly, with no fear. Others are name the price, they pay as much Plus. In the budget of the weekly avoiding.” Presently, the price of one as they want.” Reliable sources say OSCE is planing to support in square centimeter of advertisement that a newspaper like Biznes i Khudjand, this cost represents in a newspaper costs around 200- Politika, a private newspaper in around 20% of the expenses of the 300 Tajik rubles (9.5 – 14 cents), de- Dushanbe, would charge $ 50 for 1/ budget for the first’s year function- pending on the newspaper. As an 4 of the newspaper’s page (equal to ing. exception, Asia Plus, according to the one A4 page). The fees for latent estimations given by its director Almost all the newspapers are advertising are usually paid in cash. Umed Babakhanov, would have ben- printed in the biggest printing house According to a reporter from efited from advertisements amount- in Dushanbe – Sharki Ozod. The 14- Vechernij Dushanbe, only the editor ing to 40% of the income of the storey building, where most of the and the owner are entitled to decide newspaper in September. But, un- newspapers are situated, belongs to the publication of latent advertising, derlines Babakhanov, this especial the Sharki Ozod Publishing House. the journalists having only the pos- high proportion is due to the par- This system of gathering in one place sibility to bargain the prizes with the ticular situation of Dushanbe, with the redaction of newspapers and a “customer”. The editor of another the presence in town of numerous big publishing house to print them newspaper says that the income from international organizations, whose was established in the 1970s, and latent advertising is paid to the em- announcements constitute the big- such buildings were then constructed ployees of the newspaper as a pre- gest part of all the advertisement in- in many republics of USSR. mium every three months. In non- come of the newspaper. The budget governmental controlled press the of a private weekly, due to start in fees are generally used to pay sala- Khudjand with the support of OSCE, ries which usually are higher than in confirms the general low potential of the state-controlled press (on an advertisements in the country. OSCE average 50,000 rubles /approxi- representatives, in the best case, do not expect more than 5% of the in- come of the newspaper from adver- 64 CIMERA interview with Sebastien Trives, Head tisements64. And the budget for the of OSCE Khudjand Field Office, September 2000. THE MEDIA SITUATION IN TAJIKISTAN / André Loersch & Mark Grigorian ...... 23

V. ACTIVITIES OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

The American organization ration with OSI. Internews does also Apart from the organization of semi- Internews, the Open Society Insti- distribute some limited grants for nars on different issues for journal- tute (OSI) and the Organisation for equipment for TV stations.65 ists, OSCE has been developing these Security and Co-operation in Europe last years a concept of “rehabilita- Also involved in journalists’ training, (OSCE) appear to be the most regu- tion” of district “community” news- OSI is paying particular attention to larly active organizations in media papers, particularly in Southern printed and radio journalism in or- support in Tajikistan, with activities Tajikistan (details in the annexed der to be complementary to already or potentially influencing the report on the SDC financed media Internews. Present training activities media structure in the country. To- projects in Tajikistan). Owned by the mainly consist in sending journalists gether, they organized different local authorities, the newspapers re- to be trained abroad, event if, so seminars on legislative issues for habilitated within the framework of Zuhra Halimova, Executive Director journalists. those projects were a legacy of the for OSI in Tajikistan, it is not always old Soviet media structure in Internews, which started its activi- easy to find candidates with a suffi- Tajikistan. Initially motivated by the ties in Tajikistan in 1995, concen- cient level of English language to idea of providing information to the trates on its usual activities: support really benefit from such an experi- readers of some areas cut off from for private television with training ence. Occasionally, OSI also gives the Dushanbe’s media during the seminars including all professional some grants as it did, for example, period of elections (1999 and 2000), aspects of TV’s work, from manage- to the Union of Journalists, to have those rehabilitation projects did not ment to journalism. Internews is also texts translated such as the Charter bring any particular change to the investing a lot of effort in respect of of freedom of press, some laws, or a general media structure in the South. the legal plan, actively lobbying to manual for journalists. For next year, They, nevertheless, sometimes filled bring changes in the “Law on Televi- OSI is planing to organize training, a complete gap of local news and sion and Radio” and other legal texts possibly in collaboration with BBC, allowed journalists from those areas about media, strengthening the po- for radio producers. Together with to get back to work, even in a very sition of the private electronic me- Internews, OSI is also willing to start limited framework. For the future, dia, and organizing seminars on le- a school for journalists in Tajikistan, OSCE has decided to actively sup- gal issues for all journalists, includ- possibly with four-month sessions port the development of private ing those working for state media. per year, as well as special training media. In Kurgan-Tyube, south of Feeling the need for a more substan- for “rural newspapers”.66 Dushanbe, it will launch a private TV- tial training program, and willing to radio company (the radio part being organize longer seminars, Internews financed by the Swiss Development is planning the opening of a school 65 CIMERA interview with Christine Kiernan, Coun- try Director, and Bahodoor Kosomov, Managing Di- and Co-operation office from of journalism next year, in collabo- rector Internews, Tajikistan, September 2000. 66 CIMERA interview with Zuhra Halimova. ACTIVITIES OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 24 ......

Dushanbe). The structure of the com- In the northern part of the country, working on the model of Asia Plus pany is entirely private, but a con- OSCE is going to implement other information bulletin: three times per tract will link the Director to OSCE projects with the aim to directly sup- week, with news in English, Russian during the whole period of the port the creation of private-owned and Tajik, aiming at providing pres- project. During that time, the func- media. Two projects are foreseen: ently non-existent information about tioning of the company will be en- the creation of a weekly newspaper Leninabad oblast. In the future, the tirely financed by an external donor, and of a press agency in the agency will try to have correspon- with the aim to give enough time to Leninabad area (Khudjand). The dents in the whole region of the the station to become self-sustain- same structure will be put in place, Ferghana Valley, including able. As an implementing agency, the as for the TV-radio in Kurgan-Tyube. Uzbekistan and Kirgizstan. The OSCE will have a co-responsibility in The donor will be external (the Dutch weekly newspaper to be started in the editorial content of the programs, Government in the case of the news- Khudjand will be a generalist one, and will exert an overall financial paper) and OSCE will be the imple- trying to bring quality news, infor- control on the management of the menting agency. For the newspaper, mation and analyses in the region. station. The radio part of this project the project includes a financial con- It is interesting to note that all per- will be of particular interest, for dif- trol on the part of OSCE, which will sons in charge of these projects for ferent reasons. First of all, the report to the donor on a quarterly OSCE placed accent on the neces- Kurgan-Tyube radio station will be basis. The editorial line will be de- sity to have an everyday presence the first local private radio ever work- termined by an agreement signed in the redaction, whether in the ra- ing in Tajikistan. Then, taking into between the newspaper and OSCE, dio, the agency or the newspaper, in consideration the particularly difficult including a series of commitments order to ensure an optimal follow- economic situation of the country, from the newspaper to respect cer- up as well as providing permanent radio represents probably the easi- tain standards in terms of content training on the spot. est way to establish a new offer in and management of human re- terms of news among the public. sources. The news agency will be