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Alert

Freedom of expression situation improved in 2006, but problems persist, says media group

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - The following is a 1 February 2007 statement by the National Association of Independent Mass Media of Tajikistan (NANSMIT), an Adil Soz partner:

The National Association of Independent Mass Media (NANSMIT) reports that the freedom of expression situation improved in Tajikistan in 2006.

Among other positive developments, the NANSMIT reports that Tajik journalists were allowed greater access to government information after the president signed a decree on 4 March 2005, which obliged the heads of ministries and local state bodies to organise press conferences for journalists on a quarterly basis and provide information at the request of media employees.

However, NANSMIT's monitoring report for 2006 shows that the decree is not adhered to by all state officials. Some of them, especially middle-ranked officials, still try to prevent journalists from accessing information of public interest and limit their responsibility to holding press conferences.

Threats against journalists and media outlets remain an important problem. There were two cases registered during the year. NANSMIT recorded an increasing number (19) of civil lawsuits filed against journalists for the protection of honour and dignity in 2006.

In 2006, a positive trend was that journalists were more willing to defend their rights. Three cases of appeals of court decisions and another three cases of lawsuits were recorded.