DUSHANBE, September 24, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Institution of criminal proceedings against the Charoghi Rouz editor Dodojon Atovulloyev will not affect the freedom of speech situation in Tajikistan, Akbarali Sattorov, head of Tajik Journalists’ Union (TJU), said in an interview with Asia-Plus.  

According to him, institution of criminal proceedings does not yet mean that the journalist is guilty of anything. 

“We know many cases when criminal proceedings have been instituted against journalists and the majority of them have been decided in favor of journalists,” said Sattorov, “If Dodojon Atovulloyev is sure of his rightness let him prove his case in court.”

“I call on my colleagues not to organize any PR-campaign on this case and to fulfill their professional duty fairly without insulting each other and their opponents,” the TJU head said.