DUSHANBE, March 1, Asia-Plus - A public association entitled Tajik Publicists’ Association was established in Dushanbe this week, Zafar Saidov, director of Tajik national news agency Khovar, said.

According to him, the Association founded by heads of Tajikistan’s largest media and known Tajik publicists is expected to be registered with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in the near future.  

Saidov said that Muhammadjon Toshtemirov, editor-in-chief of the Dushanbe Russian-language weekly Kuryer Tajikistana , had been elected chairman of Tajik Publicists’ Association.

The Khovar director Zafar Saidov and the Asia-Plus Media group director general Umed Babakhanov were elected deputy chairmen.    

Inspecting commission includes Umarkhon Sherkhonov, deputy director of the state-run printer Sharqi Ozod, Ravshan Makhsumzod, editor of the newspaper Zan va Mard , and Abdullo Zuhurov, editor of the newspaper Zamondosh .   

Among the association founders are known Tajik publicist Nour Tabarov, Bakhtiyor Murtazoyev (the weekly Minbari Khalq ), Haidar Jurayev (the weekly Khalq Ovozi ) and Zafar Abdulloyev (the weekly Fakty i Kommentarii ).  

According to Saidov, the main objective of Tajik Publicists’ Association to further development of social and political journalism and raising its role in spiritual life of society.  He added that the association is also expected to be engaged in publishing as well.