DUSHANBE, May 3, Asia-Plus - Zafar Saidov, director general of the state-run news agency Khovar assesses the present state of freedom of the press in Tajikistan as “not bad” and has optimistic view of perspectives.

On the present state of journalism and the press freedom situation in Tajikistan, the Khovar director noted that this issue should be considered not in terms of whether there is freedom of the press as such in Tajikistan but in terms of how this right provided for by the national legislation is used by journalists. 

“Journalists should use this right in a fashion that does not compromise this value and does not cause instability in society,” said Saidov. “Society develops when it is tackling arising problems and the main mission of media is to cover these problems and seek peaceful solutions to contradictions, showing efficient ways to overcome them.”  

According to him, it is impossible to achieve this without freedom of speech and the press.