DUSAHNBE, August 11, Asia-Plus – RFE/RL -- Media rights groups have criticized Tajik prosecutors for opening criminal cases against three journalists, RFE/RL''s Tajik Service reported.

Dushanbe prosecutor''s office launched criminal libel cases against three female reporters for the tabloid newspaper Ovoza , Farangis Nabiyeva, Muhayo Nozimova, and Saida Qurgonova.

 The journalists co-authored an article critical of a singer. They have been ordered not to leave Dushanbe.

Media advocacy groups in Tajikistan and Russia called on Dushanbe to stop prosecuting journalists for their professional activity.