DUSHANBE, November 26, Asia-Plus  -- A new independent news agency, named Zarafshon-Times, has opened in Tajikistan. 

Zarafshon-Times issued its first materials on November 23.  

Situated Sughd’s Ayni district, the news agency provides information materials mainly about three districts in Sughd’s Zarafshon Valley – Ayni, Kuhistoni Mastchoh and Panjakent.  

According to the US Embassy in Dushanbe, the news agency has been established under financial support of the US Democracy Development Fund.  In October this year, the Democracy Development Fund awarded a grant for founding the news agency Zarafshon-Times.

The head of the news agency Zarafshon-Times is independent Tajik journalist Jumaboy Tolibov.  The agency’s e-mail: [email protected]