DUSHANBE, July 11, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The board of Tajik Journalists’ Union (TJU) and the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit) today released a statement protesting actions of Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service.  

The statement, inked by chairman of Tajik Journalists’ Union Akbarali Sattorov and Nansmit director Nouriddin Qarshiboyev, in particular, expressed concern about pressure put by RFE/RL’s Tajik Service on reporters, noting that the pressure has assumed systematic character.  

They termed dismissal of Kholiq Sangin “without well-grounded reasons and contrary to the labor legislation” and resignation of Sayof Mizrob, “who left his job with RFE/RL’s Tajik Service, protesting the radio board’s policy that undermines authority of journalists,” as examples.   

The statement says that all this is evidence of the fact that an unfavorable situation has emerged in Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service and its management conducts a discrimination policy regarding its employees while solving internal disagreements.  

“Not interfering in internal affairs of the radio and protecting professional and labor rights of colleagues, Tajik Journalists’ Union and the National Association of Independent Media express protest on behalf of the country’s journalist community against the radio’s position on local journalists,” the statement stressed.