DUSHANBE, October 8, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The Tajik Penal Code criminalizing defamation and insult laws limit the possibility of observance of democratic principles of freedom of speech in Tajikistan’s media, Nouriddin Qarshiboyev, the head of the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan, remarked at the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw yesterday, according to Ms. Nargis Zokirova, the chairperson of the Bureau on Human Rights and Rule of Law (BHR) of Tajikistan.

According to him, people fear to use their constitutional rights of the freedom of speech.  Thus, the author of article in the Dushanbe weekly Asia-Plus Ozodbek Khosabekov released an open letter to raise the problem of corruption in one of structures of the GBAO local authorities and he was convicted for defamation and when he protested against the judge he was convicted for the second time – this time, for insulting the judge.  Now he could face legal proceedings and a huge fine may be imposed on him.  When journalists tried to protect Khosabekov, they were faced with corporate interests and ambitions of judicial organs, Qarshiboyev said.

The Tajik media watchdog head added that initiatives of journalists and human rights organizations had not been supported by the executive and legislative branches of power.

He considers that Tajik media have to work in extreme situations.  According to the results of sociological surveys, more than 40 percent of independent media in Tajikistan are on the verge of bankruptcy.  In the meantime, the state-run media receive subventions from the national budget.