DUSHANBE. June 5. “Asia-Plus” -- Regular hearing of the complaint filed by Tajik Ministry of Agriculture against Millat newspaper, which opened on Wednesday, June 2, ended with the court’s decision to send the text of the controversial article to expertise which will be conducted by the Rudaki Institute of the Tajik Language and Literature of the Tajik Academy of Sciences.

According to Chief Editor of the Millat newspaper Irshod Sulaimoni, judge of the city court of Firdavsi region Dilorom Abdurahimova said that philological expertise will define whether the words and expressions extracted from the article bear are insulting. “Ministry of Agriculture claims that the article, published by the newspaper, contains the expression which says that “Ministry of Agriculture is the most corrupt ministry” and is considered the direct insult,” he says.

According to Sulaimoni, the Millat newspaper’s lawyer Junaid Ibodov said that the notion “insult” refers to category of criminal cases, not civilian.

“Under article 136 of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan only a person and human may become the subject of insult while not a single legal entity (ministry, department or organization) can be the subject of insult,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the editors believe that such expertise contradicts the existing legislation of the republic.