DUSHANBE, January 13, 2012, Asia-Plus – Tajikistan’s media organizations have strongly condemned an attack on a Moscow-based Tajik opposition journalist Dodojon Atovullo (Atovulloyev).

In a statement released on January 13, Tajik Journalists’ Union (TJU), the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit) and the Medial Alliance of Tajikistan (MAT) strongly condemned the attack on Tajik opposition journalist Dodojon Atovulloyev and called on the Russian law enforcement authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident.  

An outspoken critic of the Tajik government, Dodojon Atovulloyev has widely used the right of freedom of speech.  “It is still unclear whether the attack was related to his professional activity or not.  However, squaring of accounts with opponents in such manner is a criminal act and must be punished in accordance with law,” the statement says.