DUSHANBE, January 23, 2014, Asia-Plus -- A charitable foundation called “Sipar” (Shield) has helped a lawyer from Sughd province, Ms. Fayziniso Vohidova, pay a 30,000 somoni compensation to Tojiron Company for moral damages caused by an article published in the Imrouz News (News Today) newspaper.

Ms. Vohidova, who is one of members of the board of guardians of the foundation, expressed gratitude to Sipar on her Facebook page.

The Sipar Foundation has been set up this month and its main objectives are reportedly in: providing support to Tajik labor migrants working in the Russian Federation; protecting rights and interests of Tajik nationals, who have been unfairly convicted in Russia, and providing support to their families; providing support and assistance to victims of political repressions and members of their families in Tajikistan; supporting independent journalism in Tajikistan; thoroughly supporting  efforts of freethinking figures to prevent sliding of the country into monarchy and restore operation of norms of the Constitution and real sovereignty of the people.

Members of the board of guardians of the foundation include Fayziniso Vohidova, Shuhrat Qudratov, Alim Sherzamonov and several other persons.

We will recall that the Dushanbe Economic Court that considered the case, pitting Tojiron Company against Imrouz News and Ms. Fayziniso Vohidova, ruled on July 19, 2013 that Ms. Vohidova must pay 30,000 somoni compensation to Tojiron.

Tojiron Company filed a libel lawsuit against Imrouz News and Ms. Fayziniso Vohidova in late February 2013, asking for 1.00 somoni from the newspaper and 50,000 somoni from Ms. Fayziniso Vohidova as compensation for moral damage that was caused by an article published by the newspaper.

The lawsuit stemmed from an article “Murdafurushi dar Shirkati Tojiron” that was published in the newspaper on January 17, 2013. The article was about a fatal traffic accident, involving one of Tojiron’s gasoline tankers, which took place on the Dushanbe-Khujand highway.