Tajik Minister of Culture Shamsiddin Orumbekov says the financing of state-run media has remained at the same volume but it’s time for them to learn to work under the market economy conditions.  

“Reports that government financing of state-run media has allegedly reduced since the beginning of this year do not correspond to the fact,” Shamsiddin Orumbekzoda told Asia-Plus in an interview.  

“Like the previous years, the state-run media are financed by the government.  It means that their employees’ wages are paid by the government while royalties are paid at the expense of incomes of the media themselves,” the minister said.

He stressed that it was time for state-run media to stop being dependents and seek new sources of financing.  

“Everything depends on editor and editorial staff.  If the circulation of a state-run newspaper is only 600 copies, what government support you can speak about,” Orumbekzoda stated.  

He further noted that central state-run newspapers such as Jumhuriyat (an official paper of the Government), Sadoi Mardum (an official paper of the Parliament) as well as the ruling People’s Democratic Party mouthpiece Minbari Khalq stood on their own two feet  and did not need additional financial support.

The minister added that official papers of local governments (districts, cities and regions) were financed by local budgets.  

According to Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, locally known as Radio Ozodi, ten television channels, 110 newspapers, seven radio stations and one news agency (Khovar) receive government subsidies.