DUSHANBE, April 24, 2014, Asia-Plus -- The editor-in-chief of a weekly newspaper in Tajikistan''s southern city of Kulob says his periodical has been suspended by authorities due to political reasons.

Ahmad Ibrohim told RFE/RL on April 23 that Paik (News) was forced to halt operations a week ago after it published articles critical of the local and central government.

The head of the Information and Periodicals Directorate at Tajikistan''s Culture Ministry, Saifullo Qodirov, told RFE/RL that the newspaper had been suspended over “technical reasons.”

Qodirov said the newspaper had failed to re-register with authorities after what he said was a five-month “probation” period.

However, editor Ibrohim said he and his colleagues had never been informed about such a regulation and had been unaware that the newspaper had to re-register.