The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan opened a criminal case on the fact of an attack on journalists of Present Time and the Tajik service of Radio Liberty (Radio Ozodi). The case was initiated under Part 2 of Article 248 of the Criminal Code (“Robbery”), writes Tajik service of Radio Liberty with reference to the “Independent Center for the Protection of Human Rights”.
Abdurakhmon Sharipov, a lawyer from the center, said that on June 7, proceedings were launched as part of a criminal case. The next day, according to him, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan, in response to a request from Radio Ozodi, submitted for execution to the administration of the department for the city of Dushanbe a statement on the application of measures to ensure the safety of journalists.
Present Time Correspondent Anushervon Aripov talks about the attack on a film crew in Dushanbe:
In my country blocked
present tense
The incident took place on May 17, 2022. The journalists worked on covering anti-government protests in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. Immediately after recording an interview with a civil activist from GBAO Ulfathonim Mamadshoeva in Dushanbe, they went to the bureau of Radio Ozodi.
At the moment when the journalists got into the car, a white foreign car blocked their way. Young people ran out of there, snatched phones from journalists through the open windows of the car, then dragged Anushervon Aripov, Nasim Isamov, Mullorajab Yusufzoda and Barot Yusufi. They confiscated office equipment, work and personal mobile phones.
Mullorajab Yusufzoda was beaten – he received several strong blows to the head and torso. The attackers did not respond to repeated requests to introduce themselves, and to the demand to return the equipment they answered: “Get everything back.” 10 days after the attack, an unfamiliar man on the street told Mullorajab that he had the service equipment and telephones and that he would return them only after the journalists withdrew their statements.
“We strongly condemn the attacks on journalists of Radio Ozodi and Present Time in Dushanbe. We have repeatedly called on the Tajik authorities to stop their campaign of pressure on free media. accreditation, harassment and threats against RFE/RL journalists, it is time for the Tajik government to stop trying to undermine independent journalism that benefits the Tajik people,” said Jamie Fly, President of the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty media corporation.
