Press statements of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media

VIENNA, 29 May 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today about Tajikistan’s Supreme Court ruling to block access to the Akhbor.com news site in the country on the grounds of providing a platform to “terrorist and extremist organizations”...

VIENNA, 27 June 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today called upon the authorities of Tajikistan to investigate reports that a journalist’s family members were intimidated and to reconsider withdrawal of press accreditation for Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) correspondent in Dushanbe.

VIENNA, 7 May 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, called on the authorities to reinstate access to numerous web resources, including online media, social platforms and Google services, in Tajikistan...

VIENNA, 22 August 2018- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the release of Khayrullo Mirsaidov on appeal by decision of the Sughd regional court. “I am relieved that the court decided to set Mirsaidov free today. While this is a welcome step forward, I very much hope that the remaining charges against him are finally dropped,” Désir said.

VIENNA, 11 July 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today expressed his concern about an excessive sentence of 12 years in a penal colony handed down to Khayrullo Mirsaidov by a court in Tajikistan.

VIENNA, 13 April 2018 – Today OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir called on the Tajikistani authorities to release from pre-trial detention Khayrullo Mirsaidov, a reporter with a number of national and international media outlets in Tajikistan in the past years. Mirsaidov is facing charges of embezzlement of funds, falsification of documents, making false accusations, and incitement to inter-ethnic hatred.

VIENNA, 28 March 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today wrote to Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Sirodjidin Aslov, calling for the removal of 14 journalists’ names from a “list of people wanted for serious crimes, including connections with terrorists”.

HAMBURG, Germany, 6 December 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed a swift decision by Tajikistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reinstate accreditation to six Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) correspondents in the country.юю

DUSHANBE, 20 November 2015- After a two-day discussion on digitalization and its impact on media freedom and pluralism in Central Asia, participants of the 17th Central Asian Media Conference in Dushanbe, adopted a set of recommendations to help foster independent and pluralistic media in the context of digital transition (the recommendations will be available shortly)...

VIENNA, 7 October 2014 – Following the blocking of a large number of websites and social media platforms in Tajikistan including Vkontakte, YouTube and Facebook, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today called on the authorities to ensure unrestricted access to the Internet...