VIENNA, 18 October 2010 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic, said today that she was concerned about recent developments limiting media access and freedom and increasing pressure on independent media in Tajikistan.

In a letter to the Foreign Minister of Tajikistan, Hamrokhon Zarifi, the OSCE Representative wrote: "The practices of blocking websites, preventing newspapers from printing and launching tax or prosecutorial inspections by the authorities are serious non-compliance with Tajikistan’s OSCE media freedom commitments."

Since 29 September, several Tajik and foreign information websites have been inaccessible in the country. At the same time, tax inspections took place in several independent newspapers and printing houses following which the printing houses refused to print a number of independent newspapers, citing technical reasons.

In her letter to Minister Zarifi, Mijatovic raised again the pending cases against the newspapers Aziya Plus, Farazh, Ozodagon, Paykon and Millat. If the court decision to award disproportionate damages in libel lawsuits brought on by public officials are not reconsidered by the higher courts, these publications could face closure.

"If these newspapers are closed, this would severely diminish pluralism in print media in the Tajikistan," she wrote in the letter.

"I am very concerned and hope that the Tajik authorities will take on board my appeal, recognize the importance of maintaining media pluralism and thus reverse the ongoing deterioration of the media freedom situation in Tajikistan," said Mijatovic.

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