Failure to comply with these laws is punishable. However, in practice, no institution or official has been penalized for refusing to provide information to journalists. This may be the reason why some Tajik officials ignore criticism, behave rudely towards journalists, do not answer their questions; leaders do not attend meetings, do not respond even to written requests, and if they do respond, it is much later than the established deadline or not completely.
Businessman Beg Sabur
One of the Tajik officials who is completely unconcerned about criticism is Beg Sabur, the head of the Communications Service. Although his work has faced criticism from journalists, the public, and international institutions for many years, he has never responded to this criticism. As the head of the Communications Service, he last attended a press conference for this agency in 2012. At that time, Beg Sabur (then Zuhurov) stated that the reason for the lack of telephone communication in GBAO was “a hunter’s bullet from Vakhdat that cut the telephone wire.” His words not only caused confusion but also sparked a wave of criticism from users. A group of social media activists brought several meters of wire to Sabur’s office at that time, urging him to restore communication…
In March 2019, Tajik journalist Yakub Khalimov proved that Beg Sabur, while working as an official in his government office, was involved in the sale of houses. After the investigation was published, there was no response from him or other agencies. This is despite the fact that, according to the law, a public official in Tajikistan is not allowed to engage in entrepreneurial activities. For years, the Communications Service has faced criticism from journalists and civil society for the poor quality and high cost of the Internet. Even Emomali Rahmon, the President of Tajikistan, in his annual address (in 2022) criticized the quality and price of the Internet. However, the situation has not changed significantly. Although the Communications Service claims to have undertaken some work to address the problem, complaints continue.
Previously, this agency did not have a press service, at least we were not aware of it, but after recent criticism from the country’s leadership, this department began to work actively and sometimes responds to news and journalists’ messages. However, it seems that all this work remains at the level of propaganda. It should also be noted that Beg Sabur still does not attend press conferences, and the price and quality of the Internet in the country have not actually improved.
Questions Instead of Answers at the Ministry of Internal Affairs
Minister of Internal Affairs Ramazon Rahimzoda is one of the few Tajik officials who, although he tries to answer all journalists’ questions at press conferences, does not always provide detailed answers and does not interact very professionally with journalists. At press conferences, he sometimes responds to a question with another question, demands to name the source of information, and when journalists provide evidence, he rejects or ignores it.
At the last meeting, when a Radio Ozodi correspondent asked about the existence of a list of homosexuals, Rahimzoda nervously denied it and asked the correspondent: “Could your name have been on that list of homosexuals? Perhaps there was a mistake?” Although the press service of this institution is operational, they often do not provide the necessary information in a timely manner on issues that are of great public interest or are urgent.
Journalists are required to submit written requests, but upon receiving them, responses are either not provided promptly or not provided at all. This is especially true for topics such as the fight against terrorism and extremism, arrests of suspects and criminals abroad. In particular, Asia-Plus has not received responses to requests: No. 25/1 dated March 27 of this year – regarding obtaining more detailed information about the identity of the suspects in the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall; No. 2 dated January 8, 2024 – about the method of imposing fines for traffic violations; and March 15 of this year (No. 22) – about conducting an interview with a person who returned from the war in Syria and Iraq. Asia-Plus has not even received a response to one of its letters regarding the case of Shukhrat Ismatulloev, which was sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs on September 29, 2023, under No. 71.
The Prosecutor General’s Office only responds in writing and takes a long time
The Prosecutor General of Tajikistan, Yusuf Rahmon, although he participates in press conferences, does not always provide complete answers to journalists’ questions, sometimes settling for the phrase – “the investigation is ongoing.” This is why press conferences of this agency usually last from 15 to 30 minutes. The press center of this agency is also not very active. In response to absolutely all inquiries from Asia-Plus requesting information, they reply: “Please send an official letter.” Typically, we do receive responses from the Prosecutor General’s Office, but this happens when the information has already lost its relevance. Sometimes it takes a month…
No official reaction to raids
The Minister of Defense, Sherali Mirzo, also does not respond to critical materials or information related to his agency. In particular, every year during the conscription campaign, the media widely covers complaints about raids. Many photographs and videos are published on social networks and in the media. However, the Ministry of Defense, particularly the minister himself, does not respond to these reports. There is no public reaction from the agency or its head to instances of hazing, unfavorable conditions in military units, or even the deaths of soldiers. The press center of this institution is not particularly active and often becomes inaccessible for comments on current issues, especially during the conscription campaign.
When subordinates do not listen to the minister
The Minister of Transport, Azim Ibrohim, sometimes not only fails to provide information at press conferences himself, but when he instructs his subordinates to do so, they do not listen to him. An official letter was sent twice at the request of the ministry, but no response followed. At the last two press conferences, journalists from Asia-Plus personally asked Azim Ibrohim to provide an answer – in both cases, he instructed one of his subordinates to respond to our request, but that person also ignored the instruction.
The “limit” on electricity that no one acknowledges
The electricity limit is one of the pressing long-term issues in Tajikistan. The problem is not just with the leadership of individual officials; it is a systemic issue. However, regardless of who is in charge of the sector – at the Ministry of Energy or “Barki Tojik” – they seem to have an immunity to criticism. Every year, when restrictions on electricity supply are imposed in the country, journalists request information about the reason for the limit and then the supply schedule. Typically, we do not receive a response to either request. As practice shows, only two months after the actual introduction of the limit does “Barki Tojik” publish a press release, but the regime announced by this company does not correspond to the actual “limit” of electricity. A few years ago, the energy holding announced that “Barki Tojik” was divided into three separate divisions, and the issue of providing electricity to the population is handled by the “Distribution Electric Networks,” which is headed by an expatriate – a citizen of India.
At the last press conference in February of this year, this division did not provide a complete answer regarding the “limit” of electricity; instead, the organization shifted the responsibility onto the energy holding. It should be noted that in these two divisions, it is not only impossible to obtain information about electricity, but they also do not respond to questions regarding heating supply to residents’ homes, even though they are responsible for monitoring and regulating the operation of the CHPPs. The press service of “Barki Tojik” is one of the most closed in the republic.
The GKNB and Border Troops only work with “Khovar”
A few years ago, the press center of the State Committee for National Security was active, but now it has completely ceased contact with journalists, especially independent ones, and does not respond to official inquiries. In particular, on April 1 of this year (request No. 28/2), “Asia-Plus” reached out to the chairman of the GKNB with several questions regarding the identity of the suspects in the attack on “Krokus City Hall,” but two months later, no response was received.
It should be noted that the state information agency “Khovar” occasionally publishes statements on various topics on behalf of the GKNB press center. The press service of the Border Troops of the State Committee was active a few years ago but now does not respond to journalists’ questions. Here, we should emphasize the obvious importance of the work of this press center, considering the complex situation at the border with Afghanistan and the border conflicts between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in recent years.
The always ready response from the Tajikistan Embassy in Russia
It is particularly important to note the activities of the Tajikistan Embassy in Russia. Since the number of citizens of Tajikistan in the Russian Federation exceeds one million and practically every day information about events involving Tajiks is published in the media from all corners of this country, the importance of the press service of the diplomatic mission becomes evident. Some of these events are widely discussed in society; in such cases, the first agency that the media turns to for comments is the embassy. However, the response from the diplomatic mission is the same in all cases – “The embassy is aware of the investigation into the incident, it is under control and being monitored.” After the incident, it is immediately forgotten; at least, no results of the “control” and “monitoring” are reported. Some time ago, “Asia-Plus” published an article “Who Does the Tajikistan Embassy in Russia Work For?” regarding the inaction of this agency in terms of working with the media. But even in response to this criticism, Tajik diplomats and the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not find it necessary to react.
Write letters…
Recently, the mayor’s office in Dushanbe has not been responding to journalists’ questions; under the pretext of being busy, the press center does not answer calls, and journalists cannot even personally reach the press secretary at work for many days. In particular, “Asia-Plus” sent a request (No. 37) to the mayor’s office on May 22, 2024, regarding the demolition of the “Vakhsh” hotel building after repeated inquiries, but has not yet received a response. Also, on October 23, 2023, a letter was sent regarding the connection of new buildings to the heating plant – there has been no response to this simple question to this day.
The Supreme Court of Tajikistan seems active; however, without an official letter, they also do not respond to journalists’ questions. Moreover, responses are received late or do not contain the necessary information. In particular, on April 19, 2024 (request No. 24), “Asia-Plus” sent a request to the chairman of the Supreme Court asking for details about the case of the murder of Shukhrat Ismatulloev, the former deputy chairman of “Orionbank.” However, after 1.5 months, a response has still not been provided. Some high-ranking officials allow themselves to make absurd remarks about the appearance of journalists. For example, at one of the press conferences of the Committee on Television and Radio Broadcasting, some journalists with beards were not allowed into the hall and were even asked to shave… Justice Minister Muzaffar Ashuriyon at a press conference in February 2023 demanded from journalists “to appear in official and semi-official attire to participate in press conferences.”
… It should be noted that in January 2023, “Asia-Plus” published an article “Write Letters. Who Are the Most Closed Agencies of Tajikistan?”, in which we analyzed the level of access to information in official agencies.
In 2022, out of 46 journalistic inquiries sent by “Asia-Plus” to ministries and agencies, responses were received for only 12. And those were not within the timeframes stipulated by law, but after a month or more. Thus, we conclude that some Tajik officials not only ignore criticism but also do not respect the laws of the country. And they face no consequences for this.
