Pamir Daily News has changed its name and will continue its activities

The Supreme Court of Tajikistan has declared the internet portal Pamir Daily News extremist, which mainly covers events in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region.

The decision of the Supreme Court of Tajikistan was made on June 14, 2023, based on a statement from the General Prosecutor’s Office of Tajikistan.

According to the General Prosecutor’s Office of Tajikistan, the activities of the internet portal Pamir Daily News have been declared prohibited in Tajikistan, and citizens cooperating with the portal will be held criminally liable.

The editorial team of the portal responded to the decision of the Supreme Court of Tajikistan with a quote from George Orwell: “In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

“The actions of the authorities in this regard resemble the act of a monster breaking a mirror that reflects his own displeasing face,” the statement from the portal’s editorial team noted.

The editorial team of Pamir Daily News also decided to rebrand and changed the name of the publication to Pamir Inside.

“Our activities have long been an eyesore to the authorities of Tajikistan, as we are among the last to speak about the lawlessness occurring in the republic, particularly in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. By declaring our publication illegal, the authorities of Tajikistan are trying to completely silence feedback from GBAO, where they continue to pursue an immoral, irresponsible policy aimed at ethnocide and the expulsion of Pamiris from their historical homeland,” the statement from Pamir Inside said.

 The statement emphasizes that the portal will continue its work “with even greater motivation, dedication, and the main goal of showing the true face of this deceitful, illegitimate, and anti-people authority.”

Pamir Daily News is not the only news site recognized as extremist in Tajikistan. Earlier, the Supreme Court of Tajikistan also declared the websites “Akhbor.com” and “Payom.net” extremist.

International organizations often criticize the authorities of Tajikistan for restricting freedom of speech and expression, blocking news websites, pressuring and detaining journalists and bloggers.