Working visit of Azda TV journalists to Norway

From June 2 to 6 of this year, journalists from Azda TV participated in the 16th “Oslo Freedom Forum 2024.” This forum featured speeches and stories from human rights defenders, journalists, political opposition members, former political prisoners, and their relatives.

This important human rights forum is held annually in Oslo, the capital of Norway, with the support of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Human Rights Foundation, NHC, and other organizations. Civil society activists and opposition representatives from various countries are invited to the forum. This year, activists from countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Cuba, Russia, Iran, Belarus, Tajikistan, India, Afghanistan, Palestine, Iraq, as well as from African countries, gathered in Oslo.

This year, the forum took place against the backdrop of the war in the Gaza Strip, coinciding with Norway’s recognition of the Palestinian state. Among the panelists were Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Espen Barth Eide, the Ambassador of Palestine to Norway and Iceland Maria Antoinette Seddin, Israeli political activist and commentator Gershon Baskin, and leader of the Palestinian National Initiative Mustafa Barghouti, who expressed their views on the war in Gaza and the future of the region.

Representatives of the opposition from Venezuela, Russia, and Iran were also present at the forum.

Photo: Internet

On the sidelines of the forum, Azda TV’s editor-in-chief Mukhamadjon Kabirov and Azda TV journalist Firuz Khait met and exchanged views with Norway’s Ambassador to Central Asia Dr. John Mikal Kvistad, Secretary General of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee Ms. Berit Lindeman, Head of International Relations at the Norwegian Union of Journalists Eva Steibl, and Head of the Journalism Department at the Norwegian Union of Journalists Espen Stensrud.

During the meeting with representatives of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other organizations in the country, the Azda TV delegation urged them to assist in the release of imprisoned Tajik journalists and to support Tajik media operating in Europe.