Europe & Eurasia

Tajikistan

{This graph represents scores that have been modified by CIMA so that higher scores indicate a better media situation. It is intended to show trends over time; each index measures significantly different factors of press freedom. To see an explanation for how this graph was created, click here.}
 

IREX Description:

The government's growing concerns over Islamic terrorism came to a head in 2010 as a result of this incident and other disturbances, including a suicide bombing in Khujand, Tajikistan's first terrorist attack; and the escape of 25 highly dangerous criminals from a Dushanbe prison—among them mercenaries, drug traffickers, and members of the terrorist Islamic Movement of Turkestan. In response, on September 22, the government began a large-scale operation to eliminate insurgents in the region, and used the opportunity to step up censorship of some "inconvenient" independent media as well. Since then, all communication with the region has been locked down, practically cutting off journalists from sources of information.

Despite the harsh censorship stemming from the incidents in Rasht, there have been some positive signs: NGOs and media associations are uniting in their response and their efforts, and Tajikistan's Internet community became more cohesive, sharing information on how to access blocked servers. Independent media plurality has grown, and online media are beginning to overtake traditional sources of information.

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