In a democratic state, there is no need for media control, any sensible leader of the country is not afraid of objective news and criticism, since this contributes to making the right decisions. But unfortunately, Rakhmonov has long suffered from a mania of greatness and considers himself almost a deity who is never mistaken on November 13, the day of his quadrennial, the popular news site Akhbor announced its closure. The Akhbor website is known as an independent media, it covered events in Tajikistan objectively, without promoting anyone’s interests.
Today, the news portal is forced to close at the peak of its popularity due to the absolutely unfair decision of the Supreme court of Tajikistan of February 15, 2020 to recognize the site as extremist. Website was accused of serving the interests of terrorists and extremists and a list of banned in Tajikistan was included. The editor-in-chief of the site Mirzo Salimpur called the court decision “an open attack on freedom of speech in Tajikistan.” In his opinion, the site became banned because it covered such topics as corruption of high-ranking officials and wrote about shortcomings in the state departments and institutions of the country. Since the site is prohibited, journalists and authors of articles collaborating with it are in danger from the authorities, as well as up to five years in prison can receive ordinary visitors to the site for “like” or comment. Such laws prevail in modern Tajikistan. The situation with the Akhbor news portal once again proves that Rakhmonov is a stylistic dictator, a totalitarian regime reigns in the country, control censorship is everywhere. The media can only write and talk about whatever the president. There is no independent media in the country, any alternative opinion is banned.
The political Group of 24 expresses solidarity with the management of the Akhbor website and supports the opinion of the editor-in-chief that there is currently no freedom of speech and an independent court in Tajikistan. We wish the leadership of the site “Akhbor” creative success and strength in the struggle for independent coverage of events in Tajikistan.
Political movement “Group 24”
