DUSHANBE, October 21, 2009, Asia-Plus — Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has ranked Tajikistan 113th out of 175 in its Press Freedom index 2009.
RSF issued its eighth annual world press freedom index on October 20.
Tajikistan holds the best place among the Central Asian countries. Kyrgyzstan is ranked 125th, Kazakhstan 142nd, Uzbekistan 160th and Turkmenistan (173rd) is at the very bottom together with North Korea (174th) and Eritrea (175th).
Europe long set an example in press freedom but several European nations have fallen significantly in this year’s index. Even if the first 13 places are still held by European countries, others such as France (43rd), Slovakia (44th) and Italy (49th) continue their descent, falling eight, 37 and five places respectively. In so doing, they have given way to young democracies in Africa (Mali, South Africa and Ghana) and the western hemisphere (Uruguay and Trinidad and Tobago), the report said.
Reporters Without Borders compiles the index every year on the basis of questionnaires that are completed by hundreds of journalists and media experts around the world. This year’s index reflects press freedom violations that took place between September 1, 2008 and August 31, 2009.
