DUSHANBE
, February 17,
Asia
-Plus – The National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit) consider a decision of the Supreme Court to suspend the “Nerui Sukhan” editor’s sentence positive step.
The Nansmit head Nuriddin Qarshiboyev has told Asia-Plus that the fact that the Supreme Court has suspended a verdict against Mukhtor Boqizoda, editor-in-chief of the independent Dushanbe weekly “Nerui Sukhan” (Power of Word) and demanded review of his case shows that “the court takes heed to problems facing media.” “We hope this decision will have positive impact on the sentence,” he said.
According to him, the verdict may change and a two-year corrective work may be disaffirmed and Mukhtor Boqizoda will pay fine for unauthorized use of electricity, or “may be the term will be cut down.
We will recall that the Supreme Court has suspended the sentence to Mukhtor Boqizoda. The trial of the criminal case involving Mukhtor Boqizoda, editor-in-chief of the independent
Dushanbe
newspaper “Nerui Sukhan” and chairman of the Foundation for Memory and Protection of the Rights of Journalists of Tajikistan, ended in the court in the Firdavsi district of Dushanbe on
August 25 2005
. Boqizoda was sentenced to two years of corrective work and the surrender of 20 percent of his salary to the state for stealing electricity
