DUSHANBE, July 11, 2008, Asia-Plus — Sayof Mizrob, former reporter of the Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, on July 10 released a statement, protesting against the terms of contracts of employment drawn up by the RFE/RL’s Tajik Service. He asserts that they are in contrary to Tajikistan’s labor legislation.
Besides, according to Sayof Mizrob, Radio Liberty has broadcast only critical materials of Tajikistan over years.
In his statement, the reporter noted that taking into account that his rights as citizen and journalist are violated, he does not want to oppose his people and homeland under the pressure of the RFE/RL’s Tajik Service and leaves his job at that radio.
Asia-Plus yesterday got in touch with Mr. Qudrat Shahidi, director of the RFE/RL’s Tajik Service, by phone and he said that Sayof Mizrob voluntary terminated his employment contract on July 9.
According to Mr. Shaidi, he yesterday received a message from Mizrob by e-mail, in which he expressed dissatisfaction and disagreement with changes that took place in work of the Dushanbe bureau several months ago (the changes concern internal work on the radio and programs). Sayof Mizrob also sent in his resignation, Mr. Shaidi said.
“We have been satisfied with work of Sayof Mizrob for many years, and therefore, I expressed gratitude to him for cooperation with radio and wished him success,” Qudrat Shaidi said, stressing that the radio management was respectful to the reporter’s decision.
As far as harsh intonations in the statement regarding the work of the radio are concerned, Mr. Shahidi stressed that Radio Liberty has prepared programs for Tajikistan in the Tajik language for more than 55 years and “it enjoys confidence of the population for balanced and impartial coverage of events in Tajikistan and outside it.”
