DUSHANBE, September 8, Asia-Plus — Tajik Journalists’ Union, the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit) and the Tajik Association of independent Electronic Media (TajNESMI) have released a joint statement, in which they welcome resumption of broadcasting of the independent Imrouz (Today) radio station.
The statement, in particular, said that closure of the Imrouz radio station had shown another vulnerable side of activity of media with regard to proper execution of legal documents between economic entities in the field media.
Proceeding from this, Tajik Journalists’ Union, Nansmit and TajNESMI call on all media irrespective of forms of property “to conduct internal legal audit in their structures in order to remove all shortcomings in their financial and release activities.” “Legal audit that is examination of legal and other documents promotes ensuring efficient activities of print and electronic media.”
The independent radio station Imrouz was established two years ago and it has managed to win a broad audience in a short period. Due to the new approach to creation of programs, responsiveness and observance of the principle of pluralism of opinions, the radio station has become very popular in Dushanbe and the surrounding area.
Unfortunately, Imrouz has experienced broadcasting problems triply over this period.
We will recall that on August 11, 2009, Imrouz was taken off the air. Officials from Teleradiocom (Tajikistan’s national radio and television operator) attributed closure of Imrouz to technical problems. They said the radio station Imrouz had stopped broadcasting in the FM range for technical reasons, while the Imrouz representatives considered their arguments to be unfounded. According to them, the main purpose of this situation is in preventing Imrouz from broadcasting. Imrouz resumed broadcasting on September 3.
Imrouz is part of Orienbonk’s media-holding group. Among local it is known as a serious Tajik-language station. It broadcast news reports focusing on Tajikistan’s political and social sphere, as well as music. For the first time, Imrouz was shut down in February 2008 but was back on the air less than three days after. For the second time, Tajik authorities took the radio station off the air in April 2008; Imrouz was shut down on April 8 and was back on the air in four days.
