DUSHANBE, February 26, 2014, Asia-Plus – The ruling handed down by a court in Dushanbe’s Firdavsi district over the lawsuit filed against newspaper
Asia-Plus
and its editor Olga Tutubalina has aggravated the difficulties facing media in Tajikistan, Khilvatshoh Mahmoud, the director of the Media Holding
Ozodagon
, told Asia-Plus Wednesday afternoon.
“Not every journalist will dare to criticize officials after this,” Mahmoud said, noting that the comments written by Olga Tutubalina caused a reaction from “official” intelligentsia.
According to him, the decision made by the Firdavsi district court has set a precedent for other possible suits against journalists.
“Now, every person, criticized by media outlets, may file a lawsuit against journalists that may lead to self-censorship among journalists and have negative consequences for development of freedom of expression, freedom of the press and democratic principles in Tajikistan,”
Ozodagon
director stressed.
