The Congress of the United States has expressed concern about reports that reports that journalists of Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, locally known as Radio Ozodi, are being harassed and threatened in Tajikistan.
The U.S. Congress has sent a letter to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon calling on him to help restore accreditation of Radio Ozodi journalists, Radio Ozodi said on October 17.
The letter dated of October 9 is signed by Mr. Adam B. Schiff, the United States Representative for California's 28th congressional district and Mr. Steve Chabot, the United States Representative for Ohio's 1st congressional district.
“We are concerned about reports that journalists affiliated with Radio Ozodi, the Tajik Service of Radio Liberty, are being harassed, threatened, and in an alarming number of cases denied aaccredition to work in your country,” the letter says.
US congressmen are concerned over the ongoing situation that can undermine relations between the United Sates and Tajikistan and hit the image of Tajikistan.
The letter notes that a total of nine journalists and support staff with Radio Ozodi are currently barred from working because they have not been credentialed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan.
The letter authors called on Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to help restore accreditation of Radio Ozodi journalists to work in Tajikistan.
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is a private, independent international news organization whose programs — radio, Internet, television, and mobile — reach influential audiences in 23 countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the republics of Central Asia and the Caucasus. It is funded by the U.S. Congress through USAGM.
