Unknown assailants attacked journalists from Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, locally known as Radio Ozodi, and Current Time (the Russian-language channel run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA) in Dushanbe on May 17 and confiscated the journalists' equipment and personal phones.
Radio Ozodi says a vehicle of journalsts from Radio Ozodi was blocked by another car in Tajikistan's capital, Dushanbe, and several men in civilian clothes came out of the car, forced journalists Mullorajab Yusufi and Barot Yusufi out of their vehicle, and attacked them.
The men punched Mullorajab Yusufi several times in the body and head and confiscated the journalists' equipment and personal phones. The attackers refused to identify themselves or explain their behavior. Before leaving the scene, they told the journalists their equipment would be returned.
About 30 minutes later, two journalists from Current Time, Anoushervon Orifov and Nasim Isamov, were reportedly attacked the same way, apparently by the same assailants.
The attacks took place after the journalists conducted separate interviews with well-known civil rights activist Ulfatkhonum Mamadshoyeva.
