Journalists in Tajikistan have expressed concern about the difficulty of obtaining information from government agencies and news conferences held by the government agencies and local authorities.
In anticipation of the semi-annual news conferences, the country’s journalism community on July 17 sent a written appeal to President’s Executive Office and Prosecutor-General’s Office, expressing concern about the difficulty of obtaining information from government agencies and news conferences held by the government agencies and local authorities.
Journalists, in particular, note that the key and power-wielding structures of the country do not hold news conferences.
In urgent, emergency and exceptional situations, the ministries and agencies reportedly demand written request from journalists.
Ministers, heads of committees and agencies are reportedly not available to journalists.
Journalists also complain of disruption of news conferences and unwillingness of some ministries and agencies to grant access to information.
They also note that during news conferences that are held twice a year, officials give only empty statistics, but if there are additional questions, they refuse to reply to them. At the same time, some of them allow themselves to be rude towards journalists, the appeal says.
Journalists have made several suggestions to solve the problem and requested President’s executive office and Prosecutor-General’s Office to pay attention to the problem and requested government bodies to comply with the country’s laws.
Recall, heads of ministries and agencies of Tajikistan as well as heads of provinces and cities will begin to give news conferences on the results of the past half-year’s work on July 26. The news conferences will run through August 14.
President Emomali Rahmon on March 4, 2005 signed a decree obligating ministers, department heads, and local officials to give quarterly news conferences.
But by president’s decree issued in September 2011, ministers, department heads, and local authorities now give news conferences only twice a year – in January and July.
The decree also notes that in case of necessity, ministers and department heads may give news conferences several times a month.
