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In 2024, authorities in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan exerted significant pressure on independent media, marked by high-profile trials and prison sentences for journalists. These findings are detailed in a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on global press freedom.
Tajikistan: A Clampdown on Independent Voices
Tajikistan saw the imprisonment of eight journalists last year, with seven receiving long sentences ranging from seven to twenty years. CPJ attributes this to President Emomali Rahmon's consolidation of power through suppression of political dissent and independent voices. Most convictions were on charges of «extremism,» and trials often occurred behind closed doors.
Tajik journalists described press freedom as being at its lowest since the country’s civil war in the 1990s. CPJ also highlighted ethnic discrimination against Pamiris in Tajikistan, citing the case of journalist Ulfatkhonim Mammadshoeva, who is serving a 20-year sentence for allegedly organizing protests in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region.
Kyrgyzstan: Targeting Investigative Journalists
In Kyrgyzstan, CPJ noted violations of human rights, particularly against investigative journalists. The report mentioned the prosecution of staff from Temirov Live, known for exposing corruption. Out of 11 individuals connected to the outlet, two received prison sentences: Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy was sentenced to six years, and Azamat Ishembekov to five, for inciting public unrest.
The report also criticized the closure of the independent media outlet Kloop and the adoption of a foreign agent law modeled after Russia’s. CPJ described the law as a threat to press freedom in Kyrgyzstan.
Global Context
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are among the countries highlighted in CPJ's global ranking of press freedom violations. The report listed China, Israel, Myanmar, Belarus, and Russia as the top five countries jailing journalists. Israel's inclusion, driven by its restrictions on reporting in Gaza, marks its debut in this ranking.
According to CPJ, 361 journalists were imprisoned worldwide in 2024, underscoring a troubling global trend of increasing attacks on press freedom.
