Listing recent changes to media laws that "effectively give the government control over the media", the Deputy US Representative to the OSCE has urged Tajikistan to bring its media laws in line with international standards in the run up to the 2005 parliamentary elections.
He also voiced US concerns over the recent deaths of two prisoners in Uzbek jails, and new laws on religious expression and freedom of association in Turkmenistan.
In Tajikistan, several legal changes made in late 2003 extended official control over the media, and "increase the potential for abuse and corruption," Deputy US Representative Douglas Davidson told the OSCE Permanent Council on January 23. European Union representatives also expressed concern over the changes.
"As Tajikistan prepares for parliamentary elections in 2005, it will be crucial that local media are allowed to operate freely and independently," said Davidson.
In September 2003, Tajikistan's law on television and radio was revised and a special inspection body was created. This body has sweeping authority over all aspects of broadcast media and can unduly influence the licensing procedure.
Two months later President Emomali Rahmonov issued a decree creating a national plan for information security, which contained broad provisions that could easily be abused to limit freedom of the press, particularly in the run-up to next year's elections, Davidson said.
In December, the Tajik parliament approved additional amendments to the law on television and radio, introducing technical standards, which are too expensive for most Tajik media outlets to comply with. Under another amendment all production studios must be licensed to ensure the quality of their programming, which essentially will allow the government to control the content of all programs.
Deaths in custody
Representatives of both the EU and the US have also expressed their concerns over the deaths of Kamalodin Djumaniyozov and Nodirgon Zamonov while in custody in Uzbekistan.
Davidson said the US welcomed the Uzbek government's launch of an investigation into the two deaths, commenting that an "open, thorough, independent investigation where those responsible are held accountable is in our view, the best way to proceed." However, he also urged the government to take action to end torture in the country, and questioned its decision not to include jailed journalist Ruslan Sharipov in its recent amnesty.
"We welcome the recent amnesty of prisoners, but at the same time urge the government to issue a list of prisoners released," said Davidson. "We note our disappointment that independent journalist Ruslan Sharipov was not included in the amnesty, nor has there been a credible investigation into allegations of torture during his trial."
He continued: "We strongly urge Uzbekistan now to adopt a final Action Plan on preventing torture with concrete steps to be enacted in a stepped-up timetable to be monitored by a high-level government official. Full implementation of those recommendations, and prompt appropriate responses by the government to other cases of deaths in custody, will send a signal about Uzbekistan's seriousness in addressing the issue of torture."
Turkmenistan
The US has officially welcomed Turkmenistan's decision to lift the exit visa requirement introduced for its citizens in February 2003. "This is an important step in demonstrating Turkmenistan's seriousness in addressing international concerns in the area of human rights," said Davidson. "We will continue to observe the situation closely, and we hope that individuals previously denied the right to leave the country will now be permitted to travel freely."
However, concerns remain over new laws that limit the freedom of public associations and religion. The law on public associations, introduced in November 2003, requires that all associations and foreign assistance are registered with the Ministry of Justice, and gives the Ministry of Justice the power to cancel these registrations at any time. Associations must also inform the Ministry of Justice in advance of any planned events.
"We call on the Government of Turkmenistan to facilitate, rather than to hinder, the development of civil society, and to respect the fundamental rights of its citizens to associate freely and to practice freely the religion of their choice," said Davidson.