Freedom for Eurasia strongly condemns the continued harassment and repression of journalists in Tajikistan, including the recent disruption of the Second Central Asian Conference of Women Journalists. We stand in solidarity with media professionals across the region and reaffirm our commitment to supporting their work by monitoring human rights violations and informing international watchdogs and partners.
Radio Azatlyk reported on May 3 that the Second Central Asian Conference of Women Journalists, Voice of Equality: Freedom, Women, Media, scheduled for May 1 in Dushanbe, was unexpectedly disrupted and ultimately cancelled.
Organized by the media unit of the OSCE Office of Programs in Tajikistan and Tajikistan Coalition of Women Journalists, with support from Internews, the EU Delegation, and the embassies of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom the conference was expected to bring together over 50 women journalists and media professionals from across Central Asia to discuss professional challenges, gender equality, media ethics, and resilience in journalism.
Less than 24 hours before the opening, the Serena Hotel informed organizers that it could no longer host the conference. Organizers promptly relocated to Hotel Rumi, where the event briefly opened with remarks from EU, German, UK, and French ambassadors. However, hotel management abruptly interrupted the session and asked participants to leave the premises. Organizers expressed deep disappointment while also extending gratitude to the participants and international supporters who stood in solidarity.
No official explanation has yet been provided regarding the reasons behind the disruption. Occurring on the eve of World Press Freedom Day, the incident sends a chilling message to the journalistic community and international stakeholders committed to defending freedom of expression and advancing gender equality in the media.
This is not an isolated case. In recent years, the Tajik government has escalated its crackdown on political opponents, civil society actors, and independent voices. While pressure on independent journalism had been steadily mounting, criminal prosecutions of journalists were rare prior to a sweeping crackdown in 2022 and 2023, when several were sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
In its 2025 World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders ranked Tajikistan 153rd out of 180 countries and highlighted a rise in media repression, citing the alarming case of freelance journalist Rukhshona Khakimova, who was sentenced to eight years in prison for treason after a closed trial. Khakimova’s case is part of a broader pattern of growing repression, particularly targeting women in politics, activism, and journalism, reflecting a troubling shift in the region’s political landscape.
Before the conference, the Instagram account of the Central Asian Coalition of Women Journalists shared conference details, including a message from Gulnora Amirshoeva, Chairperson of the Coalition’s Tajikistan branch. Addressing fellow women journalists, she stated: “Freedom of expression is not a gift — it is a struggle. And we are on the front lines.”
Journalists in Tajikistan and across Central Asia stand at the forefront of efforts to inform the public and support the region’s vibrant civil society. Freedom for Eurasia calls on international institutions and human rights mechanisms to pay urgent attention to the region’s alarming regression in fundamental freedoms. We will continue to monitor the situation and support journalists, activists, and political prisoners through documentation, advocacy, and engagement with global partners.
Freedom for Eurasia stands ready to amplify the voices of those under threat and to ensure that violations of press freedom and human rights in Central Asia do not go unnoticed or unchallenged.
