From 1 to 18 July, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized the first-ever Summer School of Journalism for 20 aspiring journalism students and young media professionals from across Tajikistan. The three-week intensive training aimed to strengthen their foundational reporting skills and prepare the next generation of journalists for a rapidly evolving media environment. Participants
A closing seminar was held for the comprehensive project titled “Media Education and Fact-Checking: Promoting Critical Thinking and Information Literacy”, implemented by the “Yuksalish” Movement with financial support from the European Union. The event presented key achievements of the project, including proposals to strengthen the professional capacity of media professionals and to improve the legal framework
Turkmenistan’s Ambassador to Belgium Sapar Palvanov held a meeting with Euronews Chairman of the Board of Directors Pedro Vargas David. The parties discussed promising areas of cooperation, including the promotion of tourism and cultural exchange, coverage of significant events in Turkmenistan, and the possibility of including the country in existing Euronews programs, Turkmenportal reported. During
On December 18, a meeting of representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan and the Agency for Information and Mass Communications under the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan was held in Tashkent. The parties signed a Plan for interaction in the information sphere for 2025. The document was signed following the
The Euronews television channel opened its regional office in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, on December 18. The opening ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Euronews Pedro Vargas and the Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan Aida Balayeva, Orda.kz reported with reference to the press service of the Ministry of
Soltan Achilova, a veteran journalist and former RFE/RL correspondent in Turkmenistan, was forcibly hospitalized in Ashgabat on November 20 in what appears to be a move by the government to prevent her from flying to Geneva to receive an international award, RFE/RL’s Current Time reported. According to the Chronicle of Turkmenistan website, four men in medical gowns
The official project launch conference of the EU-funded project “EU-Tabassum: Media Skills to Promote Gender Equality and Empower Young Women in Uzbekistan” was held in Tashkent with the participation of representatives from the Government of Uzbekistan, the Embassies of the EU Member States in Uzbekistan, NGOs, international and donor organisations, and mass media companies, the Delegation of the European
A court in Bishkek has ruled in the case of the Kyrgyz anti-corruption investigative group Temirov Live, sentencing two journalists to prison terms after finding them guilty of charges that their supporters and media watchdogs say are politically motivated, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reports. Makhabat Tajibek-kyzy was sentenced to six years in prison and Azamat Ishenbekov was
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan on September 7 hosted an award ceremony for the winners of the 9th annual international contest “Kazakhstan Through the Eyes of Foreign Media”. This year, the jury recognized the works of journalists from Azerbaijan, Brazil, Egypt, Spain, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Japan as the best in various categories.
A special issue of OCA Magazine dedicated to Jizzakh has been published in London. In the pages of OCA Magazine: Jizzakh, writers from Uzbekistan, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, India, Bulgaria, and Finland addressed issues of heritage, history, economy, culture, and cuisine of one of Uzbekistan’s most promising regions. Jizzakh has historically been
The Committee to Protect Journalists on August 19 called on Tajik authorities to drop bribery charges against noted journalist Ahmad Ibrohim, who was arrested a week earlier, RFE/RL reported. “Following the wave of lengthy convictions against journalists in Tajikistan since 2022, the arrest of Ahmad Ibrohim is yet another reminder of how dangerous any form of critical
Several sources close to law enforcement in Tajikistan told RFE/RL over the weekend that police in the Central Asian nation’s southern city of Kulob had arrested noted journalist Ahmad Ibrohim on bribe-related charges, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reported. According to the sources, the 62-year-old editor-in-chief of the Paik (Message) independent newspaper was arrested on August 12
Over 80 media representatives and bloggers from approximately 30 countries have applied to participate in the 9th annual contest “Kazakhstan through the Eyes of Foreign Media.” This contest is traditionally organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan in collaboration with Kazakhstan’s Chief Editors’ Club. It serves as a platform to acknowledge the contributions
A regional office of Euronews will be opened in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, the Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, Aida Balayeva, announced on her Facebook page. Minister Balayeva met with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Euronews, Pedro Vargas David, and the parties signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Euronews.
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed into law a bill on mass media that will hinder journalists from getting comments from officials and interviews, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. Domestic and international rights groups and media experts have expressed concerns over the new law, saying it will compromise independent journalism and lead to self-censorship in the Central Asian
Amid Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and geopolitical confrontation with the West, the Kremlin is taking efforts to strengthen its influence in Kazakhstan, Moldova, other countries of Central Asia, and in the South Caucasus. For this purpose, Russia has launched information campaigns using various news agencies and Internet platforms to disseminate Moscow’s narrative in
The Ministry of Digital Development of Kyrgyzstan said it had instructed local Internet providers to limit access to TikTok as of April 18, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. The ministry explained the move by citing a letter by the State Committee for National Security expressing concerns over the content on TikTok that may negatively affect children.
With its ancient architectural monuments and beautiful natural landscapes, Central Asia is a magnet for travelers from around the world. The British publishing house Silk Road Media, through its publications such as Open Central Asia Magazine and travel guides to the countries of the region, has been promoting Central Asia as an attractive tourism destination,
One of Kyrgyzstan’s first online news websites, 24.kg, reported on April 3 that the State Committee for National Security has suspended a criminal case against it. RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported that the State Committee for National Security launched the case — which came amid a government crackdown on civil society and free media — against
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has signed into law a controversial bill that allows authorities to register organizations as “foreign representatives,” legislation critics say mirrors a repressive Russian law on “foreign agents,” RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. Japarov said in an April 2 post on Facebook that the law will “regulate” the activities of nongovernmental organizations receiving financial support from abroad
