Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AEMR ASEC AMGT AE AS AMED AVIAN AU AF AORC AGENDA AO AR AM APER AFIN ATRN AJ ABUD ARABL AL AG AODE ALOW ADANA AADP AND APECO ACABQ ASEAN AA AFFAIRS AID AGR AY AGS AFSI AGOA AMB ARF ANET ASCH ACOA AFLU AFSN AMEX AFDB ABLD AESC AFGHANISTAN AINF AVIATION ARR ARSO ANDREW ASSEMBLY AIDS APRC ASSK ADCO ASIG AC AZ APEC AFINM ADB AP ACOTA ASEX ACKM ASUP ANTITERRORISM ADPM AINR ARABLEAGUE AGAO AORG AMTC AIN ACCOUNT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU AIDAC AINT ARCH AMGTKSUP ALAMI AMCHAMS ALJAZEERA AVIANFLU AORD AOREC ALIREZA AOMS AMGMT ABDALLAH AORCAE AHMED ACCELERATED AUC ALZUGUREN ANGEL AORL ASECIR AMG AMBASSADOR AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ADM ASES ABMC AER AMER ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AOPC ACS AFL AEGR ASED AFPREL AGRI AMCHAM ARNOLD AN ANATO AME APERTH ASECSI AT ACDA ASEDC AIT AMERICA AMLB AMGE ACTION AGMT AFINIZ ASECVE ADRC ABER AGIT APCS AEMED ARABBL ARC ASO AIAG ACEC ASR ASECM ARG AEC ABT ADIP ADCP ANARCHISTS AORCUN AOWC ASJA AALC AX AROC ARM AGENCIES ALBE AK AZE AOPR AREP AMIA ASCE ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI AINFCY ARMS ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AGRICULTURE AFPK AOCR ALEXANDER ATRD ATFN ABLG AORCD AFGHAN ARAS AORCYM AVERY ALVAREZ ACBAQ ALOWAR ANTOINE ABLDG ALAB AMERICAS AFAF ASECAFIN ASEK ASCC AMCT AMGTATK AMT APDC AEMRS ASECE AFSA ATRA ARTICLE ARENA AISG AEMRBC AFR AEIR ASECAF AFARI AMPR ASPA ASOC ANTONIO AORCL ASECARP APRM AUSTRALIAGROUP ASEG AFOR AEAID AMEDI ASECTH ASIC AFDIN AGUIRRE AUNR ASFC AOIC ANTXON ASA ASECCASC ALI AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN ASECKHLS ASSSEMBLY ASECVZ AI ASECPGOV ASIR ASCEC ASAC ARAB AIEA ADMIRAL AUSGR AQ AMTG ARRMZY ANC APR AMAT AIHRC AFU ADEL AECL ACAO AMEMR ADEP AV AW AOR ALL ALOUNI AORCUNGA ALNEA ASC AORCO ARMITAGE AGENGA AGRIC AEM ACOAAMGT AGUILAR AFPHUM AMEDCASCKFLO AFZAL AAA ATPDEA ASECPHUM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ETRD ETTC EU ECON EFIN EAGR EAID ELAB EINV ENIV ENRG EPET EZ ELTN ELECTIONS ECPS ET ER EG EUN EIND ECONOMICS EMIN ECIN EINT EWWT EAIR EN ENGR ES EI ETMIN EL EPA EARG EFIS ECONOMY EC EK ELAM ECONOMIC EAR ESDP ECCP ELN EUM EUMEM ECA EAP ELEC ECOWAS EFTA EXIM ETTD EDRC ECOSOC ECPSN ENVIRONMENT ECO EMAIL ECTRD EREL EDU ENERG ENERGY ENVR ETRAD EAC EXTERNAL EFIC ECIP ERTD EUC ENRGMO EINZ ESTH ECCT EAGER ECPN ELNT ERD EGEN ETRN EIVN ETDR EXEC EIAD EIAR EVN EPRT ETTF ENGY EAIDCIN EXPORT ETRC ESA EIB EAPC EPIT ESOCI ETRB EINDQTRD ENRC EGOV ECLAC EUR ELF ETEL ENRGUA EVIN EARI ESCAP EID ERIN ELAN ENVT EDEV EWWY EXBS ECOM EV ELNTECON ECE ETRDGK EPETEIND ESCI ETRDAORC EAIDETRD ETTR EMS EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EBRD EUREM ERGR EAGRBN EAUD EFI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ETRO ENRGY EGAR ESSO EGAD ENV ENER EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ELA EET EINVETRD EETC EIDN ERGY ETRDPGOV EING EMINCG EINVECON EURM EEC EICN EINO EPSC ELAP ELABPGOVBN EE ESPS ETRA ECONETRDBESPAR ERICKSON EEOC EVENTS EPIN EB ECUN EPWR ENG EX EH EAIDAR EAIS ELBA EPETUN ETRDEIQ EENV ECPC ETRP ECONENRG EUEAID EWT EEB EAIDNI ESENV EADM ECN ENRGKNNP ETAD ETR ECONETRDEAGRJA ETRG ETER EDUC EITC EBUD EAIF EBEXP EAIDS EITI EGOVSY EFQ ECOQKPKO ETRGY ESF EUE EAIC EPGOV ENFR EAGRE ENRD EINTECPS EAVI ETC ETCC EIAID EAIDAF EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EAOD ETRDA EURN EASS EINVA EAIDRW EON ECOR EPREL EGPHUM ELTM ECOS EINN ENNP EUPGOV EAGRTR ECONCS ETIO ETRDGR EAIDB EISNAR EIFN ESPINOSA EAIDASEC ELIN EWTR EMED ETFN ETT EADI EPTER ELDIN EINVEFIN ESS ENRGIZ EQRD ESOC ETRDECD ECINECONCS EAIT ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EUNJ ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ELAD EFIM ETIC EFND EFN ETLN ENGRD EWRG ETA EIN EAIRECONRP EXIMOPIC ERA ENRGJM ECONEGE ENVI ECHEVARRIA EMINETRD EAD ECONIZ EENG ELBR EWWC ELTD EAIDMG ETRK EIPR EISNLN ETEX EPTED EFINECONCS EPCS EAG ETRDKIPR ED EAIO ETRDEC ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ERNG EFINU EURFOR EWWI ELTNSNAR ETD EAIRASECCASCID EOXC ESTN EAIDAORC EAGRRP ETRDEMIN ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN ETRDEINVTINTCS EGHG EAIDPHUMPRELUG EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN EDA EPETPGOV ELAINE EUCOM EMW EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM ELB EINDETRD EMI ETRDECONWTOCS EINR ESTRADA EHUM EFNI ELABV ENR EMN EXO EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EATO END EP EINVETC ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EIQ ETTW EAI ENGRG ETRED ENDURING ETTRD EAIDEGZ EOCN EINF EUPREL ENRL ECPO ENLT EEFIN EPPD ECOIN EUEAGR EISL EIDE ENRGSD EINVECONSENVCSJA EAIG ENTG EEPET EUNCH EPECO ETZ EPAT EPTE EAIRGM ETRDPREL EUNGRSISAFPKSYLESO ETTN EINVKSCA ESLCO EBMGT ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EFLU ELND EFINOECD EAIDHO EDUARDO ENEG ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EFINTS ECONQH ENRGPREL EUNPHUM EINDIR EPE EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS EFINM ECRM EQ EWWTSP ECONPGOVBN
KFLO KPKO KDEM KFLU KTEX KMDR KPAO KCRM KIDE KN KNNP KG KMCA KZ KJUS KWBG KU KDMR KAWC KCOR KPAL KOMC KTDB KTIA KISL KHIV KHUM KTER KCFE KTFN KS KIRF KTIP KIRC KSCA KICA KIPR KPWR KWMN KE KGIC KGIT KSTC KACT KSEP KFRD KUNR KHLS KCRS KRVC KUWAIT KVPR KSRE KMPI KMRS KNRV KNEI KCIP KSEO KITA KDRG KV KSUM KCUL KPET KBCT KO KSEC KOLY KNAR KGHG KSAF KWNM KNUC KMNP KVIR KPOL KOCI KPIR KLIG KSAC KSTH KNPT KINL KPRP KRIM KICC KIFR KPRV KAWK KFIN KT KVRC KR KHDP KGOV KPOW KTBT KPMI KPOA KRIF KEDEM KFSC KY KGCC KATRINA KWAC KSPR KTBD KBIO KSCI KRCM KNNB KBNC KIMT KCSY KINR KRAD KMFO KCORR KW KDEMSOCI KNEP KFPC KEMPI KBTR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNPP KTTB KTFIN KBTS KCOM KFTN KMOC KOR KDP KPOP KGHA KSLG KMCR KJUST KUM KMSG KHPD KREC KIPRTRD KPREL KEN KCSA KCRIM KGLB KAKA KWWT KUNP KCRN KISLPINR KLFU KUNC KEDU KCMA KREF KPAS KRKO KNNC KLHS KWAK KOC KAPO KTDD KOGL KLAP KECF KCRCM KNDP KSEAO KCIS KISM KREL KISR KISC KKPO KWCR KPFO KUS KX KWCI KRFD KWPG KTRD KH KLSO KEVIN KEANE KACW KWRF KNAO KETTC KTAO KWIR KVCORR KDEMGT KPLS KICT KWGB KIDS KSCS KIRP KSTCPL KDEN KLAB KFLOA KIND KMIG KPPAO KPRO KLEG KGKG KCUM KTTP KWPA KIIP KPEO KICR KNNA KMGT KCROM KMCC KLPM KNNPGM KSIA KSI KWWW KOMS KESS KMCAJO KWN KTDM KDCM KCM KVPRKHLS KENV KCCP KGCN KCEM KEMR KWMNKDEM KNNPPARM KDRM KWIM KJRE KAID KWMM KPAONZ KUAE KTFR KIF KNAP KPSC KSOCI KCWI KAUST KPIN KCHG KLBO KIRCOEXC KI KIRCHOFF KSTT KNPR KDRL KCFC KLTN KPAOKMDRKE KPALAOIS KESO KKOR KSMT KFTFN KTFM KDEMK KPKP KOCM KNN KISLSCUL KFRDSOCIRO KINT KRG KWMNSMIG KSTCC KPAOY KFOR KWPR KSEPCVIS KGIV KSEI KIL KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KQ KEMS KHSL KTNF KPDD KANSOU KKIV KFCE KTTC KGH KNNNP KK KSCT KWNN KAWX KOMCSG KEIM KTSD KFIU KDTB KFGM KACP KWWMN KWAWC KSPA KGICKS KNUP KNNO KISLAO KTPN KSTS KPRM KPALPREL KPO KTLA KCRP KNMP KAWCK KCERS KDUM KEDM KTIALG KWUN KPTS KPEM KMEPI KAWL KHMN KCRO KCMR KPTD KCROR KMPT KTRF KSKN KMAC KUK KIRL KEM KSOC KBTC KOM KINP KDEMAF KTNBT KISK KRM KWBW KBWG KNNPMNUC KNOP KSUP KCOG KNET KWBC KESP KMRD KEBG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPWG KOMCCO KRGY KNNF KPROG KJAN KFRED KPOKO KM KWMNCS KMPF KJWC KJU KSMIG KALR KRAL KDGOV KPA KCRMJA KCRI KAYLA KPGOV KRD KNNPCH KFEM KPRD KFAM KALM KIPRETRDKCRM KMPP KADM KRFR KMWN KWRG KTIAPARM KTIAEUN KRDP KLIP KDDEM KTIAIC KWKN KPAD KDM KRCS KWBGSY KEAI KIVP KPAOPREL KUNH KTSC KIPT KNP KJUSTH KGOR KEPREL KHSA KGHGHIV KNNR KOMH KRCIM KWPB KWIC KINF KPER KILS KA KNRG KCSI KFRP KLFLO KFE KNPPIS KQM KQRDQ KERG KPAOPHUM KSUMPHUM KVBL KARIM KOSOVO KNSD KUIR KWHG KWBGXF KWMNU KPBT KKNP KERF KCRT KVIS KWRC KVIP KTFS KMARR KDGR KPAI KDE KTCRE KMPIO KUNRAORC KHOURY KAWS KPAK KOEM KCGC KID KVRP KCPS KIVR KBDS KWOMN KIIC KTFNJA KARZAI KMVP KHJUS KPKOUNSC KMAR KIBL KUNA KSA KIS KJUSAF KDEV KPMO KHIB KIRD KOUYATE KIPRZ KBEM KPAM KDET KPPD KOSCE KJUSKUNR KICCPUR KRMS KWMNPREL KWMJN KREISLER KWM KDHS KRV KPOV KWMNCI KMPL KFLD KWWN KCVM KIMMITT KCASC KOMO KNATO KDDG KHGH KRF KSCAECON KWMEN KRIC
PREL PINR PGOV PHUM PTER PE PREF PARM PBTS PINS PHSA PK PL PM PNAT PHAS PO PROP PGOVE PA PU POLITICAL PPTER POL PALESTINIAN PHUN PIN PAMQ PPA PSEC POLM PBIO PSOE PDEM PAK PF PKAO PGOVPRELMARRMOPS PMIL PV POLITICS PRELS POLICY PRELHA PIRN PINT PGOG PERSONS PRC PEACE PROCESS PRELPGOV PROV PFOV PKK PRE PT PIRF PSI PRL PRELAF PROG PARMP PERL PUNE PREFA PP PGOB PUM PROTECTION PARTIES PRIL PEL PAGE PS PGO PCUL PLUM PIF PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PMUC PCOR PAS PB PKO PY PKST PTR PRM POUS PRELIZ PGIC PHUMS PAL PNUC PLO PMOPS PHM PGOVBL PBK PELOSI PTE PGOVAU PNR PINSO PRO PLAB PREM PNIR PSOCI PBS PD PHUML PERURENA PKPA PVOV PMAR PHUMCF PUHM PHUH PRELPGOVETTCIRAE PRT PROPERTY PEPFAR PREI POLUN PAR PINSF PREFL PH PREC PPD PING PQL PINSCE PGV PREO PRELUN POV PGOVPHUM PINRES PRES PGOC PINO POTUS PTERE PRELKPAO PRGOV PETR PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPKO PARLIAMENT PEPR PMIG PTBS PACE PETER PMDL PVIP PKPO POLMIL PTEL PJUS PHUMNI PRELKPAOIZ PGOVPREL POGV PEREZ POWELL PMASS PDOV PARN PG PPOL PGIV PAIGH PBOV PETROL PGPV PGOVL POSTS PSO PRELEU PRELECON PHUMPINS PGOVKCMABN PQM PRELSP PRGO PATTY PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PGVO PROTESTS PRELPLS PKFK PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PARAGRAPH PRELGOV POG PTRD PTERM PBTSAG PHUMKPAL PRELPK PTERPGOV PAO PRIVATIZATION PSCE PPAO PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PARALYMPIC PRUM PKPRP PETERS PAHO PARMS PGREL PINV POINS PHUMPREL POREL PRELNL PHUMPGOV PGOVQL PLAN PRELL PARP PROVE PSOC PDD PRELNP PRELBR PKMN PGKV PUAS PRELTBIOBA PBTSEWWT PTERIS PGOVU PRELGG PHUMPRELPGOV PFOR PEPGOV PRELUNSC PRAM PICES PTERIZ PREK PRELEAGR PRELEUN PHUME PHU PHUMKCRS PRESL PRTER PGOF PARK PGOVSOCI PTERPREL PGOVEAID PGOVPHUMKPAO PINSKISL PREZ PGOVAF PARMEUN PECON PINL POGOV PGOVLO PIERRE PRELPHUM PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PBST PKPAO PHUMHUPPS PGOVPOL PASS PPGOV PROGV PAGR PHALANAGE PARTY PRELID PGOVID PHUMR PHSAQ PINRAMGT PSA PRELM PRELMU PIA PINRPE PBTSRU PARMIR PEDRO PNUK PVPR PINOCHET PAARM PRFE PRELEIN PINF PCI PSEPC PGOVSU PRLE PDIP PHEM PRELB PORG PGGOC POLG POPDC PGOVPM PWMN PDRG PHUMK PINB PRELAL PRER PFIN PNRG PRED POLI PHUMBO PHYTRP PROLIFERATION PHARM PUOS PRHUM PUNR PENA PGOVREL PETRAEUS PGOVKDEM PGOVENRG PHUS PRESIDENT PTERKU PRELKSUMXABN PGOVSI PHUMQHA PKISL PIR PGOVZI PHUMIZNL PKNP PRELEVU PMIN PHIM PHUMBA PUBLIC PHAM PRELKPKO PMR PARTM PPREL PN PROL PDA PGOVECON PKBL PKEAID PERM PRELEZ PRELC PER PHJM PGOVPRELPINRBN PRFL PLN PWBG PNG PHUMA PGOR PHUMPTER POLINT PPEF PKPAL PNNL PMARR PAC PTIA PKDEM PAUL PREG PTERR PTERPRELPARMPGOVPBTSETTCEAIRELTNTC PRELJA POLS PI PNS PAREL PENV PTEROREP PGOVM PINER PBGT PHSAUNSC PTERDJ PRELEAID PARMIN PKIR PLEC PCRM PNET PARR PRELETRD PRELBN PINRTH PREJ PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEMEX PRELZ PFLP PBPTS PTGOV PREVAL PRELSW PAUM PRF PHUMKDEM PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PNUM PGGV PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PIND PTEP PTERKS PGOVJM PGOT PRELMARR PGOVCU PREV PREFF PRWL PET PROB PRELPHUMP PHUMAF PVTS PRELAFDB PSNR PGOVECONPRELBU PGOVZL PREP PHUMPRELBN PHSAPREL PARCA PGREV PGOVDO PGON PCON PODC PRELOV PHSAK PSHA PGOVGM PRELP POSCE PGOVPTER PHUMRU PINRHU PARMR PGOVTI PPEL PMAT PAN PANAM PGOVBO PRELHRC

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 10DUSHANBE156, MEDIA CRACKDOWN: OFFICIALS SUE NEWSPAPERS FOR MILLIONS

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #10DUSHANBE156.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
10DUSHANBE156 2010-02-04 11:21 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Dushanbe
VZCZCXRO5936
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHDBU #0156/01 0351121
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P R 041121Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1211
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0422
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0161
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2659
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DUSHANBE 000156 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  2/4/2020 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KPAO KDEM SCUL TI
SUBJECT: MEDIA CRACKDOWN: OFFICIALS SUE NEWSPAPERS FOR MILLIONS 
 
REF: DUSHANBE 67 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Necia Quast, Charge d' Affaires, EXEC, DoS. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Tajik judges, a Ministry, and a government 
agency hit five of Tajikistan's independent newspapers with 
separate lawsuits in what could be the death knell of media 
freedom in the country.  On January 25, three judges sued three 
newspapers for publishing a defense attorney's statement that 
high-ranking officials pressured them to convict his clients. 
The judges' lawsuits demanded total compensation of $1.2 
million, which they pledged to donate to the Roghun 
hydro-electric power station.  On January 26, a Dushanbe court 
upheld a ruling that a newspaper was liable for $68,000 for 
publishing an open letter from Tajik businessmen that criticized 
the work of the country's product certification agency, 
Tajikstandart.  On January 28, the Ministry of Agriculture sued 
a fifth newspaper for $229,000 after it published an article 
accusing the Ministry of corruption, based on a government 
report.  The Embassy will coordinate with the OSCE to express 
concern to the Tajik government about the rapidly deteriorating 
environment for freedom of the press.  END SUMMARY 
 
 
 
ASIA PLUS, FARAZH, AND OZODAGON REPORT ON ISFARA CASE, GET SUED 
 
 
 
2. (SBU) Three judges filed joint-lawsuits against weekly 
independent newspapers Asia Plus, Farazh, and Ozodagon and 
demanded $1.2 million in damages for publishing an article in 
which defense attorney Solidjon Jurayev accused the judges of 
abuse of power.  Jurayev defended a group of 31 residents of 
Isfara District who were sentenced to 10 to 25 years' 
imprisonment as part of the "Isfara affair", which featured mass 
arrests, seizure of property, and pressure on the judiciary from 
high-level officials.  The $1.2 million demand would bankrupt 
the newspapers if awarded. 
 
 
 
3. (C) The "Isfara Affair" began when security officials in 
Isfara District arrested 31 associates and family members of a 
wealthy Isfaran businessman, Nizom Jurayev (no relation to the 
lawyer), in late 2007.  Nizom controlled multiple business in 
Isfara, including several distilleries.  His holdings reportedly 
attracted the attention of President Rahmon's family, including 
daughter Tahmina and brother-in-law Hassan Asadullozoda.  After 
Nizom refused to cut the President's family in on his 
businesses, local prosecutors raided his offices and charged the 
"Isafara 31" with theft, embezzlement, membership in an 
organized crime ring, and other charges.  Nizom Jurayev fled the 
country.  On June 9, 2009, Judge Nur Nurov issued 10 to 25 year 
sentences to the defendants.  On January 14, 2010, during a 
closed court hearing to appeal the verdict, attorney Solidjon 
Jurayev revealed an audio recording of a conversation he had 
with Judge Nurov, in which Nurov admitted he issued the lengthy 
sentences under pressure from high level officials.  Jurayev 
alleged that the Chair of the Supreme Court, Nursatullo 
Abdullayev, summoned Nurov from Isfara to Dushanbe, where he 
ordered him to issue the long sentences.  After the January 14 
appeal hearing, Jurayev held a press conference and repeated his 
statement from the closed court session. 
 
 
 
4. (SBU) Asia Plus, Farazh, and Ozodagon published Solidjon 
Jurayev's comments on January 21, including his accusations 
naming other judges who issued sentences based on orders from 
higher level officials.  Asia Plus provided Judge Nurov an 
opportunity to respond to the accusations.  Nurov confirmed that 
his voice was on the recording, but claimed the conversation was 
taken out of context.  On January 28, Asia Plus published a 
follow-up article on the Isfara affair with the headline, "The 
sentence was a crime," in which the prosecutor in the 2009 
Isfara case said he had never asked for such lengthy terms.  The 
prosecutor concurred with Jurayev that high-level officials 
ordered Nurov to issue the stiff sentences. 
 
 
 
JUDGES REQUEST DAMAGES, NEWSPAPERS FEAR SHUTDOWN 
 
 
 
5. (SBU) On January 29, the three judges, including Nurov, 
announced their lawsuits (filed on January 25) claiming moral 
damages from the newspapers' for their publication of the 
Jurayev article.  The judges requested that the government close 
the newspapers during the course of the trial and pledged to 
donate their $1.2 million in damages, if awarded, to 
 
DUSHANBE 00000156  002 OF 003 
 
 
construction of the Roghun hydro-electric power station 
(reftel).  The editors of the three newspapers were visibly 
rattled in a meeting with Emboff on February 2.  Asia Plus 
editor Marat Mamadshoev said he was shocked at the government's 
reaction to his publication of the Jurayev article.  "Jurayev 
said the same thing in court, so this should have been public 
domain anyway.  If we can't publish something that is said in 
court, what can we publish?"  Ozadagon editor Zafari Sugi said 
he had been warned informally not to cover the Isfara case, but 
thought he could cover information presented in court without 
risking reprisal. 
 
 
 
6. (SBU) All three editors viewed the lawsuit as part of a 
broader effort by the government to curtail media freedom. 
Mamadshoev noted, "Now, when I publish any article, will I put 
myself at risk?  Will I put my staff at risk?  Is it worth it? 
Now, at the very least, we are going to practice more 
self-censorship to protect ourselves."  Mamadshoev felt the 
government was trying to prevent the newspapers from publishing 
even more damaging information about the Isfara affair, claiming 
that President Rahmon himself gave the order for the lengthy 
sentences.  "There were more names in Jurayev's tape... names we 
didn't publish." 
 
 
 
7. (C) On February 2, the newspaper editors appeared in court 
and met with the three judges who had filed the suits.  The 
judges indicated they might drop their action if the newspapers 
agreed to cease criticism of the judicial system, according to 
Farazh owner/editor Khurshed Atovulloev.  The editors responded 
that they might agree to cease coverage of the Isfara affair, 
but could not promise to end coverage of the judicial system as 
a whole.  The judges could withdraw their lawsuit if they reach 
an out-of-court settlement with the newspapers before the next 
court date on February 23.  (NOTE: Asia Plus and Farazh have 
received multiple Embassy grants and participated in numerous 
Embassy training programs.  The manager of Asia Plus is an 
International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumnus.  In 
2009, Asia Plus hosted an Embassy-funded media trainer to help 
them improve management.  Farazh is implementing a 2010 
Democracy Commission grant to cover the 2010 elections.  END 
NOTE) 
 
 
 
VERDICT AGAINST PAYKON FOR SLANDERING LISCENSING AGENCY 
 
 
 
8. (SBU) On January 26, a Dushanbe court upheld an October 26, 
2009, verdict that independent weekly newspaper Paykon was 
liable for $68,000 in damages for slandering the state product 
certification agency, Tajikstandart.  For years, Paykon had 
published open letters to the government without incurring legal 
action.  In summer 2009, Paykon published an open letter to the 
President from Tajik businessmen criticizing corruption at 
Tajikstandart.  Some of the businessmen used pseudonyms. 
Tajikstandart filed suit, accusing Paykon of "defamation of 
honor" and slander.  Paykon's editor published a retraction and 
an apology, but Tojikstandard did not drop the law suit.  After 
Paykon lost the case, it appealed on the grounds that only 
individuals, not organizations, could be "defamed" under Tajik 
law.  In the latest court decision, the judge concurred with 
Paykon that Tojikstandard could not sue for "defamation of 
honor," but it upheld the slander charge as well as the $68,000 
fine.  Paykon may now appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court 
where it could face the same judges who filed suit against Asia 
Plus, Farazh, and Ozodagon. 
 
 
 
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE SUES MILLAT FOR CALLING IT CORRUPT 
 
 
 
9. (SBU) On January 28, the Ministry of Agriculture announced 
that it filed suit against weekly independent newspaper Millat 
for publishing a December 10 article calling the Ministry of 
Agriculture the "most corrupt organization in the government." 
The Ministry demanded damages of $229,000, despite the fact that 
the newspaper published the Ministry's response to the article. 
Millat's source for its article was a government report 
presented in parliament during a budgetary session that cited 
irregularities in the Ministry's financing.  Head of the 
National Association of Independent Media Outlets (NANSMIT) 
Nuriddin Karshiboev said government ministries are trying to 
 
DUSHANBE 00000156  003 OF 003 
 
 
protect themselves from public scrutiny and view criticism of 
their activities as an attack on their power. 
 
 
 
MEDIA NGOS, ISLAMIC RENNAISANCE PARTY SPEAK OUT AGAINST LAWSUITS 
 
 
 
10. (SBU) Islamic Renewal Party head Muhiddin Kabiri denounced 
the string of lawsuits in an interview with Asia Plus. 
"Evidently, authorities decided to organize a single front 
because they do not want their shortcomings to be disclosed in 
public, or the public to know what is happening in state 
structures."   According to NANSMIT head Karshiboev the lawsuits 
against the five newspapers "will have a very negative impact on 
freedom of the press and lead to more self-censorship." 
Government officials felt they could not be criticized "because 
they have no concept that they are 'public figures' who can be 
[legitimately] criticized by the media."  NAMSIT, the Committee 
to Protect Journalists, and Reporters without Borders released 
statements expressing concern about the pattern of lawsuits and 
deteriorating environment for media freedom.  On February 5, 
NANSMIT will host a public forum to discuss the lawsuits. 
 
 
 
GOVERNMENT THINK TANK STOOGE: THE MEDIA SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER 
 
 
 
11. (SBU) On February 2, Asia Plus printed a government think 
tank representative's comments that "Tajik journalists haven't 
learned the laws of the Republic."  Saifullo Safarov, assistant 
director of the President's Center for Strategic Studies, noted 
that the "Court already punished one newspaper (Paykon), and 
that should serve a big lesson for journalists.  When citizens 
know what is coming to them when they commit slander, they won't 
present false information."  Journalists did not have a right to 
criticize the courts, because they were not experts.  "All 
judicial mistakes should be reviewed by the General Prosecutor 
and first-class jurists."  He warned that journalists shouldn't 
stray into forbidden territory.  "Journalists exist between fire 
and water and need to always work to find the golden middle.  If 
they do that, they won't be sued or indicted for printing false 
information." 
 
 
12. (SBU) COMMENT: Tajikistan once boasted arguably the most 
vibrant media environment in Central Asia.  Over the last year, 
the government has subjected journalists, newspapers, and 
independent television stations to increasing pressure, leading 
journalists to increase self-censorship to avoid problems.  Now, 
most of the remaining independent newspapers in the country face 
bankruptcy if the suits filed against them are upheld.  Based on 
the Paykon precedent, the legal prospects for independent 
newspapers are not good.  The increasingly brazen lawsuits-- 
prosecuting newspapers for simply publishing public information 
--will further reduce the space for public debate ahead of the 
February 28 elections.  Beyond the elections, the lawsuits are 
part of a broader effort by the government to consolidate power 
over the press so that it can use media outlets as tools for its 
propaganda efforts like the Roghun campaign.  The Embassy is 
working with OSCE Media donor representatives to determine the 
most effective response to this trend.  END COMMENT 
QUAST