Tajik appeal court frees well-known former journalist
| Publisher | Reporters Without Borders |
| Publication Date | 22 August 2018 |
| Cite as | Reporters Without Borders, Tajik appeal court frees well-known former journalist, 22 August 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5bc6ef154.html [accessed 30 October 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 22, 2018 – Updated on August 23, 2018
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcomes today's release of Khayrullo Mirsaidov, a well-known former journalist who had been held for more than eight months, and calls on Tajikistan's authorities to overturn his conviction.
Mirsaidov, who headed the national Comedy Club team at the time of his arrest last December, was freed after an appeal court in the northern city of Khujand today upheld his conviction but commuted his 12-year jail sentence to payment of a fine and damages.
"We are very relieved to know that Khayrullo Mirsaidov is free," said Johann Bihr, the head of RSF's Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk. "The Tajik authorities must now overturn his conviction and release their tight grip on the country's media."
Mirsaidov continues to be convicted on trumped-up charges of misusing public funds, forgery and defamation but the court reduced his sentence to a fine of 80,000 somoni (7,300 euros) and a levy of 20% of his salary for two years.
