A Tajik journalists’ organization has awarded Hikmatulloh Sayfullohzoda a special prize for “journalistic bravery” on World Press Freedom.
Sayfullohzoda was beaten by unknown attackers on February 8 and spent two weeks in the hospital recovering from his injuries. No suspects have been arrested in his case.
A special award from the Media-Alliance was given to Ramziya Mirzobekova, a correspondent for the independent weekly “Asia Plus” who is being sued by Deputy Interior Minister Anvar Taghoymurodov for defamation.
But Tajik journalists say independent media suffered a big setback in recent months after officials banned a number of newspapers and websites for three months due to “security reasons.”
