DUSHANBE , April 11, Asia-Plus - A court in the Dushanbe district of Ismoili Somoni has made decision suspending activity of Tajik Journalists’ Union for three months, according to information from the justice ministry. 

 Davlat Sulaymonov, head of the department for registration of public associations and political parties within the Ministry of Justice, told Asia-Plus that the court had given such a ruling following application by the Justice Ministry on illegal activity of the Tajik Journalists’ Union .  The application, in particular says the Union ’s Charters are allegedly not in compliance with the country’s legislation.

According to Mr. Sulaymonov, activity of the Tajik Journalists’ Union is in contrary to Article 21 of the RT Law “On Public Associations” and Article 56 of Tajikistan’s Civil Code (branches and representative offices).  “We have repeatedly applied to the Union’s senior representatives asking them to bring their Charters in compliance with new edition of the country’s Civil Code (1998),” said Sulaymonov, “Besides, a 30-day period has been determined for removing shortcomings but the Union ’s leadership has scorned these requirements.”

“Now if the Journalists’ Union within three months do not bring its statutory documents into compliance with the laws, it may be closed at all,” the justice ministry official said.  

The Tajik Journalists’ Union was established in 1959.  The Union was re-registered with the Ministry of Justice in 1992.  At present the Tajik Journalists’ Union groups more than 1,500 journalists of the country.