Category: World Service
Date: 18.01.2006
Printable version
The BBC has today made a formal complaint to the Tajik Government. This follows the suspension of the BBC's services to Tajikistan on FM frequencies by the Tajik authorities since Tuesday 10 January 2006.
BBC services on medium wave and shortwave to listeners in the country remain unaffected.
The suspension follows a recently ratified Tajik Media Law requiring international broadcasters on FM to register with the Tajik Ministry of Justice and acquire a media licence.
The BBC is currently the only international broadcaster available on FM in Tajikistan and has a legal contract and licence to broadcast.
However, although the BBC has started the new process for registration, the 20-day deadline was unrealistic for a process that would normally take up to six months to complete.
Over the last week representations have been made to the Tajikistan authorities by the BBC. Since there has been no formal response from the authorities, the BBC is making a formal complaint to the Tajik Government.
The BBC is requesting that services are resumed immediately while the registration process is completed.
BBC World Service Director Nigel Chapman says: "The BBC has a legal contract and a licence to broadcast on FM and we would like that to be honoured. The BBC is happy to comply with the new law but the process takes considerably more time than has been allowed by the Tajik authorities.
"There is no reason why listeners in Tajikistan should be deprived of our services on FM while these bureaucratic hurdles are overcome.
"The BBC has made a huge impact amongst listeners in Tajikistan, especially among key opinion formers, including senior Government officials and cabinet ministers.
"We have had many listeners across the country calling in to complain about the suspension, along with many messages of support."
The BBC has been broadcasting in Tajikistan since 1996 on medium wave. In 2004 the BBC launched two 24-hour FM relays, in Dushanbe and Khojand, with programmes in Tajik (Persian), as well as broadcasts in Russian and English.
DW
