Changes from resolution motion to resolution motion joint

Change 1

AddedA. whereas the democratic control function of independent media in Tajikistan has been continuously declining over the last decade and Tajikistan’s media are in their worst state since independence in 1991;

RemovedA. whereas the independent media and civil society are increasingly being subjected to intimidation, arbitrary detention and attacks, including with the closure of many NGOs and heavy sentencing against human rights defenders in politically motivated cases by using problematic “anti-extremism” legislation such as the 2020 “Law on Countering Extremism” and the 2021 “Law on Combating Terrorism”;

AddedB. whereas since October 2022, authorities have sentenced numerous journalists, including Abdullo Ghurbati, Daler Imomali, Zavqibek Saidamini, Abdusattor Pirmuhammadzoda, Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva, Khushruz Jumayev and Khurshed Fozilov, to between seven and over 20 years in prison in retaliation for their coverage of social issues and human rights abuses, including in GBAO; whereas the ‘Law on Countering Extremism’ and the ‘Law on Combating Terrorism’ are used to persecute journalists, as deplored by UN experts in July 2023;

RemovedB. whereas civil society, including journalists and human rights defenders are still facing reprisals for their work reporting on and documenting the May 2022 protests in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, in some cases even after serving their sentences;

AddedC. whereas the only two significant independent news agencies – Asia-Plus and RFE/RL local service Radio Ozodi – regularly face harassment and threats, including difficulties in obtaining accreditation and criminal charges, notably against journalist Rustami Joni; whereas journalists running the independent Azda TV in exile report ongoing pressure by the Tajik security services on their relatives remaining in the country;

RemovedC. whereas freedom of the media and expression have been continually suppressed since 2015, and recently the pressure on the media has increased not to report on events, under threat of closure, or to report only the state-supported version of events, including smear campaigns against local residents;

Change 2

Changed1.2. RequestsCondemns all politically motivated trials and the Tajikistanlack of fair and public hearings by independent courts; urges the authorities to stop persecuting journalists, immediately and unconditionally release allthose journalistswho have been arbitrarily detained and humandrop rightsall defenderscharges undulyagainst detainedthem, forstop theirthe legitimatepersecution humanof rightslawyers work,defending government critics and droprelease allhuman chargesrights againstlawyers them;Manuchehr Kholiknazarov and Buzurgmehr Yorov;

Change 3

Removed2. Urges the Tajik authorities to respect and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including people’s right to life, peaceful assembly, freedom of association, freedom of expression and freedom of the media in line with international law;

Added3. Urges the government to ensure that detainees have access to adequate healthcare; calls for a thorough investigation into allegations of mistreatment in custody and forced confessions, and those responsible to be brought to justice;

Removed3. Condemns all attempts to intimidate media workers, human rights defenders, independent lawyers and civil society, or interfere with their legitimate work, and to stop all harassment against them, so they can carry out their work without any hindrance or fear of reprisals;

Added4. Calls on the government to ensure a safe working environment for media workers and human rights defenders in accordance with Tajikistan’s international human rights obligations; reiterates that the free and independent work of the media and civil society organisations is a cornerstone of any democratic society; insists that the situation of freedom of expression in Tajikistan should be taken into account when assessing the application to GSP+ and for negotiation of the new EU-Tajikistan EPCA;

Removed4. Calls on the European Commission to take into account ongoing violations against freedom of expression and other human rights as they consider opening GSP+ negotiations, and in line with EU's Guidelines on human rights defenders, emphasize to Tajikistan authorities that journalists and human rights defenders unjustly imprisoned must be released before this process can move forward;

Added5. Calls on the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States to increase support for civil society, human rights defenders and independent media workers in Tajikistan, including funding and visas for those in need of protection;