Free Speech in Jeopardy

Tensions are surfacing between the Russian embassy in Tajikistan and Tajik media outlets, says a report on EurasiaNet.org.  

As many as one million Tajik migrant laborers work in Russia, and Tajikistan is heavily dependent on their remittances.  In December, two such workers were murdered in the Moscow region, sparking Tajik media criticism of Russia's lack of upholding migrant rights in the face of growing nationalism and xenophobic violence.  Making matters worse, Putin and Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov sought to limit the number of work permits for migrants shortly thereafter.  

Then, on December 24, the Russian embassy sent a letter to Tajik officials demanding that such critics and journalists be "muzzled," accusing them of deliberately distorting facts and insulting top Russian officials.  The actions only intensified media criticism.  

The two sides continue condemning one another.