US State Department reacts to statement of Shavkat Mirziyoyev condemning threats against the media

Alice Wells, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS), said on her Twitter that the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs is “pleased to hear President Mirziyoyev condemn threats against the media in Uzbekistan”.

According to PDAS, Mirziyoyev reiterated his strong commitment to Media Freedom. 

“Ensuring that journalists & bloggers are safe and free to do their jobs will help openness and democracy to grow only stronger,” Alice Wells writes.

Pleased to hear President Mirziyoyev condemn threats against the media in #Uzbekistan and reiterate his strong commitment to #MediaFreedom. Ensuring that journalists & bloggers are safe and free to do their jobs will help #Openness and #Democracy to grow only stronger. AGW

— State_SCA (@State_SCA) November 23, 2019

It should be reminded that on November 22, at a meeting in Tashkent, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev heavily criticized the attitude of government officials towards journalists. In particular, he said “some leaders forget about basic principles of communication with people and the press. Their failure to provide timely and impartial responses to appeals has led to reasonable objections.”

“A leader should not forget that he is responsible not only for his own dignity, but also for the reputation of the government agency. He may be a member of the Government, a minister, a khokim or a prosecutor, this requirement applies equally to all of us and employees of the media. Nobody should forget it,” the President said in his speech on dialogue between leaders and the media.