Mass media in Tajikistan are not independent of the authoritarian Emomali Rahmon regime.
[2] During the civil war (1992–97), the Emomali Rahmon government severely repressed both broadcast and print media; since that time, neither has recovered independent operations.
[2] Although the law requires registration of independent broadcast outlets, some unlicensed stations have operated.
In the post-Soviet era, newspaper circulation has decreased sharply because of the high expense of materials and the poverty of the population.
[2] As a result of government pressure and refusal of license renewals, no opposition newspapers were operating in the run-up to the 2006 presidential election.