Karimov asks press for objective coverage of Uzbek events

Itar-Tass

TASHKENT - The press was barred from Andizhan on May 12-13 on security reasons, Uzbek President Islam Karimov said on Tuesday. He said the press must be objective.

"The only reason which prevented journalists from visiting Andizhan was the shooting and the release of convicts. Civilians were under fire, and none had the right to risk journalists' lives. We are responsible for your security. I am personally responsible for that, being the president," Karimov told a Tuesday press conference. "I can imagine the scandal we would have had if any journalist had been hurt or, God forbid, killed in the disturbances," he said.

Karimov regretted that some media did not give an objective coverage to the Andizhan events. "The large-scale media campaign is nothing but an attempt to anticipate results of an official investigation, draw a picture that would make an imprint on people's minds, and claim that Uzbekistan has a tyranny and despots, who execute civilians," he said.

Karimov regretted the media's failure to remember that 'peaceful protesters' "were well armed, attacked a military unit, committed cruel murders, and set free terrorists and murderers."

"I can give you dozens of names of serious politicians, who cannot be called friends to Uzbekistan, but even they gave objective estimations," he added. "It must be a rule of every journalist to always base one's statements on facts," he said.

He said they had informed all heads of diplomatic missions in Uzbekistan that a special flight to Andizhan would be organized on May 18, and diplomats and journalists would be able to speak to anyone they want.