Khursand Khurramov
Published on 03 June 2026
Growing up in an authoritarian country like Tajikistan, I became increasingly concerned about injustice and the lack of independent information. Journalism was not my original career plan. I studied international relations and hoped to work in that field, but journalism started as a hobby and gradually became my profession. Over time, it became a way to respond to issues I felt could not be ignored.
I do not think it is for me to judge whether I am a good journalist. What I can say is that I try to do my work honestly and according to my professional and personal principles. Persistence, accuracy, regional expertise, and the ability to build trust with sources have been among the most valuable skills throughout my career.
Due to my life circumstances, most of my journalistic career developed outside of Tajikistan, mainly in neighbouring countries and later in Germany. This gave me a broader regional perspective while allowing me to continue covering developments in Tajikistan and Central Asia. As an exiled journalist in Germany, I have learned how to continue reporting across borders while dealing with security risks, distance from sources, and the challenges of independent journalism in exile.
The biggest challenges have been political pressure, security risks, limited access to information, and threats related to my reporting. In exile, I faced additional challenges such as financial sustainability, maintaining access to sources, and reaching audiences despite censorship and restrictions.
I already have professional experience, a network of sources, and an established media platform. What is still needed is greater institutional support, sustainable funding, access to professional training, and opportunities to collaborate with other journalists and media organisations in Germany.
I plan to continue working as an independent journalist and strengthen cross-border reporting on Central Asia, human rights, and political developments. I hope to build sustainable media projects, contribute to press freedom, and help create opportunities for other exiled journalists in the future.
