Tajikistan trial for BBC reporter Urunboy Usmonov

A BBC journalist who was held for a month by the authorities in Tajikistan has been told he will go on trial on Tuesday.

Urunboy Usmonov, 59, was arrested in June and accused of associating with banned Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir.

He has repeatedly denied the charges, saying his only contact with the group was to interview some members as part of his work reporting on the region.

He was told that he must appear in court in Khujand city on Tuesday.

The BBC has insisted throughout that it regards the allegations as completely unfounded.

The corporation has said that it believes meetings and interviews with people representing all shades of opinion are part of the work of any BBC journalist.

Mr Usmonov has worked for the BBC Central Asian Service for 10 years.

He has said that he met Hizb ut-Tahrir members as part of his work reporting on the group, which is active across Central Asia.

Rights groups have condemned his arrest as an attempt to censor coverage of sensitive political and religious issues.