Tajikistan blocks access to Facebook
By Aynur Jafarova
Tajikistan has blocked once again access to popular social networking website Facebook.
On October 5, all 8 internet providers in Tajikistan blocked access to the website. So users started experiencing problems with entering Facebook on Saturday, RIA Novosti reported.
People in Tajikistan now use proxy services to avoid the restriction.
Due to the Eid al-Adha religious holiday celebrations in Tajikistan, officials have not yet commented on the issue.
Local experts believe that the website have been blocked after a public call to join a demonstration against the Tajik government on October 10.
The call has been issued by exiled opposition leader Umarali Quvatov's organization, Group 24.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief of State Communications Service Rafiqjon Shokirov told RFE/RL that the service "has not given any orders to block any sites."
He said "the reports about alleged blocking of websites, including Facebook, do not correspond to reality."
Access to Facebook had been restricted twice in June and July this year in Tajijkestan.
Also, the Tajik government blocked the access to the popular video-sharing website YouTube and Tajikistan's independent information agency Tojnews in June and the popular social network Odnoklassniki in July.
During the past two years, the Tajik authorities have repeatedly blocked various websites, blaming the disruptions on "technical problems." But later they unblocked them.
The moves have sparked international criticisms.