DUSHANBE, December 4, 2012, Asia-Plus — The Facebook social network is available again on the Internet in Tajikistan, along with the website of RFE/RL”s Tajik Service.
Internet service providers (ISPs) in Tajikistan blocked Facebook last week after a request by the state-run Communications Service.
Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service quoted Asomuddin Atoyev, the chairman of Tajikistan”s Association of Internet Service Providers, as saying that Tajikistan”s leading ISPs received orders from the Communications Service requesting that Facebook be unblocked.
Earlier on December 3, Atoyev told RFE/RL that the website of RFE/RL”s Tajik Service also became available again on the Internet in Tajikistan.
Radio Ozodi”s website had been blocked since late on November 29.
On December 1, the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe expressed concern about the blockage of both Facebook and Radio Ozodi”s website.
Tajikistan”s Communications Service said on November 30 that the action over Radio Ozodi”s website was taken because of complaints from a group of “concerned citizens.”
RFE/RL President Steven Korn labeled the move as “censorship.”
