DUSHANBE, January 26, 2016, Asia-Plus — Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has signed into law a bill on the creation of the Single Communication Nexus, which critics say will impose more government control over the Internet and cellular communications, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on January 26.
According to the law endorsed on January 25, all mobile operators and Internet providers must provide their services to clients only via the new nexus.
Tajik Internet Providers Association Chairwoman Parvina Ibodova says the new nexus will allow the government to shut down certain websites.
Access to a number of social-networking and other websites — including Facebook, Twitter, RFE/RL”s Tajik- and Russian-language websites and other news portals — has been disrupted several times in recent years in Tajikistan.
In November, Tajik lawmakers passed legislation allowing the authorities to block the Internet and telephone system during “counterterrorism operations” in the Central Asian state.
