DUSHANBE, January 25, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Tajik authorities have admitted that a number of independent websites were blocked last year.

In a report released at a new conference in Dushanbe, Minister of Transport and Communications Olimjon Boboyev revealed on January 25 that access to a number of website was blocked last autumn in order “to provide security of the country because important operations to annihilate terrorist gangs were carried out in eastern Tajikistan at that time.”

“When it comes to issues related to the country’s security, appropriate agencies have the right to introduce certain restrictions,” said the minister, “Sometimes, information system may work against the security of the nation.  It may be used by certain circles against the country, and therefore, restrictions were imposed.  The restrictions have already been lifted.”

We will recall that access to a number of independent websites was blocked last autumn.  Tajik authorities claimed that restriction of access to those website had been caused by technical problems.  In the meantime, representatives of Internet service providers noted that Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Beg Zuhurov had ordered all major Internet service providers of the country to block access to a number of independent websites.