Tajikistan Blocks Facebook Again

DUSHANBE -- A number of Internet providers in Tajikistan have blocked access to the Facebook social network.

The chairman of Tajikistan's Association of Internet Providers, Asomuddin Atoev, told RFE/RL on November 26 that access to the website was stopped following a request by the country's Communications Service.

The service's spokesman, Beg Zuhurov, said Facebook was blocked for what he called "technical reasons," but he did not give further details.

Atoev said that despite the full or partial block on Facebook there were many ways to connect to the social network.

Atoev said that the action by the Tajik authorities was illegal and hurt Tajikistan's image internationally.

Earlier in March, Tajik authorities blocked Facebook and several online news sites, but later unblocked them.