Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Border (RSF) has criticized Tajikistan for blocking access to news websites.
RSF said in a statement on August 2 that access to the country's leading independent news agency Asia-Plus was blocked on August 1 -- for the third time in two months.
The websites were blocked after fighting in the restive Gorno-Badakhshan region in the country's east.
The government has cited technical reasons for the lack of access to Asia-Plus.
The Russian news agency RIA-Novosti website has also been blocked, joining YouTube, and two other Russian news sites Lenta.ru and Vesti.ru.
Two other news portals specializing in Central Asia -- Fergananews.com and Centrasia.ru -- as well as the local forum Pamir-vesti.ru, were also blocked.
RSF said Tajikistan, by increasingly making systematic use of cyber-censorship, could end up on RSF's annual list of the "Enemies of the Internet," which could tarnish the country's image.
RSF said in a statement on August 2 that access to the country's leading independent news agency Asia-Plus was blocked on August 1 -- for the third time in two months.
The websites were blocked after fighting in the restive Gorno-Badakhshan region in the country's east.
The government has cited technical reasons for the lack of access to Asia-Plus.
The Russian news agency RIA-Novosti website has also been blocked, joining YouTube, and two other Russian news sites Lenta.ru and Vesti.ru.
Two other news portals specializing in Central Asia -- Fergananews.com and Centrasia.ru -- as well as the local forum Pamir-vesti.ru, were also blocked.
RSF said Tajikistan, by increasingly making systematic use of cyber-censorship, could end up on RSF's annual list of the "Enemies of the Internet," which could tarnish the country's image.