Russian Internet Firm Concerned Over Tajik Blockade

The Russian Internet company mail.ru has expressed concern over the ongoing blockade of its social-media site in Tajikistan.

The majority of Internet users in Tajikistan using major Internet providers Babylon Mobile, Babylon T, and Beeline have been unable to access Odnoklassniki.ru since July 18.

Mail.ru spokeswoman Ksenia Chabanenko told RFE/RL on July 29 that the company asked Tajikistan's state Communications Service to explain the situation a week ago.

Chabanenko said there has been no answer yet from Tajik officials.

She added that some 350,000 Internet users in Tajikistan visited the social network daily before the blockage.

Last week, Tajik authorities launched a new social-media site, vipnet.tj, which they said is expected to become an alternative to Odnoklassniki.ru.