The web site of the Avesta news agency – www.avesta.tj – is fully unblocked on the territory of Tajikistan. The first report about the free access to the web site appeared in the Facebook network http://facebook.com/avestatj, on 12 November. It was mentioned that the access is possible via the Babylon-T, Telecom Technology, Tarena, and later, on 13 November, via the state-owned provider Tojiktelecom.
Since 29 September 2010, access to two Tajik web sites – Avesta.Tj and Tojnews.Tj – were blocked, as well as to three foreign web resources – Tjknews.com, Centrasia.Ru and Ferghana.Ru. Later, there appeared reports in the media telling about an official directive about blocking of three foreign web sites. Allegedly, that decision was made by the National Security Council, following a suggestion from Sherali Khairullaev, the Minister of Defense who complained to the President about the media hampering the anti-terrorist operation in Rasht valley.

The blocking of the web sites is seen as an element of a wide-scale anti-media campaign conducted by the authorities. This campaign also includes unscheduled auditing of printing houses by tax police and other inspections. The whole chronology of the government’s pressing was published on 13 November in the blog of The 29 September Committee, a newly created coalition of Tajik media, human rights and legal organizations who joined their efforts to counter the government’s repressive actions and restore the freedoms of speech and expression. Detailed information is published here: tjk29.livejournal.com.

www.avesta.tj