Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ASHGABAT42
2010-01-08 12:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
CONTINUED INTERNET CENSORSHIP IN TURKMENISTAN
how-toVZCZCXRO3416 PP RUEHIK DE RUEHAH #0042 0081253 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 081253Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4044 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 6104 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3794 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3653 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 4346 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 4278
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000042
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN; SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TINT SOCI SCUL PGOV PHUM TX
SUBJECT: CONTINUED INTERNET CENSORSHIP IN TURKMENISTAN
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000042
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN; SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TINT SOCI SCUL PGOV PHUM TX
SUBJECT: CONTINUED INTERNET CENSORSHIP IN TURKMENISTAN
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) Turkmentelecom provides the only dial-up and A/DSL
internet service in Turkmenistan. It controls and monitors
access and reportedly blocks certain sites. Recently, the
media reported that YouTube and other sites were added to the
list of blocked sites. A quick test revealed that while
certain sites are definitely blocked, YouTube and many other
mail and social networking sites were still accessible.
A TEST - YOUTUBE IS OK, LIVEJOURNAL IS NOT
3, (SBU) In late December, fergana.ru (a site closely
associated with the Turkmen opposition) reported that
YouTube, LiveJournal (a free blogging site) and several other
sites had been added to the list of sites banned by Turkmen
authorities. To test these reports, the PD section conducted
an impromptu heuristic analysis of internet access via
Turkmentelecom. The PD section used three distinct access
points, two from home computers using dial-up and one from a
local internet cafe. All three access points allowed access
to YouTube, mail.ru and other social networking sites
including Facebook and odnoklassniki. Attempts to access
LiveJournal, fergana.ru, Gundogar (another opposition web
site) from all three access points resulted in an "check your
internet connection" response.
4. (SBU) COMMENT. Turkmentelecom has reportedly been denying
access to Turkmen opposition web sites since the internet was
made available to citizens. Given the browser response of
"check your cQection," it appears that Turkmentelecom
simply will not allow users to connect to these known sites.
It is unclear if the apparently recent addition of
Livejournal to the banned list is an indicator of a pending
more wide-spread blocking of blogging sites, or a one-off
site blocking. As part of our continued reporting, the
Embassy will continue to monitor internet access and site
blockages.
CURRAN
CURRAN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN; SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TINT SOCI SCUL PGOV PHUM TX
SUBJECT: CONTINUED INTERNET CENSORSHIP IN TURKMENISTAN
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) Turkmentelecom provides the only dial-up and A/DSL
internet service in Turkmenistan. It controls and monitors
access and reportedly blocks certain sites. Recently, the
media reported that YouTube and other sites were added to the
list of blocked sites. A quick test revealed that while
certain sites are definitely blocked, YouTube and many other
mail and social networking sites were still accessible.
A TEST - YOUTUBE IS OK, LIVEJOURNAL IS NOT
3, (SBU) In late December, fergana.ru (a site closely
associated with the Turkmen opposition) reported that
YouTube, LiveJournal (a free blogging site) and several other
sites had been added to the list of sites banned by Turkmen
authorities. To test these reports, the PD section conducted
an impromptu heuristic analysis of internet access via
Turkmentelecom. The PD section used three distinct access
points, two from home computers using dial-up and one from a
local internet cafe. All three access points allowed access
to YouTube, mail.ru and other social networking sites
including Facebook and odnoklassniki. Attempts to access
LiveJournal, fergana.ru, Gundogar (another opposition web
site) from all three access points resulted in an "check your
internet connection" response.
4. (SBU) COMMENT. Turkmentelecom has reportedly been denying
access to Turkmen opposition web sites since the internet was
made available to citizens. Given the browser response of
"check your cQection," it appears that Turkmentelecom
simply will not allow users to connect to these known sites.
It is unclear if the apparently recent addition of
Livejournal to the banned list is an indicator of a pending
more wide-spread blocking of blogging sites, or a one-off
site blocking. As part of our continued reporting, the
Embassy will continue to monitor internet access and site
blockages.
CURRAN
CURRAN