After more than a month of blockade in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) of Tajikistan, Internet access has been restored. It was blocked with the start of the anti-terrorist operation in the region on May 18.
This is reported by residents from various districts of Badakhshan.
The last time the Internet was blocked in GBAO in November 2021, immediately after the start of mass riots caused by a protest against a special operation by the State Committee for National Security to detain Gulbiddin Ziyobekov (a resident of Roshtkal district, who was wanted). As a result of gunshot wounds, Ziyobekov died while being taken to the hospital.
Then, on November 25, young people gathered near the Regional Administration and demanded to detain and punish the national security officers of Tajikistan who participated in the special operation. The actions, which turned into mass riots, lasted four days, and stopped after the local authorities promised to conduct a thorough investigation into the death of Ziyobekov, provide access to the Internet and not persecute the citizens who participated in the protests.
For almost four months, local activists complained that the authorities didn’t keep any of their promises, and even turned to international organizations with a request to ensure the rights of the inhabitants of the region to information, including through the Internet.
Residents of GBAO regained access to the Internet on March 21.
