Turkmen Internet Cafe Closed for Accessing “Banned” Site

Excerpt from report by Turkmen opposition website chrono-tm.org on 4 June

The head of the Dasoguz regional department of communications, Eminow, was first forced to close one of the two Internet-cafes in Dasoguz, and after that, he was dismissed for the poor development of the Internet in the region.

The mentioned Internet-cafe, located inside the Uzboy hotel, had only five computers. Recently, a visitor there tried to access a “banned” website, but he was immediately identified. The cafe itself has been closed, all computers and other equipment have been seized. This is because, everything related to Turkmenistan’s Internet service is under the direct watch of the National Security Ministry.

[Passage omitted: Internet access worsened there]

Actually, in Turkmenistan, there are two state agencies responsible for Internet access – the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of National Security. It is quite clear that the two bodies have different missions contradicting each other. In this situation, two heads are not better than one. On the other hand, this situation is harmful to officials and the population, and the latter is deprived of genuine Internet services.

Originally published by chrono-tm.org website, Vienna, in Russian 4 Jun 08.

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