Հարավկովկասյան Իրավապաշտպանների ցանցը

Access to Radio Liberty website “azadliq.org” from several internet providers operating in Azerbaijan has been restricted. According to the information on “Facebook” social network, access to the website of Radio Liberty was restricted by 5 providers - “Bakinternet”, “Azeronline”, “Uninet”, “Ultel” and “Connect.
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On 5 March, Radio Liberty prepared an article based on an article published in The Washington Post newspaper regarding Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s children stating that they have property in Dubai worth of 75 million dollars. The restriction imposed on the website of the radio from five providers a day later is related to that article.
          
The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) sent information inquiries to the leadership of the abovementioned providers, to the Ministry of Communication and Information Technologies and to “Aztelecom” Production Union.     
          
“Connect” provider’s operator Tofig Huseynov said that “Connect” did not impose any restriction on access to Radio Liberty website.
           “Azeronline” representative on customer services Tural Omarov said that it is possible to access website by writing www at the beginning of azadliq.org.
          
 According to “Bakinternet” and “Uninet”, the problem is not related to providers.
           
Communication and Information Technologies Ministry’s Information Society Development Department Director Rufat Gulmammadov told IRFS that these issues are out of their authority.
          
IRFS wanted to contact “Aztelekom” to learn their side of story regarding this issue our calls went unanswered.