Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that VPN applications, which are used by local residents to bypass restrictions to access social networks, messengers and other forbidden web-based resources, has been blocked in Turkmenistan since 17 January.
As soon as a user logs onto an application, the internet connection is cut out and a new sim card needs to be inserted.
For instance, Turkmenistan’s residents no longer have access to Google Play store, which was used by Internet users to download applications, which allow bypassing the blocking.
According to the sources, which have not been confirmed so far, after repeated violations an individual may be summoned for “a conversation” to the NSM (the National Security Ministry).
We have failed to find out the reason behind the tightened control over the Internet use.The residents are coming up with various versions.According to one of them, the authorities fear that the residents will start disseminating photo and video evidence of the consequences of the hurricane which was expected to hit these days whereas another version runs that the Talibans penetrated the Turkmen-Afghan border.