Experts: Internet disruptions in Azerbaijan threaten national security

In Azerbaijan, specialists are finishing eliminating the consequences of the incident resulted in the failure of the Internet. Experts have treated the state of emergency as a result of the monopolization of the Internet services by a single company. They have called the situation a threat to national security.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 16, the Internet connection failed throughout the entire territory of Azerbaijan. The failure resulted from a fire occurring on one of the lines of the "Delta Telecom", the major Azerbaijani provider. By 11:00 p.m., the Internet connection started to intermittently work in a number of regions of the country.

According to Mushviq Amirov, Public Relations Adviser to the Minister of Communications and High Technologies of Azerbaijan, "the works to eliminate the consequences of the melting of one of the main cables of the DATA-centre of the 'Delta Telecom' the Azerbaijani major provider are to be completed soon."

The incident has raised concerns of the civil society in Azerbaijan. In particular, the public association "Azerbaijani Internet Forum" has called the incident of November 16 "a serious threat to the information security of the country."

Osman Gyundyuz, the leader of the NGO "Centre of Information Systems 'Multimedia'", also suggests that disruptions in the Internet connection gave rise to great problems for the life of the country, including for the banking sphere and for the electronic payment system.

Natiq Jafarli, Executive Secretary of the Movement "Republican Alternative" (ReAl), suggests that it makes no sense for the authorities to turn off the Internet. However, Natiq Jafarli believes that the authorities control the Internet and "punish online dissidents through pinpoint strikes."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.