Internet shutdown in Belarus initiated from within – expert
<p> MINSK, Aug 12 - PrimePress. The Internet shutdown in Belarus since 9 am on August 12, 2020 is unprecedented for Europe. Everything suggests that this was done inside the country, Evgeny Lifshits, member of the expert council of the Russian State Duma Committee on Information Policy, told RIA Novosti news agency. </p> <p> </p> <p> Belarusian telecom service users experienced problems with Internet access on the day of the presidential election, August 9, and later, on August 10 and 11. Internet connection was much better on August 12, and instant messengers, search engines and YouTube became available. </p> <p> </p> <p> “Over the past few days, virtually all experts have come to a conclusion that, judging by all visible signs of what was happening in the republic, the Internet was shut down from the inside,” Lifshits said. </p> <p> </p> <p> “There are no confirming facts or models, since no information comes from the other side, and one can only assume hypothetically how this shutdown, first ever in Europe, looks from the outside,” he said. </p> <p> </p> <p> President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko claimed on August 10 that the Internet was being cut off from abroad, and that was is not an effort of the national authorities. The Telecom Ministry reported an increase in malicious traffic coming from outside Belarus from external IP networks since August 8 and massive DDoS attacks on Belarusian operators’ infrastructure and websites of state bodies and organizations. </p> <p> </p> <p> “Lukashenko’s explanation that the Internet was shut down from abroad is unconvincing. He is not an IT expert, though, of course. We, certainly, may be unaware of all the facts about what was happening. We are waiting for more information,” said Lifshits. End </p>
2020-08-12
Primepress
Internet shutdown in Belarus initiated from within – expert
MINSK, Aug 12 - PrimePress. The Internet shutdown in Belarus since 9 am on August 12, 2020 is unprecedented for Europe. Everything suggests that this was done inside the country, Evgeny Lifshits, member of the expert council of the Russian State Duma Committee on Information Policy, told RIA Novosti news agency.
Belarusian telecom service users experienced problems with Internet access on the day of the presidential election, August 9, and later, on August 10 and 11. Internet connection was much better on August 12, and instant messengers, search engines and YouTube became available.
“Over the past few days, virtually all experts have come to a conclusion that, judging by all visible signs of what was happening in the republic, the Internet was shut down from the inside,” Lifshits said.
“There are no confirming facts or models, since no information comes from the other side, and one can only assume hypothetically how this shutdown, first ever in Europe, looks from the outside,” he said.
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko claimed on August 10 that the Internet was being cut off from abroad, and that was is not an effort of the national authorities. The Telecom Ministry reported an increase in malicious traffic coming from outside Belarus from external IP networks since August 8 and massive DDoS attacks on Belarusian operators’ infrastructure and websites of state bodies and organizations.
“Lukashenko’s explanation that the Internet was shut down from abroad is unconvincing. He is not an IT expert, though, of course. We, certainly, may be unaware of all the facts about what was happening. We are waiting for more information,” said Lifshits. End