Azerbaijan internet users are reporting systematic blocking of major public DNS services including Google, Cloudflare, and AdGuard, according to accounts circulating on social media and technical forums. The disruptions suggest an escalation in digital censorship measures by state-controlled telecommunications providers.
Users in Baku and other cities report that connections through AzTelekom and BakTelekom, the country's dominant internet service providers, fail when using international DNS resolvers, forcing reliance on government-approved alternatives or circumvention tools. Only Quad9, a privacy-focused DNS service, appears partially functional, though with degraded performance. The reports indicate the blocks affect both mobile and fixed-line connections, suggesting coordinated implementation across Azerbaijan's telecommunications infrastructure.
The technical pattern resembles DNS filtering systems used by authoritarian governments to control information access without the visibility of complete internet shutdowns. By blocking resolution of domain names rather than directly censoring websites, authorities can disrupt access to virtual private networks and circumvention tools while maintaining plausible deniability about intentional censorship. The approach has been documented in Iran, China, and other states with extensive internet control mechanisms.
In the Caucasus, as across mountainous borderlands, ancient identities and modern geopolitics create intricate patterns of conflict and cooperation. Azerbaijan's digital control measures align with broader regional trends toward information restriction, particularly as governments seek to limit external influence and control narratives around territorial conflicts, energy politics, and governance challenges.
The timing of the DNS disruptions remains unclear, though such measures typically intensify around politically sensitive periods or following international criticism of human rights conditions. Azerbaijan has faced sustained pressure from international organizations regarding restrictions on media freedom, civil society operations, and political opposition activity. The Aliyev government typically characterizes such measures as necessary for national security and stability.
