Today, from 8:00 to 14:25 Moscow time, the site with the petition of the well-known Russian historian Oleg Kuznetsov adressed to the State Duma and the Federation Council of Russia with a demand to recognize the genocide of Azerbaijanis in Khojaly on February 25-26, 1992 was unavailable.

The initiator of the petition, the well-known Russian historian and political analyst, calls it a blockade and connects this fact with the signing of the petition by the deputies of Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan.

Note that the petition adressed to Russian State Duma and the Federation Council prepared by Oleg Kuznetsov about the recognition of the genocide committed against Azerbaijanis in Khojaly in 1992 from February 25 to 26 at the night collected 8 thousand signatures without any special  financial and administrative support.

Moreover, it took only two weeks to collect such a number of votes, which was not previously the case in such campaigns. It can be said that of all public initiatives of this kind ever held in Russia in the interests of Azerbaijan, this is the most serious success in terms of the number of people joining the petition.

Here's what Oleg Kuznetsov wrote in Facebook:

"Today from early morning till 14:25 on the page of my petition demanding to recognize the genocide of Azerbaijanis in Khojaly on the site Change.org you could see this picture.

By a strange coincidence, it appeared there after I received a message that the deputies of Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan had signed the petitions".

The adviser of MM Gunay Akbarova told me the following:

"Hello, Oleg Yurievich,Thank you for your studies and an objective assessment of the events, Thank you, despite the constant pressure, you do not back down! I am the adviser of the Regional Committee of Parliament." Today the committee deputies signed a petition. "Chairman of the Committee Arif Rahimzadeh, when signing the petition in the comment section "I expressed my gratitude and support, Thank you once again, Yours faithfully, Gunay Akbarova."

More details about what happened Oleg Kuznetsov told Eurasia Diary.

Eurasia Diary: Oleg Yurevich, do you exclude the possibility that the site was really overloaded?

Oleg Kuznetsov: It was opened In Azerbaijan, but not opened Russia. If there are several servers, then technically this possibility exists, but if the server is one, then this cannot happen.

Eurasia Diary: What is the reason of this temporary lock and why?

Oleg Kuznetsov: Firstly, I do not know exactly when the lock started, at 8 am or last night, I turned off the computer at 10 pm Moscow time, everything was fine.

Secondly, In practice this case has not been observed, the site is blocking dividing them into parts ,ie, when the Russian-language section of the Runet blocks, Aznet does not block. It is somehow strange and not very clear from a technical point of view.

Thirdly, it is symptomatic that the blockage happens immediately or almost immediately after the deputies of the Milli Majlis signs the petition.

Of course, this can all be paranoia, but the tactic of a "shallow foul" in sport is always effective when it is necessary to bring down an offensive impulse.

Eurasia Diary: To whom, in your opinion, can the blocking of the site be beneficial?

Oleg Kuznetsov: This can be beneficial to someone who is uncomfortable with my petition.

You can sign the petition here.