The Russian video hosting site Rutube is experiencing blocking in Turkey. Access to the service is blocked for various mobile operators and home internet providers.
The Turkish regulator BTK (Bilgi İletişim ve Teknolojileri Kurumu) made the decision to block it on February 25, 2025. When attempting to open Rutube within the country, a blocking message is displayed, as well as excerpts from the Turkish Criminal Code stating that illegal gambling can be used to finance terrorism.
The Rutube press service claims that the video hosting is still operating in Turkey, and the information about the blocking is not true. Representatives of the company suggest that possible difficulties may be related to the specifics of local providers' operations.
In Turkey, all gambling establishments have been banned since 1997, with the exception of resort areas where gambling is allowed only for foreign citizens. Online gambling is also prohibited, except for those organized by the state-owned betting company IDDAA. Participation in illegal gambling in Turkey is punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
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