Turkmenistan launches first messaging app

Turkmenistan, Jan 1:  The repressive central Asian nation of Turkmenistan, where the likes of Facebook and Whatsapp are banned, on Monday launched its first messaging app.

The privately developed BizBarde app will “allow the exchange of messagers, files, photos and videos,” the state Yaslyk television station said.

The service was tested for several months before its Monday launch and some 5,000 people have already downloaded the app, sources added.