Yugoslavia Domain Name Disappears

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has replaced the .yu country code top-level domain from the Internet for Yugoslavia. The .yu domain, which was scheduled to be turned off by ICANN yesterday (Sept. 30), was replaced most recently by .rs for Serbia and .me for Montenegro. As of this writing, .yu domains still function.

Unfortunately, ICANN has not issued a country code top-level domain for Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008. Yugoslavia was dissolved in 2003 and was replaced by Serbia and Montenegro, both of which became separately independent in 2006. It was estimated that as many as 4000 websites had not transitioned from the .yu domain name. However, the .su domain, representing the Soviet Union, is still operational. Go figure.