Cannot even download the game

I've downloaded the installer, launched it and all I get is two outcomes:

1)Cannot connect to patch server
2)Checking resources

In both cases the game is not being downloaded, content.ggpk file is stuck at 16385 and is not moving a single byte.

I've tried launching as administrator, resinstalling, but nothing helps. The game simply refuses to be downloaded.

You could also try to download the game through a vpn as detailed here http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/103073