Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT1244
2006-12-06 12:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

DISTRICT ELECTIONS IN TURKMENISTAN -- GOVERNMENT CLAIMS

Tags:  PGOV PHUM TX 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #1244/01 3401208
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061208Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8067
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNOSC/OSCE POST COLLECTIVE
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1705
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0446
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RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
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RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2/HSE/GCJ5//
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0440
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001244 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY, NICOLAIDES)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TX

SUBJECT: DISTRICT ELECTIONS IN TURKMENISTAN -- GOVERNMENT CLAIMS
96.95% TURNOUT, EMBASSY ESTIMATES MAYBE 20%

REFS: A. ASHGABAT 1183

B. ASHGABAT 1210

C. ASHGABAT 1215

D. ASHGABAT 1222

Summary
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001244

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY, NICOLAIDES)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TX

SUBJECT: DISTRICT ELECTIONS IN TURKMENISTAN -- GOVERNMENT CLAIMS
96.95% TURNOUT, EMBASSY ESTIMATES MAYBE 20%

REFS: A. ASHGABAT 1183

B. ASHGABAT 1210

C. ASHGABAT 1215

D. ASHGABAT 1222

Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) District-level elections for members of local people's
councils proceeded with much fanfare but low voter turnout on
December 3. Official reports claimed turnout reached 96.95%,
embassy officers found voter turnout, at least in Ahal Province and
in the Magtymguly District of Balkan Province, to be low and
centered primarily among those whose livelihoods depended on the
government -- i.e., government employees, pensioners and students.
Complete results have not been published, but it is safe to declare
that absent broad-based public participation, Turkmenistan is a long
way from claiming credible elections. End Summary.

A Big Pre-election Build-up by the Government
-------------- -


2. (U) As noted ref a, on December 3 elections were held for members
of etrap (district) people's councils from slates of candidates that
were - at least theoretically - selected for the first time through
an open nomination system. The Government of Turkmenistan for weeks
has been gearing up for this election (refs b and c),with almost
daily announcements in newspapers and news shows that this event was
coming and that all citizens had the responsibility to participate.
And yet, when December 3 rolled around, life was mostly Sunday as
usual in Turkmenistan.

Voters Scarce
--------------


3. (U) On December 3, emboffs visited many of the polling sites and
markets in Ahal Province (Charge visited voting stations in historic
eponymous Magtymguly -- formerly Garagala -- District in Balkan
Province, home of Turkmenistan's most famous poet) in order to get a
sense of voter turnout and attitudes. Although official reports
claimed 96.95% turnout, emboffs uniformly reported low voter
participation; no officer reported seeing any more than 10 voters
entering the polling places in a 30-minute period. In most cases,
the flow of voters was substantially lower (several emboffs reported
seeing voting places that were so deserted that it was only by
seeing the refreshments table in the courtyards and signs over the
doors that these were identifiable as voting stations). Those who

voted in person overwhelmingly appeared to be those whose
livelihoods depended on the government largesse: government
employees (including teachers),pensioners and students. (Comment:
Based on emboffs' observations, actual turnout was no more than 20%;
the rates were likely bolstered by allowing one family member to
cast ballots for all adults in the household, and by taking
traveling ballot boxes house-to-house, a common practice on December
3 and in earlier elections. End Comment.)

Non-Voters Uninformed and Uninterested
--------------


4. (SBU) By contrast, most markets were bustling with the usual
Sunday-morning activity. Most of the individuals whom emboffs
randomly surveyed reported that, although they were aware of the
elections, they did not plan to participate because "I have my own
things to take care of" and "nobody told me how to vote." "When
asked, a number believed that the elections were important because
"they determine the future of the country," but almost nobody
claimed to know who was running in their districts. Neither could
anyone respond to questions regarding individual candidates'
campaign platforms. Although at least Ashgabat residents received
invitations to vote from one or more candidates, little other
campaigning occurred. A normally well-informed embassy employee,
agreeing that the government had done a poor job in introducing
candidates, said that he and his family members had not known who

ASHGABAT 00001244 002 OF 002

96.95% TURNOUT, EMBASSY ESTIMATES MAYBE 20%

their candidates were until an election committee worker visited
them at their apartment during the afternoon of December 3 to get
the adults' ballots. Given a slate including a police chief, a
human resources official in a state-run textile dying plant and a
geophysicist, this employee's family had supported the individual
that seemed to be least tied to the government: the scientist. On
the other hand, a local source excitedly told Charge he and his
neighbors had voted for a neighbor, but only after the candidate had
promised them a new bus stop, a welcome indication of nascent demand
for accountability.

Same Story in Magtymguly
--------------


5. (SBU) On election eve and election day, Charge visited
Magtymguly Etrap, known for its exotic fruit, vegetable and nut
cultivation, and home to Turkmenistan's national poet, his father
and the Goklen and Nohur tribes. Current etrap governor Alaberdy
Ovezov, displaying a native-son knowledge of his district's
potential, noted local issues revolved around developing
agriculture, transportation and potable water sources. Ovezov
seemed to have all the time in the world for Charge, even though he
also, theoretically, was running for office and had only held his
position for three months.


6. (SBU) Charge drove past two deserted polling stations outside of
the town of Magtymguly on her way to meet Ovezov to visit two
in-town stations at the cultural center and an elementary school.
As with the Ahal Province polling stations, Charge saw one voter
during her 30 minute stay at the cultural center, and a minivan of
retirees -- perhaps five voters -- during her 30 minute stay at the
elementary school. Ovezov did not seem perturbed by the low turnout
and appeared baffled by the concept of campaigning. He admitted to
Charge that his opponent, the local head of education who controlled
the district's schools and teachers, was "very powerful." (Comment:
It will be interesting to see if Ovezov wins. His nonchalance
could be attributed to recognition that he is not the "chosen"
candidate. Clearly the transition from life-long bureaucrat to
politician has not been natural for Ovezov. End Comment.)

Election Results Not Available Yet
--------------


7. (U) Election results were announced for Ashgabat on December 5,
and all incumbent hakims in the five electoral districts were
elected. (Comment: Post expects the formerly-appointed hakims to
be elected as hakims from among the 40 newly-elected members of the
district people's councils. End Comment.) Embassy does not expect
the five welayat election results to be made public for at least
several days. Only then will it be possible to see how election
commissions and voters responded to President Niyazov's orders
November 27 (after the nomination period was over) to ensure
selection of four new etrap hakims (district heads),in
contradiction to the precepts laid out in Turkmenistan's election
regulations (ref d).

Comment
--------------


8. (SBU) These elections do not begin to approach international
standards and President Niyazov further tainted the process one week
ago when he directed that the etrap governors he appointed be
re-elected. That said, these elections constitute a tentative step
in the right direction. The real test of the credibility of the
elections process in Turkmenistan will be with the presidential
elections in 2009, if Niyazov retires. End Comment.

BRUSH