Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT284
2006-03-16 03:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
RFE/RL REPORTER IN BALKAN PROVINCE SAFE
how-toVZCZCXRO0309 RR RUEHCD RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHMRE RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0284 0750343 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 160343Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7095 INFO RUCNOSC/OSCE POST COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2/HSE/CCJ5// RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J5/RUE// RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000284
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR TX
SUBJECT: RFE/RL REPORTER IN BALKAN PROVINCE SAFE
Ref: Ashgabat 272
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000284
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR TX
SUBJECT: RFE/RL REPORTER IN BALKAN PROVINCE SAFE
Ref: Ashgabat 272
1. (SBU) Balkan Welayat RFE/RL stringer Shamyrat
Akoyliyev visited the embassy on March 15. He stopped
by in response to PolAsst's March 10 call to his family,
following up on reports that RFE/RL correspondents were
being detained (reftel). Akoyliyev told PolOff that he
was safe and had not been called in by security or
police officers. His land line was disconnected on
December 31, 2005, "due to cable damage," according to
the local telecommunications provider. Though the
outage was not widespread, Akoyliyev noted that phone
service to several of his neighbors was cut off
reportedly for the same reason. He is not sure if the
disconnection is related to his reporting for RFE/RL or
for the official reason.
2. (SBU) After the disconnection, Akoyliyev visited
local MNB and police officers, but they did not have any
new problem with him. Following his earlier report
about flour shortages in the region, Akoyliyev was told
by the Gumdag City Hakim (mayor) that he shouldn't
report for RFE/RL. "Other than that, nobody told me
anything," Akoyliyev stated.
3. (SBU) "Due to the phone outage, I haven't been able
to report to Prague for a long time. Perhaps that is
why they worried that I might have been detained."
Akoyliyev applied for a cell phone account with a
private company, which he was told should be available
around April 11. Meanwhile, Akoyliyev is searching for
alternative ways to report to Prague. He is planning to
report in from a public telephone, which he says is
quite expensive. "My relatives don't want me to use
their phone line for reporting to RFE/RL fearing that
their lines also will be cut off," Akoyliyev explained.
Nevertheless, he was very grateful for our concern for
his well-being and promised to keep in closer contact in
the future.
4. (SBU) Comment: The concern over Akoyliyev's
possible detention happily proved to be unwarranted.
Nevertheless, the precedent of all RFE/FL reporters
throughout the country losing phone service is
troubling. Especially following the detention of the
two reporters in Mary, we will continue to closely
follow the situation. End Comment.
JACOBSON
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR TX
SUBJECT: RFE/RL REPORTER IN BALKAN PROVINCE SAFE
Ref: Ashgabat 272
1. (SBU) Balkan Welayat RFE/RL stringer Shamyrat
Akoyliyev visited the embassy on March 15. He stopped
by in response to PolAsst's March 10 call to his family,
following up on reports that RFE/RL correspondents were
being detained (reftel). Akoyliyev told PolOff that he
was safe and had not been called in by security or
police officers. His land line was disconnected on
December 31, 2005, "due to cable damage," according to
the local telecommunications provider. Though the
outage was not widespread, Akoyliyev noted that phone
service to several of his neighbors was cut off
reportedly for the same reason. He is not sure if the
disconnection is related to his reporting for RFE/RL or
for the official reason.
2. (SBU) After the disconnection, Akoyliyev visited
local MNB and police officers, but they did not have any
new problem with him. Following his earlier report
about flour shortages in the region, Akoyliyev was told
by the Gumdag City Hakim (mayor) that he shouldn't
report for RFE/RL. "Other than that, nobody told me
anything," Akoyliyev stated.
3. (SBU) "Due to the phone outage, I haven't been able
to report to Prague for a long time. Perhaps that is
why they worried that I might have been detained."
Akoyliyev applied for a cell phone account with a
private company, which he was told should be available
around April 11. Meanwhile, Akoyliyev is searching for
alternative ways to report to Prague. He is planning to
report in from a public telephone, which he says is
quite expensive. "My relatives don't want me to use
their phone line for reporting to RFE/RL fearing that
their lines also will be cut off," Akoyliyev explained.
Nevertheless, he was very grateful for our concern for
his well-being and promised to keep in closer contact in
the future.
4. (SBU) Comment: The concern over Akoyliyev's
possible detention happily proved to be unwarranted.
Nevertheless, the precedent of all RFE/FL reporters
throughout the country losing phone service is
troubling. Especially following the detention of the
two reporters in Mary, we will continue to closely
follow the situation. End Comment.
JACOBSON