Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT394
2006-04-18 06:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN'S FORMER PROSECUTOR GENERAL
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UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000394
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S FORMER PROSECUTOR GENERAL
GURBANBIBI ATAJANOVA REPOREDLY ARRESTED FOLLOWING
RETIREMENT SHOW
REF: ASHGABAT 371
Sensitive but Unclassified - Please Protect Accordingly.
Reports of Atajanova's Arrest
------------------------------
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000394
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S FORMER PROSECUTOR GENERAL
GURBANBIBI ATAJANOVA REPOREDLY ARRESTED FOLLOWING
RETIREMENT SHOW
REF: ASHGABAT 371
Sensitive but Unclassified - Please Protect Accordingly.
Reports of Atajanova's Arrest
--------------
1. (SBU) Former Prosecutor General Gurbanbibi Atajanova was
arrested on April 11, according to the Gundogar opposition
website and several embassy contacts. While unconfirmed, all
reports, including from a GOTX security officer, say that
Atajanova was detained at home the day after President
Niyazov officially announced her "retirement" (reftel).
Prosecutor's House Cleaning Begins
--------------
2. (SBU) Possibly related to Atajanova's dismissal, Niyazov
also fired prosecutors from the Ahal Welayat (province) and
Ashgabat's Niyazov Etrap (district) on April 13, reportedly
for "abusing" their official positions. Additionally, a
contact told Pol Assistant that the Ministry of National
Security began investigating five senior officers at the
General Prosecutor's Office immediately following Atajanova's
removal. A Gundogar source suggests that Atajanova's
relatives will be next, as most of them, the source claims,
were involved in her "criminal" activities.
Comment
--------------
3. (SBU) Atajanova's arrest is no surprise. Post likewise
expected that at least one of Atajanova's former underlings
at the General Prosecutor's Office would follow her into
disgrace. More are likely to follow. After Niyazov fired
oil and gas chief Gurbanmuradov and acting Central Bank chief
Muhammedova, he reorganized the bureaucracies to make them
more directly accountable to him. Both reorganizations have
resulted in less productivity and less foreign investor
confidence in Turkmenistan. If Niyazov follows this pattern
and reorganizes the General Prosecutor's Office, it is likely
he may attempt to subordinate the office to the security
services, either to the Ministry of National Security or to
the Presidential Apparat. In either case, whatever little
rule of law that had previously existed will be further
eroded. End Comment.
JACOBSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S FORMER PROSECUTOR GENERAL
GURBANBIBI ATAJANOVA REPOREDLY ARRESTED FOLLOWING
RETIREMENT SHOW
REF: ASHGABAT 371
Sensitive but Unclassified - Please Protect Accordingly.
Reports of Atajanova's Arrest
--------------
1. (SBU) Former Prosecutor General Gurbanbibi Atajanova was
arrested on April 11, according to the Gundogar opposition
website and several embassy contacts. While unconfirmed, all
reports, including from a GOTX security officer, say that
Atajanova was detained at home the day after President
Niyazov officially announced her "retirement" (reftel).
Prosecutor's House Cleaning Begins
--------------
2. (SBU) Possibly related to Atajanova's dismissal, Niyazov
also fired prosecutors from the Ahal Welayat (province) and
Ashgabat's Niyazov Etrap (district) on April 13, reportedly
for "abusing" their official positions. Additionally, a
contact told Pol Assistant that the Ministry of National
Security began investigating five senior officers at the
General Prosecutor's Office immediately following Atajanova's
removal. A Gundogar source suggests that Atajanova's
relatives will be next, as most of them, the source claims,
were involved in her "criminal" activities.
Comment
--------------
3. (SBU) Atajanova's arrest is no surprise. Post likewise
expected that at least one of Atajanova's former underlings
at the General Prosecutor's Office would follow her into
disgrace. More are likely to follow. After Niyazov fired
oil and gas chief Gurbanmuradov and acting Central Bank chief
Muhammedova, he reorganized the bureaucracies to make them
more directly accountable to him. Both reorganizations have
resulted in less productivity and less foreign investor
confidence in Turkmenistan. If Niyazov follows this pattern
and reorganizes the General Prosecutor's Office, it is likely
he may attempt to subordinate the office to the security
services, either to the Ministry of National Security or to
the Presidential Apparat. In either case, whatever little
rule of law that had previously existed will be further
eroded. End Comment.
JACOBSON