DURDYKULIYEV - GRATEFUL AND EMBOLDENED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000410

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR TX
SUBJECT: DURDYKULIYEV - GRATEFUL AND EMBOLDENED

REF: ASHGABAT 382

SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) FORMER PSYCHIATRIC PATIENT GURBANDURDY
DURDYKULIYEV MET WITH POL OFF IN HIS BALKANABAT CITY HOME ON
APRIL 17 AFTER SPENDING THREE HOURS IN THE LOCAL POLICE
STATION AND HAKIMLIK. DURDYKULIEV WAS ADMONISHED BY LOCAL
POLICE, MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES, AND LOCAL ELDERS NOT TO
CONTINUE HIS CAMPAIGN PRESSING FOR DEMOCRACY AND EXPOSING
PRESIDENT NIYAZOV'S NEGLIGENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES.
DURDYKULIEV AND HIS WIFE, WHO MET IRREGULARLY WITH EMB OFFS
DURING DURDYKULIEV'S MORE THAN TWO-YEAR INCARCERATION,
EXPRESSED SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE 54 SIGNATORIES TO THE
CONGRESSIONAL LETTER SENT TO PRESIDENT NIYAZOV, THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND EMBASSY PERSONNEL FOR SUPPORT.
DURDYKULIYEV WAS IN REASONABLY GOOD PHYSICAL HEALTH. END
SUMMARY.

INCARCERATION
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2. (SBU) THE ELDERLY DURDYKULIYEV WELCOMED POL OFF TO HIS
HOME WITH WARM WORDS OF GRATITUDE AFTER COMPLETING HIS
EVENING PRAYERS. HE SPOKE OF HIS MORE THAN TWO YEARS AS A
SANE PATIENT IN A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL WITH PRIDE FOR HIS
ENDURANCE AND HIS RESOLVE NOT TO COMPROMISE HIS PRINCIPLES.
HE SAID THAT HE WAS TREATED BOTH AS A PATIENT AND A
POLITICAL PRISONER, AND HE WAS OFTEN "VISITED" BY SECURITY
OFFICERS WHO ATTEMPTED TO ALTER HIS POLITICAL OPINIONS
THROUGH INTERROGATION. HE DID NOT SPEAK ABOUT ANY PHYSICAL
ABUSE BEYOND THE LACK OF INADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE FOR HIS
CHRONIC ON-GOING CONDITIONS AND CONFINEMENT IN A SOLITARY
CELL DURING HIS FIRST TWO MONTHS. HE SAID THAT HE WAS FED
ONLY COLD FOOD DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS AND THE LAST TWO
MONTHS OF HIS INTERNMENT. HE FEARED FOR HIS LIFE AND WAS
INSECURE TRYING TO SLEEP MORE THAN A COUPLE OF HOURS AT A
TIME BECAUSE OF THE OTHER MENTAL PATIENTS; HE PRESUMED HIS
DEATH AT THE HANDS OF A PATIENT WOULD BENEFIT THE GOTX. HE
CONFIRMED THAT HE WAS THE ONLY POLITICAL PRISONER HELD IN
THIS PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL.

RESOLVE
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3. (SBU) DESPITE SACRIFICING TWO YEARS OF HIS LIFE,
DURDYKULIYEV SAID THAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR
DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM AND WILL EXPOSE PRESIDENT NIYAZOV'S
CRIMES. HE HAS ALREADY SPOKEN TO "UNDERCOVER" LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS CONDUCTING INTERMITTENT SURVEILLANCE
OUTSIDE HIS HOME, AND ASKED THEM WHY THEY DID THEIR WORK SO
POORLY AND WHAT THEY INTENDED TO ACCOMPLISH. HE SAID THAT
ON APRIL 17, LOCAL POLICE CAME TO HIS HOUSE AND ORDERED HIM
TO THE POLICE STATION IMMEDIATELY. ALTHOUGH HE WAS NOT
PHYSICALLY HARMED, HE WAS ONLY RELEASED WHEN HIS BLOOD SUGAR
LEVEL DROPPED BECAUSE HE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO EAT BEFORE
LEAVING HIS HOME. AT THE STATION HE WAS TOLD TO END HIS
POLITICAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE POLITICAL STATUS QUO, BUT
NEITHER HE NOR HIS FAMILY WERE DIRECTLY THREATENED. HE WAS
TOLD THAT HE SHOULD NOT SPEAK TO RFE/RL AND HE SHOULD NOT
MEET WITH INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES. IN
ADDITION TO POL OFF'S VISIT, HE WELCOMED A PLANNED MAY 12
VISIT FROM THE U.K. EMBASSY.


4. (SBU) NEITHER DURDYKULIYEV NOR HIS WIFE ARE CURRENTLY
EMPLOYED. HIS DISABILITY PENSION WAS CUT DURING HIS
INCARCERATION, AND HE WILL ATTEMPT TO HAVE IT REINSTATED
ALONG WITH INITIATING HIS REGULAR PENSION. HE SAID THAT HE
WILL ATTEMPT THE PROCESS HIMSELF, BUT WILL ASK FOR
ASSISTANCE FROM THE DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY IF HE CANNOT
RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

REQUESTS
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5. (SBU) DURDYKULIYEV ASKED THAT THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY CHECK ON HIM AND HIS FAMILY PERIODICALLY AND ALSO
PASS HIS WRITINGS AND RECORDED WORDS TO PEOPLE LIVING
OUTSIDE OF TURKMENISTAN AND TO INTERNATIONAL LEGAL AND
JUDICIAL BODIES. HE SAID HE WANTS TO SUE NIYAZOV AND HIS
REGIME FOR INCARCERATING HIM WITHOUT A CHARGE OR DUE

ASHGABAT 00000410 002 OF 002


PROCESS, DETERIORATING HIS HEALTH, AND TRYING TO FORCEFULLY
ALTER HIS MIND. HE SAID THAT HE DOES NOT FEAR THE GOTX
BECAUSE THEY CANNOT TAKE HIS FAITH FROM HIM, ALL THAT
MATTERS TO HIM IN THE END.

COMMENT
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6. (SBU) DURDYKULIYEV WAS LUCID AND SPOKE AT GREAT LENGTH.
HE IS PROUD OF WHAT HE ACHIEVED THROUGH ENDURANCE. HE SAID
THAT MANY PEOPLE ATTENDED THE FAMILY'S SACRIFICIAL MEAL WHEN
HE RETURNED AND THAT MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE
NEVER MET HIM, COME TO GREET HIM, SO HE MUST CONTINUE TO SET
THE EXAMPLE FOR OTHER PEOPLE. HE SAID THAT EVEN MEDICAL
PERSONNEL AT THE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL WERE AMAZED TO SEE HIS
RESOLVE UNDER SUCH HARSH CIRCUMSTANCES. HE IS ENCOURAGED.
POST WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR HIS SITUATION AND REPORT AS
APPROPRIATE. END COMMENT.

JACOBSON