Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT840
2006-08-08 12:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
how-toVZCZCXRO3966 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHAH #0840/01 2201256 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 081256Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7652 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA PRIORITY 0548 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1182 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1665 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0374 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHO-2/REA/NMJIC-J2// PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2/HSE/CCJ5// PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J5/RUE// PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000840
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL TX
SUBJECT: MYRADOVA ARREST UPDATE
REF: A. ASHGABAT 698
B. ASHGABAT 652
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jennifer L. Brush for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000840
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL TX
SUBJECT: MYRADOVA ARREST UPDATE
REF: A. ASHGABAT 698
B. ASHGABAT 652
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jennifer L. Brush for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Ogulspapar Myradova, Annagurban Amanklychev (alt.
Amangylyjov) and Sapardurdy Hajiyev, who are connected to the
Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation, remain in detention. Post
has regular contact with Myradova's previously detained
daughters Sona and Mara, and continues to monitor the case
and maintain open dialogues with the U.K. Embassy and the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Center in Ashgabat. Post and other Ashgabat-based diplomats
continue to be suspicious of the Myradova case and have not
ruled out the possibility that it is a Government of
Turkmenistan set-up. End Summary.
Myradova has Regular Access to her Lawyer
--------------
2. (C) Myradova's two daughters met with Pol Off July 31,
and confirmed that their mother continued to meet with her
lawyer, who has passed her food and medications. The lawyer
told the daughters that Myradova looked well, though she has
cried during their meetings. So far, Myradova and
Amanklychev have been charged with illegal weapons
possession, but the lawyer anticipates there might be
additional charges in the near future regarding possession of
materials defaming the state. The daughters also regularly
meet with OSCE representatives, and have shared the same
information with them.
Government in Compliance
--------------
3. (C) Thus far, according to the OSCE Center's staff
lawyer, the government has complied with the national
Criminal Procedure Code. In accordance with the code, the
government is under no obligation to disclose to the family,
international organizations, diplomatic missions or the
public at large information about cases under investigation.
The OSCE sent a diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs requesting specific information on the Myradova case.
Myradova had met several times with OSCE Human Dimension
Officer Benjamin Moreau prior to her detention, and
Myradova's daughters sought assistance from OSCE after their
release, but prior to contacting the embassy. The OSCE
mission fully anticipates that it will not receive any
substantive information from the government in response to
its note.
4. (C) Henri Tomasini, Deputy Chief of Mission at the French
Embassy told P/E Chief that his embassy and the German
Embassy have both submitted requests to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs for information on Myradova's case. Foreign
Minister Meredov responded to both requests by promising to
update embassies on new developments and to observe local law
in prosecuting Myradova. On August 3, Charge noted to
Meredov that the embassy had forwarded a protest from
international rights groups via diplomatic note and Meredov
declined comment. The OSCE's staff lawyer told Pol Off on
July 27 that, in accordance with Turkmenistan's laws, the
international community will not know if any illegal actions
were taken by the government until the end of the six month
period that the government has under Turkmenistan law to try
and sentence detainees.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Contacts who are best hooked into this case continue
to maintain that there is more to this case than simply
prosecution of a human rights advocate. As noted ref b,
Myradova is the sister of former Central Bank Deputy Chairman
Annadurdy Hajiyev, who was charged in absentia for
ASHGABAT 00000840 002 OF 002
embezzlement. Even more unusually, the government and
Myradova's family have not made any reference or connection
to RFE/RL. Furthermore, the circumstances surrounding this
case are suspicious. OSCE Acting Head of Office Dieter
Matthei told Charge on August 3, he was convinced the case
was a setup to get the international human rights community
to back the wrong case. The case smells suspicious to us,
too. Post advocates for open and transparent investigations
and court cases, and for the law enforcement agencies and
judicial bodies to act in accordance with international norms
and standards. Given the number of legitimate human rights
cases and issues that post is advocating, we do not/not
recommend using this case as a cause celebre. End Comment.
BRUSH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL TX
SUBJECT: MYRADOVA ARREST UPDATE
REF: A. ASHGABAT 698
B. ASHGABAT 652
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jennifer L. Brush for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Ogulspapar Myradova, Annagurban Amanklychev (alt.
Amangylyjov) and Sapardurdy Hajiyev, who are connected to the
Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation, remain in detention. Post
has regular contact with Myradova's previously detained
daughters Sona and Mara, and continues to monitor the case
and maintain open dialogues with the U.K. Embassy and the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Center in Ashgabat. Post and other Ashgabat-based diplomats
continue to be suspicious of the Myradova case and have not
ruled out the possibility that it is a Government of
Turkmenistan set-up. End Summary.
Myradova has Regular Access to her Lawyer
--------------
2. (C) Myradova's two daughters met with Pol Off July 31,
and confirmed that their mother continued to meet with her
lawyer, who has passed her food and medications. The lawyer
told the daughters that Myradova looked well, though she has
cried during their meetings. So far, Myradova and
Amanklychev have been charged with illegal weapons
possession, but the lawyer anticipates there might be
additional charges in the near future regarding possession of
materials defaming the state. The daughters also regularly
meet with OSCE representatives, and have shared the same
information with them.
Government in Compliance
--------------
3. (C) Thus far, according to the OSCE Center's staff
lawyer, the government has complied with the national
Criminal Procedure Code. In accordance with the code, the
government is under no obligation to disclose to the family,
international organizations, diplomatic missions or the
public at large information about cases under investigation.
The OSCE sent a diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs requesting specific information on the Myradova case.
Myradova had met several times with OSCE Human Dimension
Officer Benjamin Moreau prior to her detention, and
Myradova's daughters sought assistance from OSCE after their
release, but prior to contacting the embassy. The OSCE
mission fully anticipates that it will not receive any
substantive information from the government in response to
its note.
4. (C) Henri Tomasini, Deputy Chief of Mission at the French
Embassy told P/E Chief that his embassy and the German
Embassy have both submitted requests to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs for information on Myradova's case. Foreign
Minister Meredov responded to both requests by promising to
update embassies on new developments and to observe local law
in prosecuting Myradova. On August 3, Charge noted to
Meredov that the embassy had forwarded a protest from
international rights groups via diplomatic note and Meredov
declined comment. The OSCE's staff lawyer told Pol Off on
July 27 that, in accordance with Turkmenistan's laws, the
international community will not know if any illegal actions
were taken by the government until the end of the six month
period that the government has under Turkmenistan law to try
and sentence detainees.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Contacts who are best hooked into this case continue
to maintain that there is more to this case than simply
prosecution of a human rights advocate. As noted ref b,
Myradova is the sister of former Central Bank Deputy Chairman
Annadurdy Hajiyev, who was charged in absentia for
ASHGABAT 00000840 002 OF 002
embezzlement. Even more unusually, the government and
Myradova's family have not made any reference or connection
to RFE/RL. Furthermore, the circumstances surrounding this
case are suspicious. OSCE Acting Head of Office Dieter
Matthei told Charge on August 3, he was convinced the case
was a setup to get the international human rights community
to back the wrong case. The case smells suspicious to us,
too. Post advocates for open and transparent investigations
and court cases, and for the law enforcement agencies and
judicial bodies to act in accordance with international norms
and standards. Given the number of legitimate human rights
cases and issues that post is advocating, we do not/not
recommend using this case as a cause celebre. End Comment.
BRUSH