Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE1353
2006-07-18 11:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:
TAJIKISTAN: DPT'S ISKANDAROV SAFE IN PRISON, FOR NOW
how-toVZCZCXRO1945 RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHDBU #1353 1991129 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 181129Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8090 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1709 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1697 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1668 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1681 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1636 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1603 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1607 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1476 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1424 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1218 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1626 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1673 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0997 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 9395
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001353
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, S/P, DRL
NSC FOR MERKEL, MILLARD
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: DPT'S ISKANDAROV SAFE IN PRISON, FOR NOW
REF: A. DUSHANBE 666
B. DUSHANBE 707
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001353
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, S/P, DRL
NSC FOR MERKEL, MILLARD
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: DPT'S ISKANDAROV SAFE IN PRISON, FOR NOW
REF: A. DUSHANBE 666
B. DUSHANBE 707
1. (U) Democratic Party of Tajikistan's (DPT) Deputy Chairman,
Rahmatullo Valiev assured PolOff July 12 that the DPT's Chairman
Mahmmadruzi Iskandarov is not being maltreated in prison, and
discussed the emergence of the "Vatan" (Motherland) faction of
the DPT.
2. (U) Valiev reported that Iskandarov's lawyer visited him
in prison July 8 and gave a press conference afterwards
declaring that the DPT Chairman is in fine health and has not
been abused in prison. Since the press conference, only one
paper in Tajikistan published an article on Iskandarov and two
other weekly papers printed small blurbs on his status.
Iskandarov began serving his 23-year sentence in January 2006.
Only his mother and lawyer were permitted to visit him - one
time each.
3. (U) News articles reported July 17 the DPT's "Vatan"
(Motherland) faction announced they do not intend to split the
party into two wings, but rather keep the DPT whole. Seven
members of the DPT announced in April they would petition the
formal party apparatus to renew the party's leadership and
direction. DPT members have not yet voted on whether Vatan's
leadership will supersede current leaders including Iskandarov's
brother and Valiev.
4. (SBU) Valiev, convinced that Vatan is the brainchild of the
People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan's Deputy Chairman,
Davlati Davlatov, said that Vatan intends to name a new chairman
and oust Iskandarov. If the DPT splits into two parties,
Iskandarov would still be able to remain Chairman of the old
DPT, leaving Vatan with less clout. A split in the DPT could
also complicate Iskandarov's status in detention. The Tajik
government already does not recognize him as a political
prisoner. If he is no longer the official party chairman,
Valiev worries, Vatan could lend support to the government's
position and cause Iskandarov's case to be dropped from
international organizations' radar.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: In April, when the faction first surfaced,
Valiev was confident that Vatan would not win over the DPT's
membership. However, in the latest meeting, he appeared
increasingly nervous about the group and instead of dismissing
them, acknowledges they pose a legitimate threat to the party's
current leadership. It appears likely that the DPT members may
choose Vatan over the current leadership.
6. (SBU) COMMENT CONT'D: Iskandarov is isolated in prison
with infrequent visits permitted, so his status and state of
health are difficult to track. In a meeting July 12 the
Prosecutor General was unable to comment on where Iskandarov was
being held.. Earlier in the year, the DPT had tried to rally
its supporters by alleging that Iskandarov was abused while in
detention and his basic human rights violated. Their quiet
stance on his status lately is surprising. However, their
interests lie in preserving Iskandarov's image as a political
prisoner so as to avoid Vatan marginalizing him from the game
entirely. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, S/P, DRL
NSC FOR MERKEL, MILLARD
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: DPT'S ISKANDAROV SAFE IN PRISON, FOR NOW
REF: A. DUSHANBE 666
B. DUSHANBE 707
1. (U) Democratic Party of Tajikistan's (DPT) Deputy Chairman,
Rahmatullo Valiev assured PolOff July 12 that the DPT's Chairman
Mahmmadruzi Iskandarov is not being maltreated in prison, and
discussed the emergence of the "Vatan" (Motherland) faction of
the DPT.
2. (U) Valiev reported that Iskandarov's lawyer visited him
in prison July 8 and gave a press conference afterwards
declaring that the DPT Chairman is in fine health and has not
been abused in prison. Since the press conference, only one
paper in Tajikistan published an article on Iskandarov and two
other weekly papers printed small blurbs on his status.
Iskandarov began serving his 23-year sentence in January 2006.
Only his mother and lawyer were permitted to visit him - one
time each.
3. (U) News articles reported July 17 the DPT's "Vatan"
(Motherland) faction announced they do not intend to split the
party into two wings, but rather keep the DPT whole. Seven
members of the DPT announced in April they would petition the
formal party apparatus to renew the party's leadership and
direction. DPT members have not yet voted on whether Vatan's
leadership will supersede current leaders including Iskandarov's
brother and Valiev.
4. (SBU) Valiev, convinced that Vatan is the brainchild of the
People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan's Deputy Chairman,
Davlati Davlatov, said that Vatan intends to name a new chairman
and oust Iskandarov. If the DPT splits into two parties,
Iskandarov would still be able to remain Chairman of the old
DPT, leaving Vatan with less clout. A split in the DPT could
also complicate Iskandarov's status in detention. The Tajik
government already does not recognize him as a political
prisoner. If he is no longer the official party chairman,
Valiev worries, Vatan could lend support to the government's
position and cause Iskandarov's case to be dropped from
international organizations' radar.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: In April, when the faction first surfaced,
Valiev was confident that Vatan would not win over the DPT's
membership. However, in the latest meeting, he appeared
increasingly nervous about the group and instead of dismissing
them, acknowledges they pose a legitimate threat to the party's
current leadership. It appears likely that the DPT members may
choose Vatan over the current leadership.
6. (SBU) COMMENT CONT'D: Iskandarov is isolated in prison
with infrequent visits permitted, so his status and state of
health are difficult to track. In a meeting July 12 the
Prosecutor General was unable to comment on where Iskandarov was
being held.. Earlier in the year, the DPT had tried to rally
its supporters by alleging that Iskandarov was abused while in
detention and his basic human rights violated. Their quiet
stance on his status lately is surprising. However, their
interests lie in preserving Iskandarov's image as a political
prisoner so as to avoid Vatan marginalizing him from the game
entirely. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND