TAJIKISTAN'S WOMEN'S COLONY, PRISON OR PARADISE?

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000535

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/23/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM EAID KWMN KIRF SOCI SNAR TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN'S WOMEN'S COLONY, PRISON OR PARADISE?

REF: DUSHANBE 0208

CLASSIFIED BY: Richard E. Hoagland, Ambassador, State, State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)


1. (U) Nestled in the mountains near the Nurek dam, one hour
from Dushanbe, Tajikistan's sole women's prison is far more
sanitary and progressive than men's prisons. The manicured
gardens, relatively clean buildings, holiday activities and good
management attempt to mask the sub-standard conditions common
throughout Tajik prisons.


2. (U) PolOff accompanied Swiss Cooperation Office (SCO)
representatives to Tajikistan's Women's Colony March 14, the
second Embassy prison visit this year. Some 600 women reside in
the overcrowded prison, 70% of whom were convicted of drug
trafficking. The director of the prison was eager to show off
his well-maintained prison and its "happy" tenants. He
repeatedly asked PolOff what she thought of the prison and was
keen on making sure all visitors were satisfied with the prison
conditions. One SCO officer told PolOff this particular
director is a unique in Tajikistan's penitentiary system and
truly cares about providing hospitable conditions for the women.


3. (C) Deputy Minister of Justice, Lieutenant General
Izzatullo Sharipov, Head of the Tajik Penitentiary system is
attempting to make over Tajikistan's prisons. Despite his
reputation for cruelty and corruption (reftel),he has reached
out to select international organizations for assistance,
although pointedly excluding the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC). SCO officer told PolOff Sharipov is
attempting to regain status with President Rahmonov. Sharipov
was allegedly involved in drug trafficking and entangled in a
court case in Moscow. President Rahmonov appointed Sharipov to
his current position as a demotion and now Sharipov is working
to regain Rahmonov's good graces. Post's Senior Law Enforcement
Agent relayed that Tajik Border Guard's head General-Colonel
Saidimir Zuhurov noted Sharipov played an "important" role in
eliminating opposition fighters during the civil war. (COMMENT:
A somewhat dubious distinction, given the heavy-handed way many
opposition forces were defeated, but an understandable reason
why Rahmonov may feel a sense of loyalty to Sharipov. END
COMMENT.)

BETTER FACILITIES, BUT STILL SUBSTANDARD


4. (U) The women's prison affords its tenants more facilities
than men's prisons. The prison has a small mosque for Muslims
and a few rooms for practicing Christians. Approximately 80
women regularly attend mosque. Two local Christian missionary
groups converted 60 women while in prison, engage them in bible
classes and organize holiday festivities. An on-site library
with old Soviet books and newspapers donated by SCO is open to
the women. Women who bear children while in prison are allowed
to live in separate quarters with their children up to three
years of age. Some women can elect to work in a small textiles
factory on site. Local companies commission the prisons with
projects such as sewing traditional Tajik dress or military
uniforms. The women are not forced to work in the factory.
They do not earn a salary, only a 30 somoni ($10) credit per
month to use at the prison's convenience store.


5. (U) Although the women's facility is better than other
prisons in Tajikistan, the conditions are nowhere near Western
standards. The prison's director commented that Tajikistan is
such an impoverished country, upgrading prison facilities is one
of the government's last priorities. Approximately 100 women
share bunk beds in a large sleeping room with no heat. The
sewage system is broken and waste seeps above ground in the
nearby village. The medical wing of the prison is clean and far
more sanitary than Tajikistan's hospital for inmates (reftel).
However, problems remain. PolOff observed medicine donated by
Sweden scattered across the floor of one room and instruments
were not sterilized. Nurek's distance from Dushanbe means that
prisoners are treated on site and cannot be transported to a
city hospital. Out of the 40 state employees who run the
prison, only eight are women. In the past year, three men have
been dismissed due to improper conduct, including rape and
sexual molestation. The deputy director of the prison stressed
the need for more female employees.

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6. (SBU) COMMENT: This visit is the second of what we hope
will be regular routine visits by Embassy officials. Post has
recommended that Project Hope allocate some of its medical
supplies and humanitarian assistance to the penitentiary
system's hospital in May, as General Sharipov requested.
However, the assistance will depend on continued monitoring and
building a relationship of trust and transparency. We hope this
could open the door to better relations with all relevant
international organizations, including the ICRC. END COMMENT.
ARMBRUSTER