POSSIBLE IRANIAN SURVEILLANCE - DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN (APRIL

S E C R E T DUSHANBE 000734

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/ITA, DS/ICI/CI, DS/IP/SA, SCA/CEN, NOFORN,
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/19/2016
TAGS: ASEC TI
SUBJECT: POSSIBLE IRANIAN SURVEILLANCE - DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN (APRIL
18, 2006)

REF: SIMAS EVENT # 88926 , REPORTED APRIL 18, 2006

CLASSIFIED BY: James Rowe, RSO, RSO, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(c)




1. (S/NF) On April 18, 2006 at approximately 1400 hours, RSO
was contacted by the Surveillance Detection (SD) supervisor who
stated that at approximately 1306 hours local, SD personnel
spotted two male subjects located at Rudaki Avenue and Said
Nosir street intersection (approximately 2 blocks from Embassy's
outer perimeter) and one subject had a video camera. Subject
was filming in the direction (NW) of School #10 located on Said
Nosir street. Adjacent to this school is the Tajik Pedagogical
University. RSO COMMENT: Said Nosir Street runs East - West
and is the Embassy's main vehicle route from Rudaki Avenue to
the Embassy. It Is unknown how long subjects were in the area
or their exacts routes on foot. END COMMENT. At approximately
1312 hours, a vehicle mishap occurred on Rudaki with one vehicle
colliding with a child on a bicycle. Most of the pedestrians in
the area ran towards the accident. At this point, a White
Nissan Maxima with one male driver, license plate (D001022
Iranian Diplomatic Plate) drove up and the two male subjects
entered the vehicle and departed quickly South on Rudaki Avenue.


2. (S/NF) Subsequently, RSO requested the SD analyst enter the
information into SIMAS and search the SD database for any
reports on the same license plate number (results were
negative). In addition, RSO briefed the DCM and passed the
information to SIMO personnel.


3. (S/NF) Note: On April 19, 2006, RSO was informed of a
fairly new "Embassy of Republic of Iran Office of Cultural
Counselor" located approximately 500 meters from the Embassy. A
drive by indicated that the vehicles parked within the compound,
are Iranian Dip plated. In addition, RSO was told that on April
18, 2006 a delegation of Iranians visited the Pedagogical
University for about 40 minutes.


4. (S/NF) RSO COMMENT: RSO is not sure exactly what the two
male subjects were up to; whether they were video taping some
event, or Embassy routes and vehicles. Post and RSO remain
alert and vigilant and RSO will report any further information
if it becomes available.


5. (U) Please direct any questions to RSO James "Chance" Rowe.

HOAGLAND