TAJIKISTAN: NDI IN WASHINGTON WANTS SHOWDOWN MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000836

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, DRL
NSC FOR MERKEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/5/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR EAID KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: NDI IN WASHINGTON WANTS SHOWDOWN MEETING WITH
PRESIDENT RAHMONOV

REF: A) DUSHANBE 0817 B) DUSHANBE 0804 C) DUSHANBE 0781

CLASSIFIED BY: Richard E. Hoagland, Ambassador, EXEC, Embassy
Dushanbe.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (U) National Democratic Institute (NDI) President Ken
Wallach and the Ambassador spoke by telephone May 5. Wallach
thanked the Ambassador and Embassy Dushanbe for continuous
support and advocacy for NDI.


2. (C) Wallach said he had spoken by telephone with Nurul
Rakhimbekov, NDI's former Acting Director in Dushanbe, who had
arrived safely back in his native Kazakhstan after having been
detained for several days and then deported by Tajikistan's
Ministry of Security. Wallach said Rakhimbekov maintained no
entrapment had occurred, "because nothing had happened." The
entire line of questioning during his several days of detention
had focused solely on NDI's acitivities in Tajikistan, according
to Rakhimbekov. When the interrogators brought in the teenaged
girl to confront him, whom he had allegedly paid for a tryst,
Rakhimbekov told Wallach he'd never seen her before in his life.
(COMMENT: If the interrogators brought in the alleged
"victim," it would seem that the line of questioning was not
solely limited to NDI's program activities. END COMMENT.)


3. (C) The Ambassador responded he remained totally agnostic
about the charge because he did not know the facts. He
suggested there is evidence, in other channels, that MOS uses
under-aged prostitutes in sting operations. Further, it is
understandable human nature not to be fully forthcoming if one
is caught in an embarrassing or compromising situation. Wallach
said he took the point.


4. (C) The Ambassador averred he would be loath to see NDI
closed in Tajikistan. He said he was pleased NDI in Washington
was considering sending an AmCit staffer or two to maintain the
office in the interim, because he would hate to see a red
"closed" sign nailed to the door. Wallach concurred. But he
added NDI would prefer the Government of Tajikistan simply close
down NDI, if that's what it wants, instead of "playing these
medieval games." The Ambassador sympathized, but pointed out
governments in the region, Uzbekistan's excepted, seem to prefer
harassment rather than decisive action so that they don't have
to take direct responsibility for their decisions.


5. (C) Wallach proposed that either he or NDI Board Member
former U.S. Congressman Sam Gejdenson travel to Dushanbe in late
May or early June to meet with President Rahmonov to learn if he
will guarantee NDI's registration and program activities, or if
he wants it closed. NDI staffer Laura Jewett would arrive a few
days earlier for due diligence supervision in the NDI office in
Dushanbe. Until then, the NDI office will remain open, but will
not conduct any program activities. NDI Washington will remain
in regular contact with the local staff, and pay salaries and
office rent via Western Union transfers.


6. (C) Wallach requested that SCA Assistant Secretary Boucher
raise the on-going harassment of NDI when he meets with
President Rahmonov and Foreign Minister Nazarov on May 8.
Wallach said he would look to the response as an indication of
how willing Rahmonov would be to make sure NDI can become
registered and to guarantee the safety of the NDI staff. The
Ambassador responded he would make sure A/S Boucher is fully
briefed before his meetings. USAID Dushanbe and Embassy PolOff

DUSHANBE 00000836 002 OF 002


will also maintain regular contact with NDI's local staff.
HOAGLAND