Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE899
2006-05-17 10:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:
TAJIKISTAN: SDPT LEADER QUESTIONED BY GENERAL PROSECUTOR'S
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UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000899
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: SDPT LEADER QUESTIONED BY GENERAL PROSECUTOR'S
OFFICE
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000899
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: SDPT LEADER QUESTIONED BY GENERAL PROSECUTOR'S
OFFICE
1. (U) Chairman of the Socialist Democratic Party of
Tajikistan (SDPT),Rahmatullo Zoyirov, was questioned four times
by the General Prosecutor's office. Zoyirov told PolOff the
General Prosecutor's office summoned him repeatedly to
interrogate him on his recent statement claiming Tajikistan's
government detained up to 1,000 political prisoners. Zoyirov
includes Hizb ut- Tahrir members in the figure. The General
Prosecutor's office threatened to arrest him if he could not
back-up his claim. Zoyirov said his party was simply
researching the issue of political prisoners.
2. (SBU) During the questioning, the General Prosecutor's
office accused him of being a Hizb ut-Tahrir leader and tried to
extract a confession from him. Admittedly, Zoyirov, one of
Tajikistan's preeminent lawyers has defended convicted Hizb
ut-Tahrir members in the past. The General Prosecutor's office
said that imprisoned Hizb ut-Tahrir members signed statements
saying Zoyirov was a Hizb ut-Tahrir leader. The interrogators
also pegged him to be an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan member,
a connection they made because of his ethnic Uzbek origins.
Zoyirov adamantly rejected that he is a member of any terrorist
organization. On May 12, the deputy general prosecutor called
Zoyirov in for the last meeting and told him they would not
press charges.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: Zoyirov and the SDPT are not a political
threat to incumbent President Rahmonov in the November
presidential election, so it is unclear why the government would
target Zoyirov. It may be because he has been more outspoken of
late, including regarding the arrest of Democratic Party Leader
Iskandarov, and the authorities wanted to send a message. Or
they genuinely think he has stronger ties to Hizb ut-Tahrir than
his legal connection. Post does not have any evidence to
indicate Zoyirov is a member of Hiz but-Tahrir or IMU. Zoyirov
is confident the government has no basis to push legitimate
charges against him. However, he still believes they could use
any excuse to arrest him. Still, the Government has a history
of taking strong measures against perceived opponents once they
decide to take action. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: SDPT LEADER QUESTIONED BY GENERAL PROSECUTOR'S
OFFICE
1. (U) Chairman of the Socialist Democratic Party of
Tajikistan (SDPT),Rahmatullo Zoyirov, was questioned four times
by the General Prosecutor's office. Zoyirov told PolOff the
General Prosecutor's office summoned him repeatedly to
interrogate him on his recent statement claiming Tajikistan's
government detained up to 1,000 political prisoners. Zoyirov
includes Hizb ut- Tahrir members in the figure. The General
Prosecutor's office threatened to arrest him if he could not
back-up his claim. Zoyirov said his party was simply
researching the issue of political prisoners.
2. (SBU) During the questioning, the General Prosecutor's
office accused him of being a Hizb ut-Tahrir leader and tried to
extract a confession from him. Admittedly, Zoyirov, one of
Tajikistan's preeminent lawyers has defended convicted Hizb
ut-Tahrir members in the past. The General Prosecutor's office
said that imprisoned Hizb ut-Tahrir members signed statements
saying Zoyirov was a Hizb ut-Tahrir leader. The interrogators
also pegged him to be an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan member,
a connection they made because of his ethnic Uzbek origins.
Zoyirov adamantly rejected that he is a member of any terrorist
organization. On May 12, the deputy general prosecutor called
Zoyirov in for the last meeting and told him they would not
press charges.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: Zoyirov and the SDPT are not a political
threat to incumbent President Rahmonov in the November
presidential election, so it is unclear why the government would
target Zoyirov. It may be because he has been more outspoken of
late, including regarding the arrest of Democratic Party Leader
Iskandarov, and the authorities wanted to send a message. Or
they genuinely think he has stronger ties to Hizb ut-Tahrir than
his legal connection. Post does not have any evidence to
indicate Zoyirov is a member of Hiz but-Tahrir or IMU. Zoyirov
is confident the government has no basis to push legitimate
charges against him. However, he still believes they could use
any excuse to arrest him. Still, the Government has a history
of taking strong measures against perceived opponents once they
decide to take action. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND