Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TASHKENT601
2006-03-28 12:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
ANDIJON RESIDENTS ASK BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO LEAVE
how-toVZCZCXRO4088 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHNT #0601 0871203 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 281203Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5431 INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ALMATY 7736 RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 1841 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 2365 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2262 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1363 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0753
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000601
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL UZ ZK
SUBJECT: ANDIJON RESIDENTS ASK BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO LEAVE
REF: A. A) TASHKENT 441
B. B) TASHKENT 576
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMB JON R. PURNELL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000601
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL UZ ZK
SUBJECT: ANDIJON RESIDENTS ASK BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO LEAVE
REF: A. A) TASHKENT 441
B. B) TASHKENT 576
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMB JON R. PURNELL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D).
1. (C) In a recent visit to Andijon, British Ambassador David
Moran was followed and questioned by self-proclaimed mahalla
(neighborhood) representatives. He told the U.S. Ambassador
that he first encountered the mostly-female group when he
exited his hotel. They asked the purpose and duration of his
visit, where he was planning on going and with whom he would
meet. Later that evening the group followed Ambassador Moran
to a restaurant where he was to meet a British citizen. This
time, he said, the group was more demanding, to the point
that his driver came into the restaurant and urged him to
return to the hotel. He called the MFA and the local police.
The police sent the group away, but rudely joked that
Ambassador Moran could not handle a group of women. When
Ambassador Moran left Andijon the next day, the same group
followed him in a van to the provincial border.
2. (C) Comment: Ambassador Moran,s harassment, coupled with
Post,s own recent experience in Andijon (reftels),speaks
volumes about the current environment there. It is unclear
if the mahalla group aggressively targeted the British
Ambassador at the behest of the security services or out of
personal concern that the authorities would quiz them on why
the British Ambassador was staying in their neighborhood.
Either way, tensions remain high in Andijon as the first
anniversary of the 2005 violence approaches.
PURNELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL UZ ZK
SUBJECT: ANDIJON RESIDENTS ASK BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO LEAVE
REF: A. A) TASHKENT 441
B. B) TASHKENT 576
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMB JON R. PURNELL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D).
1. (C) In a recent visit to Andijon, British Ambassador David
Moran was followed and questioned by self-proclaimed mahalla
(neighborhood) representatives. He told the U.S. Ambassador
that he first encountered the mostly-female group when he
exited his hotel. They asked the purpose and duration of his
visit, where he was planning on going and with whom he would
meet. Later that evening the group followed Ambassador Moran
to a restaurant where he was to meet a British citizen. This
time, he said, the group was more demanding, to the point
that his driver came into the restaurant and urged him to
return to the hotel. He called the MFA and the local police.
The police sent the group away, but rudely joked that
Ambassador Moran could not handle a group of women. When
Ambassador Moran left Andijon the next day, the same group
followed him in a van to the provincial border.
2. (C) Comment: Ambassador Moran,s harassment, coupled with
Post,s own recent experience in Andijon (reftels),speaks
volumes about the current environment there. It is unclear
if the mahalla group aggressively targeted the British
Ambassador at the behest of the security services or out of
personal concern that the authorities would quiz them on why
the British Ambassador was staying in their neighborhood.
Either way, tensions remain high in Andijon as the first
anniversary of the 2005 violence approaches.
PURNELL