TURKMENISTAN: MARY PASTOR DENIED EXIT

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001243 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MARY PASTOR DENIED EXIT ¶1. (SBU) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) The pastor of a small evangelical congregation in Mary province, Ilmurad Nurlyyev, told poloff November 16 that the Turkmenistan government prevented him from exiting the country. Nurlyyev, who heads a Turkmen Baptist Church called "Light to the World" and attended a meeting with a visiting USCIRF delegation in August, said he was escorted off a plane bound for Minsk on November 11 and told that he did not have permission to leave the country. The plane departed with Nurlyyev's luggage on board. He had intended to attend a month-long teaching tour and conference in Kiev organized by the Ukrainian Free Churches Union of Evangelical Christians. ¶3. (SBU) Following this incident, Nurlyyev went to the Migration Service to find out why he was taken off the plane. They confirmed that he was not allowed to travel, but said that it was due to a decision taken by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD). MVD, however, told Nurlyyev that the Migration Service was responsible for not letting him fly. Nurlyyev planned to write to authorities for information regarding why he was not able to travel to Kiev and to find out if his family is under a similar restriction. Nurlyyev asked for Embassy assistance with his case. ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: We do not know why Nurlyyev was pulled off the plane and do not know if his religious activities are a factor. Officials have told the Embassy that there is no official list of those not permitted to travel abroad. Embassy will try to get an official explanation of what happened to Nurlyyev. HOAGLAND