Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT1243
2007-11-16 12:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

TURKMENISTAN: MARY PASTOR DENIED EXIT

Tags:  PGOV PHUM KIRF TX 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG
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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 161222Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9708
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 2982
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0800
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RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1900
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

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