TURKMENISTAN APPARENTLY MOVES TO RELEASE EX-OIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000140 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY) E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2017 TAGS: ENRG EPET PGOV PHUM PIA PINR PREL TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN APPARENTLY MOVES TO RELEASE EX-OIL AND GAS MINISTER GURBANMYRADOV; PRESIDENTIAL SECURITY BOSS REJEPOV MAY RETIRE REF: A. (A) 05 ASHGABAT 491 ¶B. (B) 05 ASHGABAT 496 ASHGABAT 00000140 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Jennifer L. Brush for reasons 1. 4 (B) and (D). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) According to the usually well-informed Turkish Ambassador, the Government of Turkmenistan is taking steps to release former Oil and Gas Deputy Chairman Yolly Gurbanmyradov, who has been in prison since October 2005 on charges of embezzlement and corruption. The ambassador also said the much-feared Presidential Protective Service Head Akmyrat Rejepov was planning to turn in his retirement papers "by April." Both moves, if true, would reflect the consolidation of power by the ruling troika of Acting President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov, Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov and the security forces represented by Minister of Defense Agageldi Mammetgeldiyev. End Summary. Yolly's Back? -------------- ¶2. (C) During a February 5 lunch, Turkish Ambassador Haki Akil told the Charge that the government was looking to release from prison former Oil and Gas Deputy Chairman Yolly Gurbanmyradov. Acording to Akil, during the week of January 29-February 5, Gurbanmyradov had been moved from the notorious Owadandepe prison to the Ministry of National Security detention facility in Ashgabat, where he was kept for five days. He subsequently was sent to the "more comfortable" Bayramaly prison outside of Mary. Akil said the government now was looking to find a face-saving way to release Gurbanmyradov, who in 2005 had been sentenced to 20 years for embezzlement and corruption. ¶3. (C) In response to Charge's question, Akil knocked on his wooden table saying the table and current Oil and Gas Deputy Chairman Gurbanmyrat Atayev shared the same IQ. There was no one, Akil said, currently available to run Turkmenistan's complicated and lucrative oil and gas sector, and not only was Gurbanmyradov the best man for the job, but he also got along well with Berdimuhammedov and Meredov. Perhaps most of all, According to Akil, Gurbanmyradov had a unique capacity to deal with the western oil and gas sector, a sphere were the acting president felt himself uncertain. Akil said the subsequent two oil and gas ministers Atamyrat Berdiyev and Guychnazar Tachnazar also would be released from jail. Rejepov to Retire? -------------- ¶4. (C) In response to Charge's surprise that Presidential Protective Service Head Rejepov would allow Gurbanmyradov out of jail, Akil said, "Rejepov's going to retire, he's already handed in his papers, he has enough money and he's tired." Akil specified that he thought Rejepov would be gone no later than April. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) Through his numerous Turkish business contacts, Akil usually gets it right. Before anyone else, Akil knew that Berdimuhammedov would get rid of Parliamentary Chief Atayev in order to make himself acting president, for example. Akil also can indulge in wishful thinking; ever since Niyazov's death he has thought that a next logical step would be to ASHGABAT 00000140 002.2 OF 002 release Gurbanmyradov. Berdimuhammedov, Meredov and the security forces represented by Mammetgeldiyev have successfully and peacefully transitioned Turkmenistan from Niyazov's rule to presidential elections. The missing piece to the troika has been capacity for management of Turkmenistan's natural wealth, its oil and gas reserves. Numerous contacts both from other embassies and the business community have dismissed current Oil and Gas Minister Atayev as a "non-player." Neither has Atayev been a part of the retinue that accompanies Berdimuhammedov and "the presdiential candidates," at the various wakes and events surrounding Niyazov's death. Pending confirmation of this scenario, indepth discussion of the future of Turkmenistan's hydrocarbon resources may be premature. End Comment. BRUSH