TURKMENISTAN'S EMINENCE GRISE RELEASED FROM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000504

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2017
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PINR PO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S EMINENCE GRISE RELEASED FROM
SECURITY POSITION

REF: A. ASHGABAT 459


B. ASHGABAT 370

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jennifer L. Brush for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Rumors of shadowy Chief of the Presidential
Security Service Akmurat Rejepov's expected departure from
the government were confirmed by a May 15 presidential decree
announcing his assignment to "other work." An additional --
and more surprising change in Turkmenistan's security
structure -- came with a separate presidential announcement
that First Deputy Minister of the Ministry of National
Security (MNB) Agadjan Pashyev was also released from his
position for assignment to "other work." The combined
dismissals come on the heels of President Berdimuhammedov's
successful tripartite energy summit with Russia and
Kazakhstan and decrease any lingering doubts about the
president's stability in office. Berdimuhammedov, as
president, clearly feels secure. End Summary.

His Eminence's Coming Out
--------------


2. (C) Prior to former President Niyazov's December 21,
2006 death, Chief of the Presidential Security Service
Rejepov was a powerful but secretive figure in the
presidential apparat. Never formally appointed during
Niyazov's reign, Rejepov served the former president from the
first days of Turkmenistan's independence. Little is known
about Rejepov other than he is believed to have been educated
in Russia, and to have served in the Soviet Committee for
National Security (KGB) prior to the collapse of the Soviet
Union. It was not until November 3, 2006, that Rejepov's
face was fully exposed to the public during a televised
cabinet of ministers meeting when he and several other
members of the presidential apparat were awarded Golden Age
Awards of the Third Degree by President Niyazov. This award
ceremony proved to be Rejepov's prelude to the public
exposure he seemed to welcome in Berdimuhammedov's
administration. Rejepov was never formally appointed by the
new president, but he continued to serve in the same capacity
as under Niyazov.


3. (SBU) During a February 17 ribbon-cutting ceremony to
open a large Turkish company-built textile complex, embassy
staff not only saw Rejepov for the first time in public, but
observed a gregarious and ebullient security chief who worked
the Turkmenistani ambassadorial crowd (recalled to Ashgabat
for the February 14 presidential inauguration). His
gregariousness extended to the Turkish ambassador and Turkish
businessmen in attendance, but stopped shy of interacting
with the international diplomatic corps on hand to witness
the event.

The Sightings Continued
--------------


4. (C) Rejepov, long speculated to be one of Niyazov's
closest advisors, was propelled into the position of
potential puppet master of the new president. The previously
covert operator was suddenly seen everywhere and became a
familiar face in the crowd surrounding Berdimuhammedov.
Rejepov was featured prominently alongside Berdimuhammedov in
news footage of the president's pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.


Greener Pastures for Rejepov now Unlikely
--------------


5. (C) In early 2007, Turkish Ambassador Hakki Akil told
Charge that Rejepov was angling to leave his position -- to
move on -- and maybe out -- of Turkmenistan. Akil speculated
that Rejepov was potentially seeking an ambassadorial

ASHGABAT 00000504 002 OF 002


position or luxurious retirement in Dubai after his many
years of profitable civil service.


6. (C) In contrast, during a NATO ambassador's lunch on
May 16, Charge learned that Rejepov's assistant was arrested
on May 15. Akil's current speculation is that Rejepov will
not be leaving Turkmenistan.

Mini Shake-up of the MNB
--------------


7. (C) The day post submitted a diplomatic note requesting
a meeting with First Deputy Minister Pashyev of the MNB (May
15),he was concurrently released from this position. Post
had recently established a relationship with Pashyev during
an April 9 trip across the border to Afghanistan (ref A).
Pashyev was selected by the government to both escort embassy
staff to the cross-border meeting with Afghanistan's border
officials and U.S. Embassy Kabul's border security experts,
and to represent Turkmenistan. Pashyev proved to be a
generous and hospitable host, but he came up short on his
interaction with the Afghanistanis. He was game to gather
intelligence from the meeting without sharing any information
in return.

Comment
--------------


8. (C) The two dismissals lead to much speculation, but
both leave no doubt that Berdimuhammedov's position is
solidifying. During a May 16 "scientific" conference on
Turkmenistan's Constitution, Berdimuhammedov was even
referred to as the "Great Berdimuhammedov" (Beyik
Prezidentimiz) -- a title previously reserved for Niyazov who
is now being officially referred to as the "first president."
Pashyev's dismissal is the second purge in the security and
law enforcement sector, the first being the removal of
Minister of Internal Affairs (MVD) Akmamet Rahmanov on April
9 (ref B). Significant to the MNB affair, Rahmanov was
replaced by a Berdimuhammedov-appointed deputy minister who
had been in office for only one month. Berdimuhammedov could
choose to perpetuate this Soviet model: appoint a loyalist to
a deputy position then smoothly transition this person to the
top position through a seemingly apolitical dismissal. The
die has already been cast.


9. (C) More difficult to discern at this juncture is
whether Berdimuhammedov shares the reigns of power. Minister
of the MNB Geldimuhammet Ashyrmuhammedov was believed to be a
power broker along with Deputy Chairman for International
Relations Rashit Meredov. His position appears less certain
with Pashyev's dismissal. Similarly, speculation that
Rejepov was interested in leaving the presidential apparat
has now been compromised by the arrest of his assistant.
Post awaits news of both security officials' successors and
their onward assignments, which historically could still
include criminal prosecution.
End Comment.
BRUSH