TURKMENISTAN'S NURMAMMEDOV RELEASED DECEMBER 30

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000061 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY) E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S NURMAMMEDOV RELEASED DECEMBER 30 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jennifer L. Brush for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) RFE/RL Ashgabat reporter Halmurad Gylchdurdiyev told poloffs on January 17 that Nurberdy Nurmammedov, a dissident figure from the late 1990s who still resides in Ashgabat and had been rumored for that reason to be a possible presidential candidate of the exiled Turkmenistan opposition, was released after a week's detention on December 30 and has stayed quietly at home since then. End Summary. Nurmammedov at Home -------------- ¶2. (C) A regular contact with post, Gylchdurdiyev told poloffs that a mutual friend had brought Nurmammedov to Gylchdurdiyev's private residence on December 23. No interview actually took place, however, according to Gylchdurdiyev: Nurmammedov briefly excused himself to escort his wife to a nearby engagement and never reappeared. The friend re-visited Gylchdurdiyev on January 16 and confirmed that Nurmammedov had been detained by local law enforcement authorities later on December 23 and released from detention on December 30. Gylchdurdiyev knew no details regarding the detention, but speculated that the authorities' aim was simply to physically sequester Nurmammedov so as to preclude his being nominated as one of the presidential candidates by the December 26 Halk Maslahaty session, which confirmed all candidates (Comment: An unlikely hypothesis, as no one in the Halk was likely to dare to do so, and Nurmammedov's physical absence might not have been a factor even if anyone had. End Comment.) Gylchdurdiyev admitted that he was scarcely acquainted with Nurmammedov, whom he described rather vaguely as a former university professor who now makes his income from owning several shipping containers at the local wholesale bazaar, from which a variety of food and drink products are sold. He did not mention Nurmammedov as having any significant current opposition ties or activities. Gylchdurdiyev Under Surveillance -------------- ¶3. (C) On his own situation, Gylchdurdiyev reported that last week the prosecutor general's office asked for a letter of explanation regarding Gylchdurdiyev's son's avoidance of mandatory military service. Gylchdurdiyev explains that his son was in Turkey during the required years of service (18-30, although there has been talk of extending the national conscription age to 35); his son is now 32 years old. (Note: Several RFE/RL stringers have reported concerns in the past that law enforcement agencies are harassing their family members as a scare tactic to end their reporting. End Note.) Gylchdurdiyev also said that his house has been under permanent surveillance by local law enforcement authorities on the street since Niyazov's December 21 death. Gylchdurdiyev noted he has been under intermittent surveillance for the last two years and was unconcerned. He said that he still has a functioning telephone, has been able to file reports with RFE/RL on the upcoming presidential election, and intends to step up his independent activity. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) Gylchdurdiyev, who is always comfortable coming to the embassy, agreed that, if given the opportunity, he would ask his friend to pass a message to Nurmammedov that, if the latter himself wishes it, the embassy would be more than ready to talk with him directly. Pending a reply via this channel, post will take no further initiative to contact Nurmammedov, in view of his own silence throughout the two weeks that he has been at apparent liberty to make his own approaches to independent outlets had he wished. ¶5. (C) Gylchdurdiyev has a history of having both his land ASHGABAT 00000061 002 OF 002 line and his cellular phone connections severed by Turkmenistan authorities. That the interim government is permitting him to file any stories at this juncture is at first glance a surprise. Post will continue to monitor both the RFE/RL reporters' situations throughout the country. End Comment. BRUSH