OF CLOISTERS AND CONSTRUCTION, CHAPELS AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000664 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN (SNELSIRE) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF TX SUBJECT: OF CLOISTERS AND CONSTRUCTION, CHAPELS AND CHURCHES -- THE STORY THE OPPOSITION PRESS GOT WRONG SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Late last year, the "Chronicles of Turkmenistan," a government opposition web site, reported that construction of a women's convent under Nikolsky Church in Ashgabat had halted in the face of Turkmenistani government threats. The web site, created by the independent "Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights," quoted unnamed parishioners as saying that only "a few things remained undone," such as the roof and the convent's interior. A recent unannounced U.S. Embassy visit to Nikolsky, however, revealed a different story: a secondary chapel, not a convent, was under construction. The church community had only discussed a cloister, but internal problems prevented the project from materializing. And while building of the chapel has stopped, church leaders adamantly stated that no government obstacles or threats had occurred or were to blame. End Summary. "IF YOU BUILD A CLOISTER, I WILL DEMOLISH ALL CHURCHES!" -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) The opposition web site "Chronicles of Turkmenistan" reported in October 2006 that construction of a women's cloister under Ashgabat's Nikolsky Church had been suspended due to Turkmenistani government threats. The article quoted late President Niyazov allegedly promising Russian Orthodox Church clergy in private, "If you build a cloister, I will demolish all churches!" Soon thereafter, sometime in 2005, construction halted, though the convent reportedly was almost complete, save for the roof and interior. ¶3. (SBU) Embassy staff going out to the church to investigate the allegation heard a different story from Nikolsky's leaders. In a recent meeting at the church, Nikolsky's Father Sergey and Chief Accountant Inna Nikolaevna refuted the Chronicles' report. They insisted that no construction of a women's cloister ever began. A group of parishioners had formed to build such a monastery, but fell apart due to a lack of organization and commitment. No official decision was ever made not to build. Furthermore the government had never complicated the attempt through obstacles or threats. CONSTRUCTING A CHAPEL -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Nikolsky Church, though not constructing a cloister, has been building a secondary chapel for more than four years, adjacent to the existing main sanctuary. The chapel will hold icons and house services when the principal one is under repair or when extra space is needed. Embassy staff saw the chapel, surrounded in scaffolding but already a standing, covered structure. ¶5. (SBU) Chapel construction had been suspended, said the two leaders, but not because of proactive obstruction from the government. Instead, Father Sergey said, Nikolsky's former priest had started building the chapel without filing the required official documentation, and he had also never received the approval of the Russian Orthodox Church's Central Asian Metropolitan in Uzbekistan. According to Father Sergey, the ex-leader was too ambitious and impetuous. And, as a result, he had his cross taken away and was made to return to Russia. Father Sergey acknowledged that Nikolsky at present had neither the money nor the people to complete the chapel; no financial assistance came from Turkmenistan's government or the Central Asian Metropolitan. Rather, Nikolsky relied on donations from organizations and private individuals, including Muslims. Father Sergey insisted there would be no problems with government regulations if and when construction resumed. ALL PAPERWORK IN ORDER, SAYS FATHER SERGEY -------------- ASHGABAT 00000664 002 OF 002 ¶6. (SBU) Father Sergey told U.S. Embassy staff in private that Turkmenistan's Council of Religious Affairs had registered Nikolsky and that the church retained all papers necessary to function and remain open. The church re-registered without incident when the law changed, he added. COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Father Sergey was particularly concerned with the confidentiality of the conversation at Nikolsky Church with SIPDIS U.S. Embassy staff. He and his colleague seemed to speak freely and frankly, and their request for the conversation to be kept private and confined to the Embassy mirrored their apparent truthfulness. Neither church leader was previously aware of the opposition article. While it is possible they were hesitant to divulge any government threats, Father Sergey and Chief Accountant Inna Nikolaevna provided plausible answers to the questions asked. Also, the unfinished chapel and the absence of any cloister suggest the opposition web site's report was unreliable, at best confused. Finally, Nikolsky Church and its grounds appeared open and functioning. Over the course of the approximately hour-long unannounced visit, embassy staff noticed various parishioners and/or guests entering and leaving the church premises. End Comment. BRUSH