TAJIKISTAN: RECENT ACTIVITIES AGAINST NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 001289 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/11/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM ASEC TI SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: RECENT ACTIVITIES AGAINST NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE CLASSIFIED BY: Tracey Jacobson, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy Dushanbe, STATE. REASON: 1.4 (b),(c) ¶1. (C) A September 6 cyber attack and brief encounter on September 7 with State Committee for National Security officials indicate that change is in store for the National Democratic Institute. PolOff met with National Democratic Institute Harry Bader on September 7 to discuss the recent events. ¶2. (C) According to Bader, on September 7, two State Committee for National Security officials approached National Democratic Institute's local program manager, Parviz Kamoliddinov, and requested a meeting for Tuesday, September 11. Since the beginning of the year, the same two security officials approached Kamoliddinov three times in March, June and July in a similar fashion and treated him to dinner. They asked him questions about National Democratic Institute's activities and Bader himself, including about his Quaker affiliations and whether he proselytizes. After each meeting, Bader received a visa extension. It is unclear whether the upcoming meeting will be a harbinger of good news. Security officials attempted to bribe Kamoliddinov, promising to pay off the construction costs for the new house he is building, an amount that is approximately $10,000. He declined. Bader is confident that Kamoliddinov is loyal to the National Democratic Institute. He also is concerned for Kamoliddinov's safety and thinks the State Committee for National Security does not know that Kamoliddinov debriefs Bader after every such meeting. ¶3. (C) On September 6, Bader called PolOff, upset that the National Democratic Institute's local office computer systems had crashed. National Democratic Institute's computer systems also crashed July 4. He suspected it was foul play. Prior to the more recent systems crash, Bader received two emails from young females in Estonia and Germany on his personal email address. The writers claimed that their brothers are in prison and wanted to know what the National Democratic Institute could do to help. They both asked questions about the organization's activities and shared the same misspellings. Both emails had pictures attached and most likely viruses too. The computers had Norton Anti-virus installed, but did not catch the virus. ¶4. (C) National Democratic Institute's Washington offices helped restore and analyze the information technology systems. The information technology analyst in Washington strongly suspects that all of National Democratic Institute's local office's internet correspondence is being streamed through a protocol analyzer -- i.e., someone is monitoring their activity. The analyst also suspects that the computer system already has a root kit virus or would be vulnerable to one. The root kit virus allows others to virtually implant a file or electronic document on National Democratic Institute's computers without their knowledge. National Democratic Institute's offices in Russia have seen similar technology used against them. National Democratic Institute in Tajikistan is working to secure its systems further. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: The Tajik government's methods of harassment are becoming more sophisticated. The July 4 and September 6 incidents involving National Democratic Institute's computer systems are the first high-tech attacks against non-governmental organizations which we have reports of. Either the Tajik government has recently acquired more sophisticated technology, or is working with other foreign security agencies. The e-mails were likely a trap for Bader. Since he didn't bite, this will hopefully portend good news for National Democratic Institute; and if past trends continue, he will receive a visa extension. However, we have no reason to expect a breakthrough on National Democratic Institute's efforts to register the organization. Post will get a read-out of Kamoliddinov's meeting by September 14 and report to Washington. END COMMENT. JACOBSON