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