Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT1031
2008-08-07 13:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: EMERGING STORY CONTRADICTS OFFICIAL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001031
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
TREASURY FOR BAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR EIND ETRD TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: EMERGING STORY CONTRADICTS OFFICIAL
REASON FOR TEXTILE MINISTER'S RESIGNATION
REF: 07 ASHGABAT 1047
Classified By: CDA Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001031
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
TREASURY FOR BAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR EIND ETRD TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: EMERGING STORY CONTRADICTS OFFICIAL
REASON FOR TEXTILE MINISTER'S RESIGNATION
REF: 07 ASHGABAT 1047
Classified By: CDA Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) President Berdimuhamedov accepted the resignation
"for health reasons" of Minister of Textiles Jemal Goklenova
during an August 1 Cabinet of Ministers meeting. Goklenova,
related to Berdimuhamedov through his wife (reftel),dropped
totally off the map during former President Niyazov,s later
years. When she first reappeared more than a year ago after
an imprisonment or home confinement, she looked gaunt and
weak. Therefore, post immediately thought that Goklenova may
actually have some health issues, in spite of the fact that
"health reasons" is a common excuse for removing people from
office who have committed some particularly bad act that the
president does not wish to discuss publicly.
2. (C) On August 7, well-connected longtime post contact and
head of EU-Tacis in Turkmenistan Michael Wilson (please
strictly protect) said that, according to his sources, two
people traveling with Goklenova from Turkey were arrested
upon disembarking from a Turkish Airlines flight in Ashgabat
on July 31. Goklenova, Wilson said, was not arrested because
"she is family." Wilson did not know any other details or
have the names of the individuals at the time.
3. (C) COMMENT: Corruption is widely acknowledged as a way
of life in Turkmenistan and in the region, as is the
assumption that ministers have a variety of extracurricular
activities that add to their personal fortunes. Goklenova
seemed to be very interested in increasing capacity in her
Ministry and promoting Turkmenistan's textile industry.
Nevertheless, it would have been beyond reason to think that
she didn't also make use of opportunities for personal
enrichment. Post will continue to look for further details
on who was arrested and why. Unlike her traveling
companions, Goklenova is lucky that she is related to the
president. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
TREASURY FOR BAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR EIND ETRD TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: EMERGING STORY CONTRADICTS OFFICIAL
REASON FOR TEXTILE MINISTER'S RESIGNATION
REF: 07 ASHGABAT 1047
Classified By: CDA Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) President Berdimuhamedov accepted the resignation
"for health reasons" of Minister of Textiles Jemal Goklenova
during an August 1 Cabinet of Ministers meeting. Goklenova,
related to Berdimuhamedov through his wife (reftel),dropped
totally off the map during former President Niyazov,s later
years. When she first reappeared more than a year ago after
an imprisonment or home confinement, she looked gaunt and
weak. Therefore, post immediately thought that Goklenova may
actually have some health issues, in spite of the fact that
"health reasons" is a common excuse for removing people from
office who have committed some particularly bad act that the
president does not wish to discuss publicly.
2. (C) On August 7, well-connected longtime post contact and
head of EU-Tacis in Turkmenistan Michael Wilson (please
strictly protect) said that, according to his sources, two
people traveling with Goklenova from Turkey were arrested
upon disembarking from a Turkish Airlines flight in Ashgabat
on July 31. Goklenova, Wilson said, was not arrested because
"she is family." Wilson did not know any other details or
have the names of the individuals at the time.
3. (C) COMMENT: Corruption is widely acknowledged as a way
of life in Turkmenistan and in the region, as is the
assumption that ministers have a variety of extracurricular
activities that add to their personal fortunes. Goklenova
seemed to be very interested in increasing capacity in her
Ministry and promoting Turkmenistan's textile industry.
Nevertheless, it would have been beyond reason to think that
she didn't also make use of opportunities for personal
enrichment. Post will continue to look for further details
on who was arrested and why. Unlike her traveling
companions, Goklenova is lucky that she is related to the
president. END COMMENT.
CURRAN