Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT1286
2008-09-26 13:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: SOURCE SAYS FIRING OF CUSTOMS CHIEF
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001286
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV SNAR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: SOURCE SAYS FIRING OF CUSTOMS CHIEF
IN JUNE WAS DUE TO PRESIDENT'S DESIRE TO INSTALL HIS OWN
PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
REF: ASHGABAT 0783
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001286
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV SNAR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: SOURCE SAYS FIRING OF CUSTOMS CHIEF
IN JUNE WAS DUE TO PRESIDENT'S DESIRE TO INSTALL HIS OWN
PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
REF: ASHGABAT 0783
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.
4 (B) and (D).
¶1. (C) According to UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Turkmenistan Office Project Coordinator Ercan Saka (please
protect),President Berdimuhamedov fired State Customs
Service Chairman Muratberdi Annaliyev in June because the
president wanted Yaylym Berdiyev, at that time chairman of
the State Migration Service, to introduce the same kind of
modernization and operational upgrades to Customs as he did
at the State Migration Service. Saka added that Berdiyev is
"close" to the president. Saka did not mention the incident
at Serakhs border crossing checkpoint as a contributing
factor to the personnel change (reftel).
¶2. (C) COMMENT: It appears that Berdimuhamedov is replacing
former President Niyazov's old guard with young leaders he
prefers, as post speculated in reftel. Post is watching for
other similar leadership changes and will continue to report
on them as they occur. END COMMENT.
CURRAN