Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT1293
2008-09-29 13:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: LESS THAN 1700 PARDONED IN HONOR OF
how-toVZCZCXRO3893 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #1293 2731322 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 291322Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1631 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 4346 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 2158 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2023 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 2594 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0896 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 2933 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001293
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: LESS THAN 1700 PARDONED IN HONOR OF
"NIGHT OF OMNIPOTENCE"
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001293
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: LESS THAN 1700 PARDONED IN HONOR OF
"NIGHT OF OMNIPOTENCE"
¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On September 27, state-run newspaper
"Neytralniy Turkmenistan" published the government's list of
prisoners who were to be pardoned and released, an annual
tradition in honor of the "Night of Omnipotence" marking the
close of Ramadan. Post reviewed the list, but did not find
the names of any prisoners of interest and has not been able
to confirm that any were convicted for involvement in the
attack on former President Niyazov. END SUMMARY.
¶3. (SBU) During the September 26 Halk Maslahaty (People's
Council) session, participants approved a list of 1,673
individuals. (NOTE: Approximately 9,000 prisoners were
pardoned on this same holiday in 2007. It is unclear why a
significantly smaller number was pardoned this year. END
NOTE.) Fifty of those listed had been sentenced in 2004 or
earlier, but 94 percent of the list was composed of
individuals sentenced in 2008. The list also included 142
female prisoners.
¶4. (SBU) Post checked the list for the names of prisoners
of interest, including those known to have been imprisoned
in relation to the 2002 attack, former senior government
officials, journalists, democracy activists, and religious
conscientious objectors. No prisoners of interest were noted
in the list.
¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: The list is much shorter than one
released this time last year, and it is also possible that
from this point on, fewer people will be pardoned at one
time. President Berdimuhamedov promised in early 2007 that
there would be more frequent pardoning events, leaving open
the possibility that prisoner releases will be more frequent
throughout the year and in smaller numbers. END COMMENT.
CURRAN