Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT1320
2008-10-01 14:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: KHITROVKA CASUALTY FIGURES
how-toVZCZCXRO6141 PP RUEHAG RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHAH #1320 2751451 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 011451Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1649 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4354 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2166 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2031 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2602 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2938
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001320
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV SNAR SOCI KCRM KISL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: KHITROVKA CASUALTY FIGURES
REF: A. ASHGABAT 1229
B. ASHGABAT 1238
C. ASHGABAT 1285
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001320
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV SNAR SOCI KCRM KISL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: KHITROVKA CASUALTY FIGURES
REF: A. ASHGABAT 1229
B. ASHGABAT 1238
C. ASHGABAT 1285
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Questions still surround the September 12-13 shoot-out
btween police/military and an armed gang (Ref A). One
question is the number of casualties that resulted from the
24-hour shoot-out. A Turkish embassy source shared with us
on September 30 a casualty list he had received from a source
inside the Ministry of National Security (MNB - successor to
the KGB). According to the MNB list, 38 people died as a
result of the shoot-out, including 15 officers (11 of whom
died at the scene) and 8 "terrorists." The other 15 are
presumably civilian casualties. We had earlier learned from
local hospital sources that a total of 50 people had been
wounded, some of whom died later.
2. (C) COMMENT: This incident has served as a wake-up call
for Turkmen authorities. During a State Security Council
meeting, President Berdimuhamedov upbraided police and
military structures for their incompetence during the
shoot-out (Ref B) and speakers addressed the need to fight
narcotraffickers during the final People's Council meeting
(Ref C). Given the human toll and the poor performance of
the police/military, it is no wonder that the government sees
being able to meet a future similar challenge as a priority.
END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV SNAR SOCI KCRM KISL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: KHITROVKA CASUALTY FIGURES
REF: A. ASHGABAT 1229
B. ASHGABAT 1238
C. ASHGABAT 1285
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Questions still surround the September 12-13 shoot-out
btween police/military and an armed gang (Ref A). One
question is the number of casualties that resulted from the
24-hour shoot-out. A Turkish embassy source shared with us
on September 30 a casualty list he had received from a source
inside the Ministry of National Security (MNB - successor to
the KGB). According to the MNB list, 38 people died as a
result of the shoot-out, including 15 officers (11 of whom
died at the scene) and 8 "terrorists." The other 15 are
presumably civilian casualties. We had earlier learned from
local hospital sources that a total of 50 people had been
wounded, some of whom died later.
2. (C) COMMENT: This incident has served as a wake-up call
for Turkmen authorities. During a State Security Council
meeting, President Berdimuhamedov upbraided police and
military structures for their incompetence during the
shoot-out (Ref B) and speakers addressed the need to fight
narcotraffickers during the final People's Council meeting
(Ref C). Given the human toll and the poor performance of
the police/military, it is no wonder that the government sees
being able to meet a future similar challenge as a priority.
END COMMENT.
CURRAN