Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT1429
2008-11-03 10:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: ALLEGED CONSPIRATOR IN 2002 PLOT
how-toVZCZCXRO1470 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #1429 3081028 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 031028Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1791 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 4454 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 2266 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2131 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 2702 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0919 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 3021 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001429
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: ALLEGED CONSPIRATOR IN 2002 PLOT
AGAINST NIYAZOV RELEASED
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001429
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: ALLEGED CONSPIRATOR IN 2002 PLOT
AGAINST NIYAZOV RELEASED
1. (SBU) Post was able to confirm that Saparmurad Seidov, a
named conspirator in the 2002 attack on former President
Niyazov's motorcade, was released from prison, having served
nearly all of his six-year sentence. A local embassy staff
member who knows a friend of the family confirmed that he had
been freed. The family is planning to hold a Sadaka, or
sacrificial meal soon to give thanks for his release.
Internet opposition websites Chronika and Gundogar were the
first to report on October 27 that according to "a source
within Turkmen law enforcement," Turkmenistan's first
Ministry of National Security ("MNB") chairman, General-Major
Seidov had been released from prison. Seidov was found
guilty of having a role in the 2002 attack, along with 55
others who were publicly tried and sentenced.
2. (SBU) He received a six-year prison term for his crime.
He was one of only seven people sentenced in January 2003 who
received sentences of less than 10 years. His role in the
attack was reportedly described in the confession of the main
attack planner, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Boris
Shikhmuradov. The confession was published as a book called
&Me and My Accomplices--Terrorists8 in 2004, and Seidov was
portrayed as a significant conspirator who was poised on the
day of the attack to take control of the main MNB
headquarters. Nonetheless, there has been no information on
the precise charges for which he was found guilty, and his
sentence was short compared to most.
3. (SBU) The six-year sentence he received stood in stark
contrast to the majority of conspirators who received 18-25
year sentences. At the time of the 2002 attack, Seidov had
already been retired from his post. He had been the first
national security chief when Turkmenistan became independent,
serving from May 1992 through April 1999.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Post has not been able to learn the
circumstances of Seidov's release. It is possible he was in
poor health, or that his family had negotiated for his
release, or that a decision to rehabilitate him had been
made. Regardless, it has given hope to those who are still
awaiting word of their own jailed family members. END
COMMENT.
CURRAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: ALLEGED CONSPIRATOR IN 2002 PLOT
AGAINST NIYAZOV RELEASED
1. (SBU) Post was able to confirm that Saparmurad Seidov, a
named conspirator in the 2002 attack on former President
Niyazov's motorcade, was released from prison, having served
nearly all of his six-year sentence. A local embassy staff
member who knows a friend of the family confirmed that he had
been freed. The family is planning to hold a Sadaka, or
sacrificial meal soon to give thanks for his release.
Internet opposition websites Chronika and Gundogar were the
first to report on October 27 that according to "a source
within Turkmen law enforcement," Turkmenistan's first
Ministry of National Security ("MNB") chairman, General-Major
Seidov had been released from prison. Seidov was found
guilty of having a role in the 2002 attack, along with 55
others who were publicly tried and sentenced.
2. (SBU) He received a six-year prison term for his crime.
He was one of only seven people sentenced in January 2003 who
received sentences of less than 10 years. His role in the
attack was reportedly described in the confession of the main
attack planner, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Boris
Shikhmuradov. The confession was published as a book called
&Me and My Accomplices--Terrorists8 in 2004, and Seidov was
portrayed as a significant conspirator who was poised on the
day of the attack to take control of the main MNB
headquarters. Nonetheless, there has been no information on
the precise charges for which he was found guilty, and his
sentence was short compared to most.
3. (SBU) The six-year sentence he received stood in stark
contrast to the majority of conspirators who received 18-25
year sentences. At the time of the 2002 attack, Seidov had
already been retired from his post. He had been the first
national security chief when Turkmenistan became independent,
serving from May 1992 through April 1999.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Post has not been able to learn the
circumstances of Seidov's release. It is possible he was in
poor health, or that his family had negotiated for his
release, or that a decision to rehabilitate him had been
made. Regardless, it has given hope to those who are still
awaiting word of their own jailed family members. END
COMMENT.
CURRAN