Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT1605
2008-12-15 13:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: SUNDAY MEJLIS ELECTIONS NOT A
how-toVZCZCXRO6386 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #1605 3501302 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 151302Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1991 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 4590 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 2394 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2259 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 2838 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 3144 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001605
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: SUNDAY MEJLIS ELECTIONS NOT A
PRIORITY FOR VOTERS
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001605
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: SUNDAY MEJLIS ELECTIONS NOT A
PRIORITY FOR VOTERS
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) On December 14, Mejlis election day, embassy
officers surveyed polling stations in various parts of
Ashgabat in order to get a sense of the atmosphere and level
of activity. The elections presented Turkmen citizens with
the opportunity to vote for a largely new crop of Mejlis
(parliamentary) deputies -- incumbents made up only a small
percentage of the candidates. Altogether, officers drove by
some 20 polling stations to get a feel for public
participation in the process. Few signs of life were evident
around any of the polling stations.
3. (SBU) The weather on election day in Ashgabat was sunny,
beautiful, and in the 60s. At 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning,
traditional live music began pouring from a polling station
closest to U.S. residences. Polling stations in Ashgabat
were at secondary schools and other government buildings, and
opened at 8:00 a.m. Most had long tables of food and drink
sitting outside. Residents reported that some polling sites
hosted live music and dance performances in the first hour
that polls were open. Several had traditional Turkmen music
playing over a PA system, ostensibly to remind those in the
neighborhood that it was time to go to the polls. Of the six
polling stations POLOFF drove by, only two people at most
were visible outside the buildings, manning a registration or
food table. Two people unaffiliated with the station's
operations were observed approaching two of the polls in the
course of the afternoon.
4. (SBU) The lack of activity stood in stark contrast to
the chorus of other outdoor activities that many residents
were undertaking in the pleasant weather. Children were
playing outside, men washed cars, POLOFF noted at least four
weddings underway, and the bazaars were filled with people
buying and selling things. There appeared to be more public
activity in relation to the Kurban Bayram holiday. Buildings
and streets were festively decorated, and men stood outside
of homes and apartment buildings stirring wide pans of the
holiday dish, plov.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Despite an official report of almost 94
percent voter turnout, the view on the ground suggested a
much lower figure. All seats were contested by more than one
candidate, but that failed to generate excitement. One would
hardly know an election was taking place. Most people, in
Ashagabat at least, had better things to do than go vote.
MILES
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: SUNDAY MEJLIS ELECTIONS NOT A
PRIORITY FOR VOTERS
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) On December 14, Mejlis election day, embassy
officers surveyed polling stations in various parts of
Ashgabat in order to get a sense of the atmosphere and level
of activity. The elections presented Turkmen citizens with
the opportunity to vote for a largely new crop of Mejlis
(parliamentary) deputies -- incumbents made up only a small
percentage of the candidates. Altogether, officers drove by
some 20 polling stations to get a feel for public
participation in the process. Few signs of life were evident
around any of the polling stations.
3. (SBU) The weather on election day in Ashgabat was sunny,
beautiful, and in the 60s. At 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning,
traditional live music began pouring from a polling station
closest to U.S. residences. Polling stations in Ashgabat
were at secondary schools and other government buildings, and
opened at 8:00 a.m. Most had long tables of food and drink
sitting outside. Residents reported that some polling sites
hosted live music and dance performances in the first hour
that polls were open. Several had traditional Turkmen music
playing over a PA system, ostensibly to remind those in the
neighborhood that it was time to go to the polls. Of the six
polling stations POLOFF drove by, only two people at most
were visible outside the buildings, manning a registration or
food table. Two people unaffiliated with the station's
operations were observed approaching two of the polls in the
course of the afternoon.
4. (SBU) The lack of activity stood in stark contrast to
the chorus of other outdoor activities that many residents
were undertaking in the pleasant weather. Children were
playing outside, men washed cars, POLOFF noted at least four
weddings underway, and the bazaars were filled with people
buying and selling things. There appeared to be more public
activity in relation to the Kurban Bayram holiday. Buildings
and streets were festively decorated, and men stood outside
of homes and apartment buildings stirring wide pans of the
holiday dish, plov.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Despite an official report of almost 94
percent voter turnout, the view on the ground suggested a
much lower figure. All seats were contested by more than one
candidate, but that failed to generate excitement. One would
hardly know an election was taking place. Most people, in
Ashagabat at least, had better things to do than go vote.
MILES