TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT FIRES PROSECUTOR

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000301 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INR/B E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV EAGR EPET MARR TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT FIRES PROSECUTOR GENERAL, GREEN-LIGHTS MILITARY REFORM ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a series of three meetings -- a meeting of the National Security Council, an expanded meeting of the National Security Council and a Cabinet of Ministers meeting -- on March 3, Turkmenistan's President Berdimuhamedov fired Turkmenistan's Prosecutor General for grave shortcomings, and initiated a new stage of military reform, including development of a new military doctrine and a fresh focus on training and motivation. While the cabinet meeting that followed was calm by comparison, the president instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to buy only foreign agricultural equipment that had proven its ability to withstand Turkmenistan's soil and climate conditions (possibly a good sign for U.S. company Case-New Holland, which has bid on a high-value tender) and instructed that Vice Chairmen Meredov and Saparlyev travel to Baku March 5 to recover nearly $45 million worth of outstanding Azeri debts. Turkmenistan's military, like other sectors, suffered badly from neglect under former President Niyazov, and conditions and morale are reportedly poor. Although there are no indications that Turkmenistan's leaders plan to eliminate the country's compulsory military conscription, they seem at least to be starting to focus on the real issues of complaint. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (U) During a series of three meetings -- a meeting of the National Security Council, an expanded meeting of the National Security Council and a Cabinet of Ministers meeting -- on March 3, Turkmenistan's President Berdimuhamedov fired Turkmenistan's Prosecutor General for grave shortcomings, and initiated a new stage of military reform, including development of a new military doctrine and a fresh focus on training and motivation. While the National Security Council meeting was closed, the expanded council meeting held afterwards in the auditorium of the Military Academy -- which included the Cabinet of Ministers, and leaders of Turkmenistan's Mejlis (Parliament),ministries, agencies, and provincial and district governments -- apparently covered much of the same ground as the earlier meeting. The heads of each of the "power ministries" reported on the situation in their agencies. In particular, Minister of Defense Agageldi Mammetgeldiyev presented a generic design for a new, modern military base, and the Chief of the State Border Service, Bayram Alovov, presented a design for a new, modern border outpost. The chief of the State Customs Service, Muradberdi Annaliyev, reported that his agency had just turned a new draft Customs Code over to the Mejlis. According to press reports, all speakers spent substantial time during their presentations praising the president's reform policy. PROSECUTOR GENERAL OGSHUKOV FIRED FOR SHORTCOMINGS ¶4. (U) In a scene reminiscent of Niyazov-era meetings, a visibly frightened Prosecutor General Muhammet Ogshukov took the podium and proceeded to acknowledge his personal guilt in the shortcomings of the State Prosecutors' office. Reportedly, the president had discussed at length the "selfishness and messiness" of prosecutors, including military prosecutors, at the earlier meeting, accusing prosecutors of using their authority for personal gain and engaging in corruption. He cited as an example a prosecutor who owned restaurants and bars in Abadan City, a town just outside Ashgabat. Stating that Ogshukov had not cleaned up the prosecutor's office, the president publicly fired him, then appointed the Chairman of the Supreme Court, Chary Hojamuradov, to replace him. He nominated the Chairman of the Ahal Provincial court, Yaranmurad Yazmuradov, as the new Supreme Court Chairman (bios for both contained in paras 8-9.). PRESIDENT CALLS FOR NEW MILITARY DOCTRINE ¶5. (U) Reading from a script, the president then started discussing the need for military reform, as well as democratic and economic change. Turkmenistan's military must be able to oppose all security threats, as well as protect the country's vital interests. And, the president stressed, although the country will give priority to political and diplomatic solutions, its military must maintain a defense capability. Reaffirming Turkmenistan's policy of neutrality, Berdimuhamedov called for development of a new military doctrine and qualitative improvement of the military and civil armed forces and for stronger preparedness through a new focus on training and motivation. To help improve the military's prestige, he ordered construction of fully equipped military bases, as well as establishment of construction battalions. The president rebuked the deputy minister of defense and deputy chief of the State Border Service responsible for equipping their respective services for failure to provide adequate food and clothing. He also signed a law reducing military service for college graduates from 18 to 12 months. CABINET OF MINISTERS MEETING FOCUSES ON LAST TWO MONTHS ¶6. (SBU) Focusing on the accomplishments of the last two months, the cabinet meeting that followed was calm and relatively uneventful in comparison. Of particular interest: -- The Minister of Economy of Finance, Gurbanmyrat Gurbanmuradov, acknowledged large losses of livestock and poultry and a reduction in egg production as a result of January's abnormally cold weather. -- The president instructed Vice Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for Oil and Gas Tachberdi Tagiyev to rectify lagging indicators. (COMMENT: This is quite possibly a sign that hydrocarbon production or construction is falling behind plan. END COMMENT.) -- The president instructed that, while Turkmenistan should continue to buy high-yield agricultural equipment from overseas, it should only purchase those brands and models that have proven themselves capable of withstanding Turkmenistan's soil and weather conditions. (COMMENT: Although this may be what the U.S. firm, Case-New Holland, is looking for in order to get a large new order from Turkmenistan, its Turkmenistan-based distributor, IP Consultants, told us March 4 that it had not yet heard anything about the company's bid being accepted. END COMMENT.) -- President Berdimuhamedov announced that Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers Rashid Meredov and Hydyr Saparliyev would make a working visit to Baku March 5 to discuss issues related to recovery of Azerbaijan's $44,800,000 debt to Turkmenistan. Once the Government of Turkmenistan receives the funds, it will immediately redirect those funds to pay for new computers and multi-media centers in schools. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: Turkmenistan's military, like other sectors, suffered badly from neglect under former President Niyazov, and conditions and morale are reportedly poor. With democratic and economic reform underway, Berdimuhamedov seems ready to turn his attention to creating a more modern military force. Last autumn, the president instructed that, beginning in 2008, soldiers were no longer to work as field laborers. Embassy's DAO reports that Turkmenistan this year sent a crop of newly graduated officers to Russia for further training and has begun the process of refurbishing or replacing worn and broken equipment. Although there are no indications that Turkmenistan's leaders plan to eliminate military conscription, they seem at least to be starting to focus on the real issues of complaint, including the lack of adequate food and equipment, low morale and poor housing. END COMMENT. BIO -- CHARY HOJAMURADOV ¶8. (U) Homamyradov was born in Baharly District, Ahal Province in 1962, and graduated with a law degree from Turkmen State University in 1984. From 1984 to 1990, he worked as an intern, then as a lawyer, at the Niyazov District legal consultations office in Ashgabat. From 1990 to 1992, he served as an intern, then as a judge, in various districts in Ahal Province, including Abadan City and Kopetdag District. After serving for six years as a Supreme Court justice, he was elevated in 1998 to the position of Deputy Chairman, then Acting Chairman, then Chairman of the Ashgabat City court. Beginning in 2002, he served for four years as Chairman of the Dashoguz Provincial Court, followed by a one-year stint as Chairman of the Ashgabat City court. In July 2007, the president nominated Hojamuradov to replace the Supreme Court Chairman, who had failed to act on decisions by the Commission on Complaints of Citizens against Law Enforcement Agencies. BIO -- YARANMURAD REJEPOVICH YAZMURADOV ¶9. (U) Yazmuradov was born in 1971 in Ahal Province's Abadan City. He graduated from Turkmen State University's Faculty of Law in 1996. From 1992 to 1996, Yazmuradov served as a secretary of the Supreme Court Presidium for Civil Judges. SIPDIS Upon graduation from Turkmen State University, he served as a judge at the Military Court of the Ashgabat Military District. From 1997 to 2007, he served in various government positions, including judge in the Ashgabat City court, official in the social services system, Head of Ahal Province's Law Enforcement and Military Department, and official in Ashgabat's Niyazov District government. After serving as a judge in the Ashgabat City court for a year (until 2008),he was appointed Chairman of the Ahal Provincial court. Shortly thereafter, the president promoted Yazmuradov to the position of Supreme Court Chairman. HOAGLAND