TURKMENISTAN: RESIDENTS OF DEMOLISHED HOMES

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000316 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: RESIDENTS OF DEMOLISHED HOMES GETTING NEW APARTMENTS ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) Formerly, when Turkmenistan government officials wanted to tear down housing blocks to replace them with more modern white marble buildings, they simply ordered residents to leave -- often with only three days' notice -- and left them on their own to find new housing. Now, however, residents of old, crumbling buildings see demolition as a ticket to nicer digs. For example, one Embassy LES said she was happy that her building is slated for demolition, because she expected to get a nice, new apartment for her and her daughter - based on her friend's experience. She felt that giving up her apartment in a dilapidated building for new one was a good trade. ¶3. (SBU) According to another FSN employee, those whose houses had been destroyed in the past could now present proof of that fact and lack of remuneration to the Presidential Apparat, which would then consider the resident for some type of reparation - most likely a new apartment. She believed this development would affect her parents, whose house had been bulldozed and had been given a substandard apartment in return. ¶4. (SBU) Several local employees said there is a rumor that this change in policy toward housing demolitions was due to President Berdimuhamedov having been a victim of demolitions in the past, so he understands the frustration and hardship that people feel. One rumor is that one building he lived in was demolished to put in a road. ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: While right of eminent domain is assumed by all governments, the abandon with which the government under former president Niyazov destroyed buildings to construct, in his view, a more modern looking capital, was legendary. No thought was really given to the rights and lodging needs of those whose buildings were marked for destruction. President Berdimuhamedov, who factors social stability into his calculus, appears to be more interested than his predecessor in being responsive to social concerns. END COMMENT. HOAGLAND