TURKMENISTAN: NO VIRUSES (OR COCKROACHES) - POST CORRECTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000382

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR SCA/CEN; SCA/PPD, ECA, IIP, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PHUM SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: NO VIRUSES (OR COCKROACHES) - POST CORRECTS
THE RECORD WITH WEBSITE, "KRONIKA TURKMENISTANA"

REFS: A) ASHGABAT 0336; B) ASHGABAT 0279


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Public Affairs Section has begun a productive
dialog with the Turkmen opposition website that carried inaccurate
information (Ref A) about post's Information Resource Center (IRC).
This website also originated the erroneous, now famous, "cockroach"
story (Ref B). "Kronika Turkmenistana" criticized the IRC's
anti-virus policy -- along with some blatant inaccuracies -- as too
intrusive and speculated that Turkmen intelligence was involved in
monitoring visitors' Internet use through such a program. In a
surprise to post, the website carried the PAO's response in full and
in a respectful manner. This led to a more substantive dialogue
with the website and hopefully provided readers with a more factual
impression of the IRC. It also represents a rare opportunity to
engage with the Turkmen opposition who frequently post questionable
information or criticisms of Turkmenistan END SUMMARY.

WEBSITE INACCURATELY REPORTS ABOUT IRC


3. (U) On March 11, Turkmen opposition website "Chronicles of
Turkmenistan" or "Kronika Turkmenistana" (www.chrono-tm.org) carried
a Russian-language, inaccurate and speculative article about the
Information Resource Center (IRC) of the U.S. Embassy's Public
Affairs Section. The article, "Even the Americans have been
infected by the virus of non-freedom/oppression," claimed that the
IRC violates its visitors' rights and their privacy, through
anti-virus scanning procedures. It also presumed that Turkmenistan's
special services are in cooperation with the IRC to monitor the
information and files that visitors use or access on the Internet
(Ref A). The website carried the same article in English on March

14.

WEBSITE CARRIES PAO'S RESPONSE


4. (U) On March 13, the website carried the PAO's response letter
in full and without changes. The letter clarified inaccuracies,
justified the need for the existing anti-virus procedures, and
shifted the focus towards providing "uninterrupted, uncensored,
access to information." The website carried the same article in
English on March 19. In addition, PAO sent off-the-record comments
on the need for balance and verification of its stories, suggesting
that Kronika contact the Embassy for comment before publishing
stories on U.S.-related topics.

WEBSITE CARRIES READERS RESPONSES TO THE LETTER OF PAO


5. (U) On March 18, Kronika published in Russian its readers'
responses to the PAO's letter. Readers' concerns were focused on
the IRC anti-virus policy, rather than conspiracy-theory accusations
regarding intelligence activity. Some readers offered suggestions
for easing the rules designed to promote anti-virus protection that
they viewed as restrictive for users. The website carried the same
article in English on March 22.


6. (U) On March 21, Kronika placed the PAO's further clarification
of the policy, again turning the focus to the provision of Internet
access and that the anti-virus policy supported that goal. No
further articles or posting on the subject have appeared to date.


BACKGROUND ABOUT THE WEBSITE


7. (U) Taken from the website: "web-site "Chronicles of
Turkmenistan" has been created by the independent, non-political
human rights organization "Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights" with
the support of international human rights organizations and
individuals. It offers a possibility to exercise the right to
freedom of word and self-expression. The name comes from analogy
with "Chronicles of Current Events," Soviet-era reporting about
human rights violations." A major contributor to the site is Farid
Tukhbatullin, who also authors a blog linked to www.chrono-tm.org.
He previously lived in Turkmenistan and now is in Vienna, Austria.



8. (SBU) COMMENT: Post took a small risk by trying to provide both
on and off the record information to a notoriously unreliable news

ASHGABAT 00000382 002 OF 002


source. However, the engagement in this case proved successful and
could lead to opportunities for the Public Affairs Section to
influence or shape some stories on the United States. This
interaction could also serve as an example to fearful Turkmen
authorities that engagement with foreign or opposition journalists
might result in more balanced coverage. We would hope the back and
forth on information would help to dispel the Turkmen government
fears that the U.S. Government secretly controls opposition
websites. END COMMENT.

HOAGLAND