Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT501
2008-04-22 11:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: RFE/RL REPORTER'S FAMILY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000501
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL, SCA/PPD, IIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: RFE/RL REPORTER'S FAMILY
OUTMANEUVERS AUTHORITIES TO CELEBRATE WEDDING
REF: ASHGABAT 00490
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000501
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL, SCA/PPD, IIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: RFE/RL REPORTER'S FAMILY
OUTMANEUVERS AUTHORITIES TO CELEBRATE WEDDING
REF: ASHGABAT 00490
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: RFE/RL reporter Gulychdurdiyev's son was
finally married on April 21, but not before the family
engaged in some creative maneuvering to outsmart authorities
bent on ruining the wedding. Despite officials' meddling,
the family still succeeded in gathering and celebrating. The
whole affair, however, underscores the desire of MNB
officials to put enough pressure on the reporter's family so
that they will demand he stop his work. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) Following their success in getting one restaurant
manager to back out of plans to host the wedding of RFE/RL
reporter Halmurat Gulychdurdiyev's son (reftel),Ministry of
National Security (MNB) authorities on April 21 dissuaded a
second restaurant manager from hosting the event, and the
family, already under a great deal of stress, again had to
find another venue willing to host them. At this point, the
family decided to be more creative to prevent authorities
from unraveling their celebration plans once again.
A WEDDING TAKES ON CLOAK-AND-DAGGER OVERTONES
4. (SBU) Gulychdurdiyev called all the invitees and told
them the wedding would be held at his apartment on the east
side of town. Family and friends gathered there, and the
bride and groom were also present. Several vehicles,
decorated in bright bunting and other wedding regalia, then
took off in different directions, in hopes of confusing
authorities who appeared to be committed to ruining the
celebration. The bulk of the invitees then got in their cars
and followed Gulychdurdiyev's car to an "undisclosed
restaurant location," where the couple later re-appeared and
were married.
5. (SBU) An hour and a half into the festivities, the
electricity suddenly cut off, throwing the restaurant into
darkness and silencing the musical ensemble. Throughout the
course of the remainder of the evening, the electricity went
on and off several times. Almost all the more than 100
people at the wedding stayed to the end, and did not appear
to be fearful that law enforcement might come and break up
the event.
GULYCHDURDIYEV ON EDGE
6. (SBU) Gulychdurdiyev expressed anger and frustration
over the authorities' continued interference with his family.
He marveled at the level of effort they put into ruining his
son's wedding, as if "he were planning a coup." He lamented
the need to organize the wedding so secretively, and it was
apparent that the stress of the interference in the family's
planning and of the wedding's potential cancellation had many
on edge.
7. (SBU) When the lights went out the first time, guests
hesitated only for a moment before running for candles and
flashlights, and the drummer from the band began to play
again. People resumed dancing after a few minutes, which
Gulychdurdiyev pointed out. "This is what a Turkmen protest
looks like", he said. "What these people do to my family,
because of their hatred of me, is simply inhuman." Friends
voiced their agreement, saying that no matter what a conflict
is about, it is totally inappropriate to interfere with a
person's family.
8. (SBU) COMMENT: Authorities appear focused on putting as
much stress as possible on Gulychdurdiyev's family to
discourage him from continuing his work for RFE/RL. They
also seem to be deeply concerned about the effect of his
radio reports on the economic environment inside
Turkmenistan, no doubt because inflation and economic
ASHGABAT 00000501 002 OF 002
uncertainty are fueling a certain degree of discontent. It
is clear, however, that such interference has only hardened
Gulychdurdiyev's resolve to stand up to the authorities.
Nevertheless, Gulychdurdiyev's family is paying a price for
his stance. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL, SCA/PPD, IIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: RFE/RL REPORTER'S FAMILY
OUTMANEUVERS AUTHORITIES TO CELEBRATE WEDDING
REF: ASHGABAT 00490
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: RFE/RL reporter Gulychdurdiyev's son was
finally married on April 21, but not before the family
engaged in some creative maneuvering to outsmart authorities
bent on ruining the wedding. Despite officials' meddling,
the family still succeeded in gathering and celebrating. The
whole affair, however, underscores the desire of MNB
officials to put enough pressure on the reporter's family so
that they will demand he stop his work. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) Following their success in getting one restaurant
manager to back out of plans to host the wedding of RFE/RL
reporter Halmurat Gulychdurdiyev's son (reftel),Ministry of
National Security (MNB) authorities on April 21 dissuaded a
second restaurant manager from hosting the event, and the
family, already under a great deal of stress, again had to
find another venue willing to host them. At this point, the
family decided to be more creative to prevent authorities
from unraveling their celebration plans once again.
A WEDDING TAKES ON CLOAK-AND-DAGGER OVERTONES
4. (SBU) Gulychdurdiyev called all the invitees and told
them the wedding would be held at his apartment on the east
side of town. Family and friends gathered there, and the
bride and groom were also present. Several vehicles,
decorated in bright bunting and other wedding regalia, then
took off in different directions, in hopes of confusing
authorities who appeared to be committed to ruining the
celebration. The bulk of the invitees then got in their cars
and followed Gulychdurdiyev's car to an "undisclosed
restaurant location," where the couple later re-appeared and
were married.
5. (SBU) An hour and a half into the festivities, the
electricity suddenly cut off, throwing the restaurant into
darkness and silencing the musical ensemble. Throughout the
course of the remainder of the evening, the electricity went
on and off several times. Almost all the more than 100
people at the wedding stayed to the end, and did not appear
to be fearful that law enforcement might come and break up
the event.
GULYCHDURDIYEV ON EDGE
6. (SBU) Gulychdurdiyev expressed anger and frustration
over the authorities' continued interference with his family.
He marveled at the level of effort they put into ruining his
son's wedding, as if "he were planning a coup." He lamented
the need to organize the wedding so secretively, and it was
apparent that the stress of the interference in the family's
planning and of the wedding's potential cancellation had many
on edge.
7. (SBU) When the lights went out the first time, guests
hesitated only for a moment before running for candles and
flashlights, and the drummer from the band began to play
again. People resumed dancing after a few minutes, which
Gulychdurdiyev pointed out. "This is what a Turkmen protest
looks like", he said. "What these people do to my family,
because of their hatred of me, is simply inhuman." Friends
voiced their agreement, saying that no matter what a conflict
is about, it is totally inappropriate to interfere with a
person's family.
8. (SBU) COMMENT: Authorities appear focused on putting as
much stress as possible on Gulychdurdiyev's family to
discourage him from continuing his work for RFE/RL. They
also seem to be deeply concerned about the effect of his
radio reports on the economic environment inside
Turkmenistan, no doubt because inflation and economic
ASHGABAT 00000501 002 OF 002
uncertainty are fueling a certain degree of discontent. It
is clear, however, that such interference has only hardened
Gulychdurdiyev's resolve to stand up to the authorities.
Nevertheless, Gulychdurdiyev's family is paying a price for
his stance. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND