Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT602
2008-05-09 06:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT BERDIMUHAMEDOV INCREASES
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000602
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC PTER SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT BERDIMUHAMEDOV INCREASES
HIS SECURITY
Classified By: CHARGE SYLVIA REED CURRAN OR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000602
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC PTER SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT BERDIMUHAMEDOV INCREASES
HIS SECURITY
Classified By: CHARGE SYLVIA REED CURRAN OR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Over recent months, there has been a noticeable
increase in security around President Berdimuhamedov. For
example, both RSO and defense attaches from various embassies
have noticed that there are more police (including
plainclothes officers) on the street when the president moves
around town. Instead of having a security person at every
other or every third street corner, now they seem to be at
every corner. (COMMENT: Our understanding is that officers
have been pulled from other ministries to provide additional
security and not that the presidential protective detail has
been enlarged. END COMMENT.) Embassy FSN Investigator has
noted that security officials now close down a larger part of
the city for the presidential motorcade. Previously, only an
area 2-3 blocks wide was cleared and now it is a 4-5 block
area. In addition, several people have noted that the
motorcade now travels in a diamond-formation, with the
presidential vehicle in the center, rather than the more
usual linear motorcade that was employed until recently.
Colleagues at the Turkish Embassy observed what looked like
decoy conveys deployed to increase the president's security
while in transit.
2. (C) Changes to presidential security do not seem to be
limited to the motorcade. The recently-departed Turkish
ambassador said that he saw increased security around the
president during the recent opening of a conference. He saw
three security officers in front and three in back of the
president, with the whole group led by Chief of the
Presidential Administration Ishanguliyev. At the opening,
only FM Meredov and Ishanguliyev were allowed to get close to
the president. During the recent Galkan 2008 military
demonstration attended by the diplomatic corps,
Berdimuhamedov ventured only briefly to exchange words with
his guests at the conclusion of the demonstration. When he
chatted with two Arab ambassadors (the only guests he chatted
with),two security officers separated the three from others
present. This is in contrast with the very light security
during the opening of the UN Center for Preventive Diplomacy
in late 2007. At that time, Berdimuhamedov strolled freely
up to the assembled diplomatic corps and chatted with the
entire line of people with no security close by.
3. (C) COMMENT: Observers believe that the reason for the
increased security is concern over growing discontent sparked
by worsening economic conditions for the average Turkmen
citizen. One rumor claims that a group of women at an event
in the provinces got close enough to the president to berate
him over economic conditions, and after that, his security
was beefed up. Whether or not this change is due to any
particular incident, the president is well aware that people
are unhappy and blame him. Several months ago, graffiti was
found on an underpass, criticizing Berdimuhamedov. And
graffiti of any type is rare here. Presidential security, no
doubt, just wants to be cautious. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC PTER SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT BERDIMUHAMEDOV INCREASES
HIS SECURITY
Classified By: CHARGE SYLVIA REED CURRAN OR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Over recent months, there has been a noticeable
increase in security around President Berdimuhamedov. For
example, both RSO and defense attaches from various embassies
have noticed that there are more police (including
plainclothes officers) on the street when the president moves
around town. Instead of having a security person at every
other or every third street corner, now they seem to be at
every corner. (COMMENT: Our understanding is that officers
have been pulled from other ministries to provide additional
security and not that the presidential protective detail has
been enlarged. END COMMENT.) Embassy FSN Investigator has
noted that security officials now close down a larger part of
the city for the presidential motorcade. Previously, only an
area 2-3 blocks wide was cleared and now it is a 4-5 block
area. In addition, several people have noted that the
motorcade now travels in a diamond-formation, with the
presidential vehicle in the center, rather than the more
usual linear motorcade that was employed until recently.
Colleagues at the Turkish Embassy observed what looked like
decoy conveys deployed to increase the president's security
while in transit.
2. (C) Changes to presidential security do not seem to be
limited to the motorcade. The recently-departed Turkish
ambassador said that he saw increased security around the
president during the recent opening of a conference. He saw
three security officers in front and three in back of the
president, with the whole group led by Chief of the
Presidential Administration Ishanguliyev. At the opening,
only FM Meredov and Ishanguliyev were allowed to get close to
the president. During the recent Galkan 2008 military
demonstration attended by the diplomatic corps,
Berdimuhamedov ventured only briefly to exchange words with
his guests at the conclusion of the demonstration. When he
chatted with two Arab ambassadors (the only guests he chatted
with),two security officers separated the three from others
present. This is in contrast with the very light security
during the opening of the UN Center for Preventive Diplomacy
in late 2007. At that time, Berdimuhamedov strolled freely
up to the assembled diplomatic corps and chatted with the
entire line of people with no security close by.
3. (C) COMMENT: Observers believe that the reason for the
increased security is concern over growing discontent sparked
by worsening economic conditions for the average Turkmen
citizen. One rumor claims that a group of women at an event
in the provinces got close enough to the president to berate
him over economic conditions, and after that, his security
was beefed up. Whether or not this change is due to any
particular incident, the president is well aware that people
are unhappy and blame him. Several months ago, graffiti was
found on an underpass, criticizing Berdimuhamedov. And
graffiti of any type is rare here. Presidential security, no
doubt, just wants to be cautious. END COMMENT.
CURRAN