Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT810
2008-06-30 08:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: BROTHER CONFIRMS ARREST OF FORMER
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UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000810
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: BROTHER CONFIRMS ARREST OF FORMER
DISSIDENT GULGELDY ANNANIYAZOV
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000810
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: BROTHER CONFIRMS ARREST OF FORMER
DISSIDENT GULGELDY ANNANIYAZOV
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) POLOFF spoke on June 27 with Charygeldy
Annaniyazov, the brother of Gulgeldy Annaniyazov, a former
political activist who left the country in 2002 after serving
almost five years in prison in Turkmenistan. Charygeldy
confirmed press reports that Gulgeldy had been arrested at
his parents' home on June 24. He said that he did not know
how Gulgeldy had gotten into the country, given his inability
to obtain a Turkmen visa, but surmised that he came into the
country from Kazakhstan. He said the family was in the
process of finding a lawyer to represent him, because they
had been told that Gulgeldy would be prosecuted in one of
Ashgabat's city courts soon. He said they were only aware of
one charge against Gulgeldy, and that was illegal entry into
the country.
3. (SBU) Gulgeldy Annaniyazov was one of the political
activists called the "Ashgabat Eight," who were the remaining
activists of the 27 people imprisoned for organizing a
demonstration advocating democratic reform in 1995. He spent
almost five years in prison, then was freed in a 1999 prison
amnesty. He fled the country shortly thereafter, albeit
illegally, and was caught up in extradition proceedings in
Kazakhstan that eventually led to him receiving refugee
status and resettling in Norway in 2002. In May, opposition
press reported that he was making plans to return to
Turkmenistan, because he had been encouraged by the daily
news of progress on human rights and socio-economic reforms.
Charygeldy Annaniyazov did not know how authorities had known
that his elder brother had returned to Turkmenistan, and
would be found at his parents' home. It might be that
authorities were aware of the opposition website reports that
indicated Annaniyazov's intention to return, and simply
monitored the family home for indications of his return.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the facts of this case are
still unclear, the unanswered question is why Annaniyazov
chose to return to Turkmenistan and why he likely entered
illegally. With the majority of his family still here, they
may have been the strongest lure. However, it is also
possible to consider that he may have come to Turkmenistan to
test the parameters of the government's human rights reform.
Whatever the reason, Annaniyazov's case -- involving an
individual of human rights concern who nonetheless did break
Turkmenistan's immigration law to enter the country -- blurs
the line between a case of pure political harassment and
legal wrongdoing. It will be worth following how the
authorities respond to the case. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: BROTHER CONFIRMS ARREST OF FORMER
DISSIDENT GULGELDY ANNANIYAZOV
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) POLOFF spoke on June 27 with Charygeldy
Annaniyazov, the brother of Gulgeldy Annaniyazov, a former
political activist who left the country in 2002 after serving
almost five years in prison in Turkmenistan. Charygeldy
confirmed press reports that Gulgeldy had been arrested at
his parents' home on June 24. He said that he did not know
how Gulgeldy had gotten into the country, given his inability
to obtain a Turkmen visa, but surmised that he came into the
country from Kazakhstan. He said the family was in the
process of finding a lawyer to represent him, because they
had been told that Gulgeldy would be prosecuted in one of
Ashgabat's city courts soon. He said they were only aware of
one charge against Gulgeldy, and that was illegal entry into
the country.
3. (SBU) Gulgeldy Annaniyazov was one of the political
activists called the "Ashgabat Eight," who were the remaining
activists of the 27 people imprisoned for organizing a
demonstration advocating democratic reform in 1995. He spent
almost five years in prison, then was freed in a 1999 prison
amnesty. He fled the country shortly thereafter, albeit
illegally, and was caught up in extradition proceedings in
Kazakhstan that eventually led to him receiving refugee
status and resettling in Norway in 2002. In May, opposition
press reported that he was making plans to return to
Turkmenistan, because he had been encouraged by the daily
news of progress on human rights and socio-economic reforms.
Charygeldy Annaniyazov did not know how authorities had known
that his elder brother had returned to Turkmenistan, and
would be found at his parents' home. It might be that
authorities were aware of the opposition website reports that
indicated Annaniyazov's intention to return, and simply
monitored the family home for indications of his return.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the facts of this case are
still unclear, the unanswered question is why Annaniyazov
chose to return to Turkmenistan and why he likely entered
illegally. With the majority of his family still here, they
may have been the strongest lure. However, it is also
possible to consider that he may have come to Turkmenistan to
test the parameters of the government's human rights reform.
Whatever the reason, Annaniyazov's case -- involving an
individual of human rights concern who nonetheless did break
Turkmenistan's immigration law to enter the country -- blurs
the line between a case of pure political harassment and
legal wrongdoing. It will be worth following how the
authorities respond to the case. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND