TURKMENISTAN: EMBASSY REJECTS MFA "CORRECTION"

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000820

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: EMBASSY REJECTS MFA "CORRECTION"
ON DURDYMURADOV

REF: A. ASHGABAT 0811

B. ASHGABAT 0807

Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND: 1.4 (B),(D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: In responding to the Embassy's demarche on
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty contributor Sazak
Durdymuradov, First Deputy Foreign Ministery Wepa Hajiyev
characterized the case as an internal affair about
student-teacher ethics and professional responsibilities.
The Charge rejected this version and proposed a quiet
independent investigation. He pressed for Durdymuradov's
unconditional release. Hajiyev promised to continue to work
with the Embassy on this case. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) First Deputy Foreign Minister Wepa Hajiyev called in
the Charge on July 2 to give the Government of Turkmenistan's
response to the Embassy's demarche about the detention,
alleged physical abuse, and reported incarceration in a
psychiatric facility of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
(RFE/RL) contributor Sazak Durdymuradov. Charge had
delivered the demarche (text in ref B) and supporting
material, including international organization and media
reports, to Hajiyev on June 27, and pressed Deputy Prime
Minister/Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov to release
Durdymuradov on June 30 (ref A). Hajiyev said the Government
of Turkmenistan has concluded a detailed investigation as a
result of the Embassy's demarche and now wants to present the
"real situation" in response.

TURKMENISTAN'S VERSION


3. (C) BEGIN PARAPHRASE OF HAJIYEV'S RESPONSE: As a school
teacher, Durdymuradov is a government employee. Like
anywhere in the world, including in the United States,
teachers must follow a code of ethics, especially in their
professional and personal relations with their students.
Turkmenistan is in favor of the development of democratic
processes, including freedom of opinion; this is true for all
citizens, including students. However, there were troubling
reports that Durdymuradov was increasingly trying to force
his own private opinions on students in areas that had
nothing to do with the official curriculum. The Constitution
of Turkmenistan guarantees citizens the right to their own
opinions but does not give them the moral right to force
their opinions on others. Students and parents lodged
complaints against Durdymuradov. Local officials -- from the
mayor's office, the board of education, and law enforcement
agencies -- and concerned parents met to discuss the problem.
The parents stressed they did not want opinions forced on
their children and noted Durdymuradov was violating
professional ethics and responsibilities. As a result, the
decision was made to fire Durdymuradov from his teaching
position. Thus, the Government of Turkmenistan disagrees
with the version presented in the Embassy's demarche,
especially that there was an effort to force him to stop
cooperating with RFE/RL. Turkmenistan welcomes professional
journalists, so long as they are properly accredited, but
Durdymuradov was a teacher, not an accredited journalist. At
the same time, the Government of Turkmenistan wants to insist
that Durdymuradov's activities that led to the current
situation are wholly unrelated to his interest in RFE/RL.
You have been misled by someone who gave you incorrect
information. Further, it had become apparent that
Durdymuradov was increasingly mentally unstable, and he
threatened the safety of his students. That is the real
issue -- it is completely unrelated to RFE/RL. Turkmenistan
and the United States need to continue to work together on
our reforms and other forms of cooperation. I personally
will continue to work on these issues with you, including
travel rights for RFE/RL journalists. END PARAPHRASE OF
HAJIYEV'S RESPONSE.


ASHGABAT 00000820 002 OF 002


CHARGE REJECTS TURKMENISTAN'S RESPONSE


4. (C) The Charge thanked Hajiyev for his detailed response
but said he cannot accept it because the two versions of
reality are too far apart. He asked Hajiyev for more
concrete information on the ideas Durdymuradov allegedly
tried to force on his students. Hajiyev said he did not have
that information but was told they were unrelated to the
teaching profession. The Charge noted the Government of
Turkmenistan took action against Durdymuradov because he was
allegedly mentally unstable; he asked for details and
evidence of Durdymuradov's mental state and behavior.
Hajiyev said he did not have that information. The Charge
asked why Durdymuradov's wife, son, and other members of
their community are telling a very different story about the
situation. Hajiyev said he did not have that information but
commented family members often give "overly dramatic
accounts" in such cases.

AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION?


5. (C) The Charge thanked Hajiyev for his stated desire to
continue to work with us on this case. He suggested to
Hajiyev that a respected neutral figure should conduct a
quiet independent investigation of the entire situation, and
added that because of Turkmenistan's great respect for the
United Nations, the UN would be perfectly positioned to
conduct such a quiet investigation. Hajiyev blanched
slightly and said Turkmenistan does not want to see this case
internationalized since it's "just a student-teacher" local
community issue. Charge reminded him that it is already very
much international as evidenced by international media and
international organization reports and protests.


6. (C) Hajiyev said, "We can continue to work on this case.
Please don't report that we have closed minds. I personally
will work with you more on this." Charge urged Hajiyev to
pass to his superiors that the only acceptable solution is
that Durdymuradov be released and allowed to return to his
wife and family.


7. (C) While walking out of the building, Foreign Ministry
America's Director Serdar Bashimov (strictly protect) told
the Charge, "Take this back to the level of the minister.
Press him hard, citing the influence and authority of the
United States. I think you can get this guy released."


8. (C) COMMENT: While we can -- and should -- be patient
with the new government of Turkmenistan, certain red lines
exist. The detention, alleged torture, and reported
psychiatric incarceration of a respected 60-year-old high
school teacher -- even if he weren't associated with RFE/RL
-- would be such a red line. For a faint positive, we note
Hajiyev's presentation had nothing negative about RFE/RL.
Further, we are slightly encouraged that he asked that we
continue to work on this case together. We will continue to
press, including with the foreign minister. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND