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