Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TASHKENT314
2008-03-13 12:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
PARLIAMENTARIAN RESIGNS AMIDST HUMAN TRAFFICKING
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHNT #0314 0731242 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 131242Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9384 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 3822 RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0036 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 4438 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0303 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0270 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0316 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 4030 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 2301 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0342 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0976 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1065 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2391 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000314
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR G/TIP SHEREEN FARAJ AND MEGAN HALL; INL FOR ANDREW
BUHLER AND NORIS BALABANIAN; SCA FOR JESSICA MAZZONE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KWMN KCRM KCOR UZ
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENTARIAN RESIGNS AMIDST HUMAN TRAFFICKING
INVESTIGATION
Classified By: Political Officer Tim Buckley for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000314
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR G/TIP SHEREEN FARAJ AND MEGAN HALL; INL FOR ANDREW
BUHLER AND NORIS BALABANIAN; SCA FOR JESSICA MAZZONE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KWMN KCRM KCOR UZ
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENTARIAN RESIGNS AMIDST HUMAN TRAFFICKING
INVESTIGATION
Classified By: Political Officer Tim Buckley for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) On March 10 an article on the news website
centrasia.ru reported that Ms. Matlyuba Burxanova, a member
of the Oliy Majlis, the lower house of Parliament, resigned
over allegations of human trafficking. EMBASSY LES Political
Assistant confirmed this information with Marifdjon Usmanov
(please protect),the Deputy Chief in Human Rights
Ombudswoman Rashidova's office, who has previously provided
reliable information about the Parliament. Usmanov said that
Burxanova, who is from Navoiy Province, was forced out of her
position despite the protective efforts of the powerful head
of the Navoiy Metallurgy and Gold Company, Nikolai Kucharsky.
Usmanov believes that the criminal investigation may be
dropped in return for her resignation, but it is significant
that the Government of Uzbekistan forced out a well-connected
Parliamentarian due to possible human trafficking
allegations. End summary.
2. (SBU) The independent news website centrasia.ru published
an article on March 10 reporting the "voluntary resignation"
of Burxanova, who represents Navoiy Province in the Oliy
Majlis, which is the lower house of Parliament. Burxanova
was a member of the Parliament's International Affairs and
International Relations Committee. The article said that in
January the state press reported that Burxanova "had earlier
been involved with the shipment of prostitutes overseas."
The resignation notice has not yet appeared in any
state-controlled publications, and the article notes she
maintained her innocence in her letter of resignation.
3. (SBU) A January 17 article on uzmetronom.com also reported
these allegations, noting that investigators discovered
Burxanova's activities while investigating her sons. One
son, Batir Ymurov, was reportedly sentenced to eight years in
prison for illegal use of a Russian Federation passport, and
another unnamed son was fired from his position in the Office
of the Prosecutor General for drug use. The uzmetronom.com
article said Burxanova had arranged to send women to work as
prostitutes in Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and
Turkey, each of which are common destinations for Uzbek
trafficking victims.
4. (C) On March 12 EMBASSY LES Political Assistant met with
Usmanov, who confirmed that Burxanova was forced to tender
her resignation to the Central Election Committee and that
there is a criminal investigation into alleged human
trafficking activities. (Note: Usmanov is one of a few
contacts with close knowledge of the Parliament and has
previously provided reliable information. End note).
Usmanov said that Burxanova is closely connected with the
powerful head of the Navoiy Mettalurgy and Gold Company
Nikolai Kucharsky, who tried to protect her from the
investigations. Usmanov believes that the investigation may
be dropped in return for her resignation, which could appease
powerful interests.
NORLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR G/TIP SHEREEN FARAJ AND MEGAN HALL; INL FOR ANDREW
BUHLER AND NORIS BALABANIAN; SCA FOR JESSICA MAZZONE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KWMN KCRM KCOR UZ
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENTARIAN RESIGNS AMIDST HUMAN TRAFFICKING
INVESTIGATION
Classified By: Political Officer Tim Buckley for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) On March 10 an article on the news website
centrasia.ru reported that Ms. Matlyuba Burxanova, a member
of the Oliy Majlis, the lower house of Parliament, resigned
over allegations of human trafficking. EMBASSY LES Political
Assistant confirmed this information with Marifdjon Usmanov
(please protect),the Deputy Chief in Human Rights
Ombudswoman Rashidova's office, who has previously provided
reliable information about the Parliament. Usmanov said that
Burxanova, who is from Navoiy Province, was forced out of her
position despite the protective efforts of the powerful head
of the Navoiy Metallurgy and Gold Company, Nikolai Kucharsky.
Usmanov believes that the criminal investigation may be
dropped in return for her resignation, but it is significant
that the Government of Uzbekistan forced out a well-connected
Parliamentarian due to possible human trafficking
allegations. End summary.
2. (SBU) The independent news website centrasia.ru published
an article on March 10 reporting the "voluntary resignation"
of Burxanova, who represents Navoiy Province in the Oliy
Majlis, which is the lower house of Parliament. Burxanova
was a member of the Parliament's International Affairs and
International Relations Committee. The article said that in
January the state press reported that Burxanova "had earlier
been involved with the shipment of prostitutes overseas."
The resignation notice has not yet appeared in any
state-controlled publications, and the article notes she
maintained her innocence in her letter of resignation.
3. (SBU) A January 17 article on uzmetronom.com also reported
these allegations, noting that investigators discovered
Burxanova's activities while investigating her sons. One
son, Batir Ymurov, was reportedly sentenced to eight years in
prison for illegal use of a Russian Federation passport, and
another unnamed son was fired from his position in the Office
of the Prosecutor General for drug use. The uzmetronom.com
article said Burxanova had arranged to send women to work as
prostitutes in Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and
Turkey, each of which are common destinations for Uzbek
trafficking victims.
4. (C) On March 12 EMBASSY LES Political Assistant met with
Usmanov, who confirmed that Burxanova was forced to tender
her resignation to the Central Election Committee and that
there is a criminal investigation into alleged human
trafficking activities. (Note: Usmanov is one of a few
contacts with close knowledge of the Parliament and has
previously provided reliable information. End note).
Usmanov said that Burxanova is closely connected with the
powerful head of the Navoiy Mettalurgy and Gold Company
Nikolai Kucharsky, who tried to protect her from the
investigations. Usmanov believes that the investigation may
be dropped in return for her resignation, which could appease
powerful interests.
NORLAND