Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TASHKENT702
2008-06-19 12:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
SANJAR UMAROV'S CONDITION REPORTEDLY IMPROVES IN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHNT #0702 1711210 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 191210Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9836 INFO RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 4053 RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0266 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 4668 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0534 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0188 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0550 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 4260 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 2549 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0573 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1209 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1858 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1252 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2526 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC 0119
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000702
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL UZ
SUBJECT: SANJAR UMAROV'S CONDITION REPORTEDLY IMPROVES IN
PRISON
REF: TASHKENT 403
Classified By: POLOFF R. FITZMAURICE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000702
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL UZ
SUBJECT: SANJAR UMAROV'S CONDITION REPORTEDLY IMPROVES IN
PRISON
REF: TASHKENT 403
Classified By: POLOFF R. FITZMAURICE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) On June 16, Sunshine Coalition leader Nigara
Khidoyatova reported to poloff that the HEALTH of Sunshine
Coalition leader Sanjar Umarov, who was imprisoned in March
2006 on politically-motivated charges of tax evasion and
illegal commodities trading, has noticeably improved in the
past few months. After prison visits in March, both
Khidoyatova and Umarov's son Arslan reported that Umarov's
health condition was dire (reftel). Khidoyatova reported on
June 16 that Umarov's sister last visited her brother in
prison on May 10, and found that Umarov was completely lucid
and appeared to be in much better physical shape than before.
Khidoyatova speculated that prison authorities had provided
Umarov with medical assistance in the interim.
SAYFULLIN REPORTEDLY MEETS WITH UMAROV'S SON IN WASHINGTON
-------------- --------------
2. (C) Khidoyatova also reported that "independent" political
consultant Rafik Sayfullin had expressed "great satisfaction"
over his recent trip to Washington, where he met with a
variety of U.S. government officials and non-governmental
representatives working on Central Asian affairs.
Khidoyatova had earlier identified Sayfullin as the
government's main intermediary with the Sunshine Coalition in
negotiations for Umarov's release. According to Khidoyatova,
the government still demands that Umarov first pay 8 million
dollars in restitution, while Khidoyatova is seeking to
reduce that amount to ONE or two million dollars, arguing
that the government had already seized millions of dollars of
Umarov's property. Khidoyatova confirmed that Sayfullin had
met with Umarov's son Gulam while in Washington. Sayfullin
reportedly told Khidoyatova that he would speak with
National Security Council Secretary Marat Atayev and National
Security Service (NSS) chief Rustam Inoyatov about his trip
to Washington, and would report back to her any news they
might have about Umarov.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) Given the dire news that was reported about Umarov's
health earlier this year, we are glad to hear that his HEALTH
is improving. In April, the Ambassador raised our concern
over Umarov's HEALTH with First Deputy Foreign Minister
Ilkhom Nematov, and we believe that his intervention might
have resulted in Umarov receiving better care. In addition,
it appears that the government is continuing negotiations
with the Sunshine Coalition over Umarov, and we hope that the
news about his HEALTH improving is just a prelude to his
eventual release from prison. The Ambassador reminded MFA
officials on June 19 that we seek Umarov's release.
NORLAND
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL UZ
SUBJECT: SANJAR UMAROV'S CONDITION REPORTEDLY IMPROVES IN
PRISON
REF: TASHKENT 403
Classified By: POLOFF R. FITZMAURICE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) On June 16, Sunshine Coalition leader Nigara
Khidoyatova reported to poloff that the HEALTH of Sunshine
Coalition leader Sanjar Umarov, who was imprisoned in March
2006 on politically-motivated charges of tax evasion and
illegal commodities trading, has noticeably improved in the
past few months. After prison visits in March, both
Khidoyatova and Umarov's son Arslan reported that Umarov's
health condition was dire (reftel). Khidoyatova reported on
June 16 that Umarov's sister last visited her brother in
prison on May 10, and found that Umarov was completely lucid
and appeared to be in much better physical shape than before.
Khidoyatova speculated that prison authorities had provided
Umarov with medical assistance in the interim.
SAYFULLIN REPORTEDLY MEETS WITH UMAROV'S SON IN WASHINGTON
-------------- --------------
2. (C) Khidoyatova also reported that "independent" political
consultant Rafik Sayfullin had expressed "great satisfaction"
over his recent trip to Washington, where he met with a
variety of U.S. government officials and non-governmental
representatives working on Central Asian affairs.
Khidoyatova had earlier identified Sayfullin as the
government's main intermediary with the Sunshine Coalition in
negotiations for Umarov's release. According to Khidoyatova,
the government still demands that Umarov first pay 8 million
dollars in restitution, while Khidoyatova is seeking to
reduce that amount to ONE or two million dollars, arguing
that the government had already seized millions of dollars of
Umarov's property. Khidoyatova confirmed that Sayfullin had
met with Umarov's son Gulam while in Washington. Sayfullin
reportedly told Khidoyatova that he would speak with
National Security Council Secretary Marat Atayev and National
Security Service (NSS) chief Rustam Inoyatov about his trip
to Washington, and would report back to her any news they
might have about Umarov.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) Given the dire news that was reported about Umarov's
health earlier this year, we are glad to hear that his HEALTH
is improving. In April, the Ambassador raised our concern
over Umarov's HEALTH with First Deputy Foreign Minister
Ilkhom Nematov, and we believe that his intervention might
have resulted in Umarov receiving better care. In addition,
it appears that the government is continuing negotiations
with the Sunshine Coalition over Umarov, and we hope that the
news about his HEALTH improving is just a prelude to his
eventual release from prison. The Ambassador reminded MFA
officials on June 19 that we seek Umarov's release.
NORLAND