Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT1416
2009-11-04 12:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: FAMOUS POP STAR IMPLICATED IN
how-toVZCZCXRO8660 PP RUEHIK DE RUEHAH #1416/01 3081255 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 041255Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3701 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 5846 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 3554 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3413 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 4088 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001416
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL/AAE BUHLER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PGOV SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FAMOUS POP STAR IMPLICATED IN
DRUG CASE; BANISHED
ASHGABAT 00001416 001.2 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001416
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL/AAE BUHLER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PGOV SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FAMOUS POP STAR IMPLICATED IN
DRUG CASE; BANISHED
ASHGABAT 00001416 001.2 OF 002
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public
Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: A popular Turkmen female singer was
reportedly detained with drugs and sent into internal
exile. The report could not be officially confirmed, but
several sources provided details. Drug use has been a
traditional habit among Turkmen singers and some of them
enjoyed immunity for this illegal practice under ex-
President Niyazov's regime. In this case, the singer's
growing popularity might have contributed to her
troubles. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) Famous Turkmen singer Lachin Mammedova was
reportedly detained for possession of drugs last week.
It is not clear whether the 31 year old Turkmen pop star
and Miss Intervision 2008 (a Russian version of
Eurovision music competition) was detained for smuggling
or for possession, which is usually qualified as "for
personal use." According to a source, Mammedova was
detained at Ashgabat airport upon arrival from Dashoguz,
following her performance at the wedding party of Rejep
Saparov's nephew. (Note: Rejep Saparov - former Deputy
Chairman and Administrator of the Presidential Apparatus.
End Note.) Due to her popularity and title of People's
Artist of Turkmenistan, awarded to her by President
Berdimuhamedov last year, she was not sent to prison, but
was given two days to move out of Ashgabat.
4. (SBU) While post's police contact refused to provide
any comment on this story, another government official
confirmed that Lachin was sent into internal exile to her
hometown in Balkan Province. The same official added
that Mammedova had become too popular, hanging around
with radio-equipped bodyguards. Her high profile
probably attracted the attention o the president's
sisters, who decided to take action against her.
However, a source from Mammedova's husband's family
(Note: Mammedova recently married a 20 year old student
from Turkmenabad, named Ygtyyar, whose mother is the
Director of the Turkmenabad Central Trade market. End
Note.) rejected the rumors, stating that they were false
and that Mammedova was not involved in any drug incident.
Meanwhile, Mammedova's videos have not been broadcast on
national television for the past several days.
5. (SBU) Historically, drug use has been a common
practice among Turkmen singers and "bahshy" (musicians
singing and playing on the national instruments). A
bahshy that was invited to perform at a wedding party was
not only served food and drink and well paid, but also
provided with opium and/or hashish (depending on his
preference) during the performance. Similarly, many
contemporary Turkmen singers are addicted to drugs. Ex-
President Niyazov, who was a Turkmen music fan,
unofficially provided immunity to many of them, which
allowed pop stars to take drugs openly. For instance,
People's Artist Atabay Charygulyev (who died early this
year, supposedly from an overdose) was a heroin addict, and
was once detained by police for heroin possession, but
freed by the ex-President's order. Another pop star,
Nurmuhammet Meredov (aka Nury Kosoy - Cock Eyed),
reportedly has to perform without payment at the parties
of high-ranking counternarcotics officials in order to
preserve his immunity for taking drugs. (Note: The fee
for Turkmen singers at a wedding party varies from USD
500 to 10,000, depending on the singer's popularity. End
Note.)
6. (SBU) COMMENT: Taking into consideration Mammedova's
ASHGABAT 00001416 002.2 OF 002
popularity, including "admiration" by President
Berdimuhamedov, it is likely that the drug scandal, if it
happened, was immediately covered up before it received
much public attention. Mammedova had become so popular
that a video of her wedding party became a hit among
local movie rentals. Perhaps, in a system that won't
allow for any artist, business person, athlete, or anyone
else in the country to become more popular than the
president, Mammedova had reached too far. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL/AAE BUHLER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PGOV SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FAMOUS POP STAR IMPLICATED IN
DRUG CASE; BANISHED
ASHGABAT 00001416 001.2 OF 002
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public
Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: A popular Turkmen female singer was
reportedly detained with drugs and sent into internal
exile. The report could not be officially confirmed, but
several sources provided details. Drug use has been a
traditional habit among Turkmen singers and some of them
enjoyed immunity for this illegal practice under ex-
President Niyazov's regime. In this case, the singer's
growing popularity might have contributed to her
troubles. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) Famous Turkmen singer Lachin Mammedova was
reportedly detained for possession of drugs last week.
It is not clear whether the 31 year old Turkmen pop star
and Miss Intervision 2008 (a Russian version of
Eurovision music competition) was detained for smuggling
or for possession, which is usually qualified as "for
personal use." According to a source, Mammedova was
detained at Ashgabat airport upon arrival from Dashoguz,
following her performance at the wedding party of Rejep
Saparov's nephew. (Note: Rejep Saparov - former Deputy
Chairman and Administrator of the Presidential Apparatus.
End Note.) Due to her popularity and title of People's
Artist of Turkmenistan, awarded to her by President
Berdimuhamedov last year, she was not sent to prison, but
was given two days to move out of Ashgabat.
4. (SBU) While post's police contact refused to provide
any comment on this story, another government official
confirmed that Lachin was sent into internal exile to her
hometown in Balkan Province. The same official added
that Mammedova had become too popular, hanging around
with radio-equipped bodyguards. Her high profile
probably attracted the attention o the president's
sisters, who decided to take action against her.
However, a source from Mammedova's husband's family
(Note: Mammedova recently married a 20 year old student
from Turkmenabad, named Ygtyyar, whose mother is the
Director of the Turkmenabad Central Trade market. End
Note.) rejected the rumors, stating that they were false
and that Mammedova was not involved in any drug incident.
Meanwhile, Mammedova's videos have not been broadcast on
national television for the past several days.
5. (SBU) Historically, drug use has been a common
practice among Turkmen singers and "bahshy" (musicians
singing and playing on the national instruments). A
bahshy that was invited to perform at a wedding party was
not only served food and drink and well paid, but also
provided with opium and/or hashish (depending on his
preference) during the performance. Similarly, many
contemporary Turkmen singers are addicted to drugs. Ex-
President Niyazov, who was a Turkmen music fan,
unofficially provided immunity to many of them, which
allowed pop stars to take drugs openly. For instance,
People's Artist Atabay Charygulyev (who died early this
year, supposedly from an overdose) was a heroin addict, and
was once detained by police for heroin possession, but
freed by the ex-President's order. Another pop star,
Nurmuhammet Meredov (aka Nury Kosoy - Cock Eyed),
reportedly has to perform without payment at the parties
of high-ranking counternarcotics officials in order to
preserve his immunity for taking drugs. (Note: The fee
for Turkmen singers at a wedding party varies from USD
500 to 10,000, depending on the singer's popularity. End
Note.)
6. (SBU) COMMENT: Taking into consideration Mammedova's
ASHGABAT 00001416 002.2 OF 002
popularity, including "admiration" by President
Berdimuhamedov, it is likely that the drug scandal, if it
happened, was immediately covered up before it received
much public attention. Mammedova had become so popular
that a video of her wedding party became a hit among
local movie rentals. Perhaps, in a system that won't
allow for any artist, business person, athlete, or anyone
else in the country to become more popular than the
president, Mammedova had reached too far. END COMMENT.
CURRAN