Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT1503
2009-11-24 13:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A BERDIMUHAMEDOV SCORNED
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001503
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR TX
SUBJECT: HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A BERDIMUHAMEDOV SCORNED
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001503
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR TX
SUBJECT: HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A BERDIMUHAMEDOV SCORNED
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY. An Embassy contact conveyed a story from
President Berdimuhamedov's life before he became a
high-ranking government official. Apparently Berdimuhamedov
tried to pressure a staff member at his dental clinic to
enter into a relationship with him and when she scorned him,
he fired her. Later, as Minister of Health, Berdimuhamedov
used his position to further punish the woman, eventually
causing her to lose her license and flee Turkmenistan for
Russia. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) During a conversation with PAO, an Embassy contact
relayed a story from his past. The contact had been in a
close relationship with a female dentist, Tatiyana Tabatadze,
who was forced to leave Turkmenistan under severe government
pressure. Dr. Tabatadze was forced out of Turkmenistan
essentially because she had once rebuffed the advances of
then Minister of HEALTH Berdimuhamedov.
EEO VIOLATION NUMBER ONE
3. (C) Dr. Tabatadze worked for Berdimuhamedov when he was
the Director of the Central Dental Polyclinic in downtown
Ashgabat (in the area of the Ak Altyn Hotel). According to
Dr. Tabatadze, Berdimuhamedov had approached her with the
hope of starting a romantic relationship. The single Dr.
Tabatadze rebuffed his approaches and promptly was dismissed
from her job at the clinic. (COMMENT: Given that these events
transpired within the past twenty years, it can be inferred
that Berdimuhamedov was married at the time he made these
advances. END COMMENT.)
EEO VIOLATION NUMBER TWO
4. (C) A few years later, Berdimuhamedov was appointed as
Minister of Health. Within a short time, the name of Dr.
Tabatadze crossed his desk on a list of appointments to
positions at the Medical University. Upon seeing the name,
then Minister Berdimuhamedov began an inquiry into the life
of his previous love interest. He not only did not grant her
the new appointment, but also dismissed Dr. Tabatadze from
her teaching job at the time. Berdimuhamedov then denied her
all access to the HEALTH institutions of Turkmenistan.
Within a short time, a former patient of Dr. Tabatadze filed
a criminal claim against her for malpractice, and Dr.
Tabatadze was faced with potential imprisonment.
5. (C) In an effort to avoid further repression and potential
imprisonment, Dr. Tabatadze fled Turkmenistan and moved to
Saratov, Russia.
6. (C) COMMENT: In the Tabatadze affair, Berdimuhamedov
displayed more vindictiveness than a typical jilted lover.
Beyond simply firing her when he was Director of the Clinic
and forgetting about the incident, he remembered the offense
years later and abused his position as Minister of HEALTH to
make Dr. Tabatadze's life miserable. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR TX
SUBJECT: HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A BERDIMUHAMEDOV SCORNED
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY. An Embassy contact conveyed a story from
President Berdimuhamedov's life before he became a
high-ranking government official. Apparently Berdimuhamedov
tried to pressure a staff member at his dental clinic to
enter into a relationship with him and when she scorned him,
he fired her. Later, as Minister of Health, Berdimuhamedov
used his position to further punish the woman, eventually
causing her to lose her license and flee Turkmenistan for
Russia. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) During a conversation with PAO, an Embassy contact
relayed a story from his past. The contact had been in a
close relationship with a female dentist, Tatiyana Tabatadze,
who was forced to leave Turkmenistan under severe government
pressure. Dr. Tabatadze was forced out of Turkmenistan
essentially because she had once rebuffed the advances of
then Minister of HEALTH Berdimuhamedov.
EEO VIOLATION NUMBER ONE
3. (C) Dr. Tabatadze worked for Berdimuhamedov when he was
the Director of the Central Dental Polyclinic in downtown
Ashgabat (in the area of the Ak Altyn Hotel). According to
Dr. Tabatadze, Berdimuhamedov had approached her with the
hope of starting a romantic relationship. The single Dr.
Tabatadze rebuffed his approaches and promptly was dismissed
from her job at the clinic. (COMMENT: Given that these events
transpired within the past twenty years, it can be inferred
that Berdimuhamedov was married at the time he made these
advances. END COMMENT.)
EEO VIOLATION NUMBER TWO
4. (C) A few years later, Berdimuhamedov was appointed as
Minister of Health. Within a short time, the name of Dr.
Tabatadze crossed his desk on a list of appointments to
positions at the Medical University. Upon seeing the name,
then Minister Berdimuhamedov began an inquiry into the life
of his previous love interest. He not only did not grant her
the new appointment, but also dismissed Dr. Tabatadze from
her teaching job at the time. Berdimuhamedov then denied her
all access to the HEALTH institutions of Turkmenistan.
Within a short time, a former patient of Dr. Tabatadze filed
a criminal claim against her for malpractice, and Dr.
Tabatadze was faced with potential imprisonment.
5. (C) In an effort to avoid further repression and potential
imprisonment, Dr. Tabatadze fled Turkmenistan and moved to
Saratov, Russia.
6. (C) COMMENT: In the Tabatadze affair, Berdimuhamedov
displayed more vindictiveness than a typical jilted lover.
Beyond simply firing her when he was Director of the Clinic
and forgetting about the incident, he remembered the offense
years later and abused his position as Minister of HEALTH to
make Dr. Tabatadze's life miserable. END COMMENT.
CURRAN