UPDATE ON TURKMENISTAN'S INFORMATION COLLECTION, SCREENING

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000542

STATE FOR S/CT BATJER JOHNSON, SCHULTZ

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV ASEC KVPR KHLS TX
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON TURKMENISTAN'S INFORMATION COLLECTION, SCREENING
AND SHARING PRACTICES

REF: (A) 07 ASHGABAT 1059, (B) STATE 032287


1. (U) Post presents the following updates to the survey on
Turkmenistan's immigration control and watchlist systems for
terrorist screening. Responses are keyed to lettered subheadings in
ref B.


2. (SBU) A: Immigration Databases and Traveler Information
Collection: No updates to report.


3. (SBU) B: Watchlisting: No substantive updates. The State
Migration Service (SMS) has replaced the Agency for Registration of
Foreign Citizens.


4. (SBU) C: Biometrics: No updates to report.


5. (SBU) D: Border Control and Screening: The Government of
Turkmenistan uses computer software to screen all travelers. In
order to obtain a visa, foreigners must first obtain a letter of
invitation from the State Migration Service, which gives ample
opportunity to prescreen incoming visitors and deny permission to
any the government deems undesirable. If someone of interest did
make it to the airport or a border crossing, the Immigration
Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs or the Ministry of National
Security would take the charge in questioning, depending on the
issue.

There is no general law enforcement database, and information
sharing within the Government of Turkmenistan is unreliable at best.



6. (SBU) E: Passports: Turkmenistan began issuing new passports
with an embedded data-carrying chip in July, 2008. The passports
were designed by a German company and feature more advanced security
features. The chip includes fingerprint scans of the bearer's index
fingers as well as the photograph and signature. It is unknown if
the government shares the key to read the biometric information with
any other governments.

Replacement passports are generally identical to regular passports:
they are issued for the full validity of 10 years and do not have a
specific series. Post is unaware of specific methods of dealing
with "habitual" passport losers, beyond the onerous documentation
requirements to receive a passport in the first place, which must be
completely replicated in order to receive a replacement. Post has
not seen an increase in suspiciously "clean" passports, as many visa
applicants still have their old passport (which functions as an
internal identification document).


7. (SBU) F: Fraud Detection: No updates to report.


8. (SBU) G: Privacy and Data Security: Turkmenistan remains a
tightly-controlled, autocratic, secretive government. Post believes
that all information collected during the lengthy letter of
invitation process (to obtain a visa) and any case files developed
would be considered state secrets. The government is not
specifically concerned about the privacy of personal information,
either of its own citizens or foreigners, but rather protecting
these "state secrets." There seem to be no laws permitting an
individual to petition for access to data that security agencies
hold on them.


9. (SBU) H: Identifying Appropriate Partners: Turkmenistan
continues to be an unlikely partner for data sharing.



MILES