Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT678
2009-06-02 09:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: PHYSICIANS' ARREST FOR SELLING
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000678
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: PHYSICIANS' ARREST FOR SELLING
DRUGS PRECIPITATES MINISTER'S DISMISSAL
ASHGABAT 00000678 001.3 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000678
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: PHYSICIANS' ARREST FOR SELLING
DRUGS PRECIPITATES MINISTER'S DISMISSAL
ASHGABAT 00000678 001.3 OF 002
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public
Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Twenty employees of a prison
hospital in Mary were reportedly arrested two weeks ago
for selling drugs to prisoners who were being treated at
the hospital. The Minister of Internal Affairs was held
responsible for the incident and relieved of his duties
on May 29. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) Twenty employees of the central infirmary of
the main penitentiary in Mary province, including the
hospital's director, two deputy directors, chief
physician, physicians, practitioners, and prison guards,
were arrested on May 21st for selling drugs to the
prisoners and patients of the hospital. A local Embassy
staff member reported that his cousin, the hospital's
deputy director, along with the other arrestees, are
being detained in Ashgabat at the Ministry of National
Security's detention facility and are being refused
visits by either attorneys or family members.
4. (SBU) According to reports, an Iranian prisoner
serving a sentence at the Mary prison had been
"hospitalized" at the facility for the past 18 months, an
arrangement that allowed him to sell drugs to prisoners
and hospital patients. High-level prison and hospital
officials were reportedly aware of and involved in the
arrangement.
5. (SBU) On Friday, May 29, during the State Security
Council, President Berdimuhamedov, referring to Minister
of Interior Affairs (MIA) Orazgeldi Amanmyradov stated,
"Our state allocates huge financial resources for the
work of law enforcement officials. However, despite
this, we do not see efficiency in your work.
Turkmenistan's population is not satisfied with your
performance. There are ongoing shortcomings and breaches
of the law in the work of police departments. The
growing number of crimes in our country, including grave
crimes, the increasing crime rate among police officers
and the rise in drug-related crimes, testify to this."
The President raised the recent arrests at the prison
infirmary and said "The directors of the hospital abused
their official positions by becoming involved in this
crime, and they have been prosecuted. Such cases
undoubtedly undermine the lofty title of police."
Berdimuhamedov then noted that the leadership of the
Interior Ministry was directly responsible for these
shortcomings and said that he was submitting a proposal
to the national parliament to relieve LTC Amanmyradov of
his post as Interior Minister and to replace him with
Isgender Mulikov, currently head of the police department
of Dashoguz province.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: The alleged drug crimes occurred in
the Mary penitentiary system and are evidence of official
tolerance, if not involvement, in Turkmenistan's drug
problem. Drugs are reportedly sold not only in the
prisons and prison infirmaries, but in drug treatment
facilities to addicts as well.
7. (SBU) COMMENT (CONTINUED): The Minister of Interior's
dismissal came three weeks after an official reprimand.
Pointing out the unsatisfactory work of the former
Minister, President Berdimuhamedov said "When there is a
crime committed somewhere in our country, the Interior
Ministry always fails to do what's needed. They [the
Ministry] instead await an order from above. Even if he
is aware of everything himself, the Minister behaves as
if nothing serious has happened." A police captain
ASHGABAT 00000678 002 OF 002
acquaintance of an Embassy LES noted in this regard that
the ex-Interior Minister failed to take action against
drug crimes. Police officials are said to be hopeful
that the new, 35-year old minister (a USG exchange
program alumnus) will be more decisive. END COMMENT.
MILES
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: PHYSICIANS' ARREST FOR SELLING
DRUGS PRECIPITATES MINISTER'S DISMISSAL
ASHGABAT 00000678 001.3 OF 002
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public
Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Twenty employees of a prison
hospital in Mary were reportedly arrested two weeks ago
for selling drugs to prisoners who were being treated at
the hospital. The Minister of Internal Affairs was held
responsible for the incident and relieved of his duties
on May 29. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) Twenty employees of the central infirmary of
the main penitentiary in Mary province, including the
hospital's director, two deputy directors, chief
physician, physicians, practitioners, and prison guards,
were arrested on May 21st for selling drugs to the
prisoners and patients of the hospital. A local Embassy
staff member reported that his cousin, the hospital's
deputy director, along with the other arrestees, are
being detained in Ashgabat at the Ministry of National
Security's detention facility and are being refused
visits by either attorneys or family members.
4. (SBU) According to reports, an Iranian prisoner
serving a sentence at the Mary prison had been
"hospitalized" at the facility for the past 18 months, an
arrangement that allowed him to sell drugs to prisoners
and hospital patients. High-level prison and hospital
officials were reportedly aware of and involved in the
arrangement.
5. (SBU) On Friday, May 29, during the State Security
Council, President Berdimuhamedov, referring to Minister
of Interior Affairs (MIA) Orazgeldi Amanmyradov stated,
"Our state allocates huge financial resources for the
work of law enforcement officials. However, despite
this, we do not see efficiency in your work.
Turkmenistan's population is not satisfied with your
performance. There are ongoing shortcomings and breaches
of the law in the work of police departments. The
growing number of crimes in our country, including grave
crimes, the increasing crime rate among police officers
and the rise in drug-related crimes, testify to this."
The President raised the recent arrests at the prison
infirmary and said "The directors of the hospital abused
their official positions by becoming involved in this
crime, and they have been prosecuted. Such cases
undoubtedly undermine the lofty title of police."
Berdimuhamedov then noted that the leadership of the
Interior Ministry was directly responsible for these
shortcomings and said that he was submitting a proposal
to the national parliament to relieve LTC Amanmyradov of
his post as Interior Minister and to replace him with
Isgender Mulikov, currently head of the police department
of Dashoguz province.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: The alleged drug crimes occurred in
the Mary penitentiary system and are evidence of official
tolerance, if not involvement, in Turkmenistan's drug
problem. Drugs are reportedly sold not only in the
prisons and prison infirmaries, but in drug treatment
facilities to addicts as well.
7. (SBU) COMMENT (CONTINUED): The Minister of Interior's
dismissal came three weeks after an official reprimand.
Pointing out the unsatisfactory work of the former
Minister, President Berdimuhamedov said "When there is a
crime committed somewhere in our country, the Interior
Ministry always fails to do what's needed. They [the
Ministry] instead await an order from above. Even if he
is aware of everything himself, the Minister behaves as
if nothing serious has happened." A police captain
ASHGABAT 00000678 002 OF 002
acquaintance of an Embassy LES noted in this regard that
the ex-Interior Minister failed to take action against
drug crimes. Police officials are said to be hopeful
that the new, 35-year old minister (a USG exchange
program alumnus) will be more decisive. END COMMENT.
MILES