TURKMENISTAN: U.S. FORENSICS OFFICIALS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000701 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN,INL/AAE BUHLER DOJ/ICITAP FOR MOGLE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KCRM SOCI TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: U.S. FORENSICS OFFICIALS DISCUSS COOPERATION WITH PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE REF: ASHGABAT 684 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Visiting DOJ/ICITAP Forensic Advisor and DEA Chemist met with section chiefs of the Turkmen Prosecutor General's Office. The purpose of the meeting, the first between U.S. forensics experts and the prosecutor's office, was to discuss possible forensics and criminology cooperation. The meeting lasted for nearly ninety minutes, during which both general and specific areas of possible cooperation were discussed. The prosecutors listed the need for training in comparative criminology, interrogation techniques and on the more efficient use of forensics equipment as priorities. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (U) On June 3, DOJ/ICITAP Forensic Advisor Robert Bianchi and DEA Chemist Bryan Geer met with representatives of the Prosecutor General's Office in Ashgabat to discuss areas of possible cooperation. Although it was the U.S. officials' fifth visit to Ashgabat, it was their first meeting with the Prosecutor's Office. The Prosecutor's Office was represented by Bayram Bayramov (Chief of International Relations),Batyr Kulhanov (Senior Prosecutor), Durdymyrat Taganov (Chief of Criminology),and Myrat Annamyradov (Chief Criminologist). As is customary, a MFA representative was present and took notes. ¶4. (U) Kulhanov gave a briefing on the history and functions of the Prosecutor's Office. It was established in 1992 and operates in accordance with the Constitution and its own statute, as well as other regulations. It has both supervisory and regulatory functions, overseeing the implementation of the country's laws and regulations by economic entities, penitentiary institutions, the armed forces, criminal investigators, law enforcement operatives and court marshals. It addition, the Prosecutor's Office has a role in foreign relations, providing legal advice on criminal cases and extradiction matters according to Turkmenistan's bilateral commitments. ¶5. (U) Annamyradov, Senior Criminologist (and INL program alumnus) then briefed on the functions of his department. It employs about 100 criminologists around the country and is responsible for providing assistance to investigators during the investigation process in the form of methodology and the use of forensics equipment. In addition, the Criminology Department conducts trainings for junior and provincial-level prosecutors. Annamyradov mentioned his recent participation at the American Academy of Forensic Scientists conference in Denver, sponsored by INL at the invitation of ICITAP, in February. He said that he reported on the proceedings afterwards to the Prosecutor General, Chary Hojamyradov, and had also briefed his colleagues in a subsequent general staff meeting. He said that he drafted a memo to Prosecutor General Hojamyradov on the need to establish a DNA lab in Turkmenistan. Annamyradov said "a number of Central Asian countries already have DNA labs. Turkmenistan needs to have one as well." ¶6. (SBU) Discussing what they see as the most important areas of possible cooperation, the prosecutors outlined the need for training in comparative criminology, interrogation techniques and ASHGABAT 00000701 002 OF 002 on the more efficient use of forensics equipment. They were very interested in learning how prosecutors use forensic science in the U.S. Annamyradov also shared his experience from a CSI training course he took in Budapest in 2007 at the invitation of the FBI. He noted that CSI training would be especially useful in Turkmenistan, particularly for the newer specialists working in their office. "We like the system in the U.S., where crime scene investigations are conducted by a group of specialists, but here, unfortunately everything is on the shoulders of an investigator." (NOTE: These remarks appeared to surprise his colleagues, who immediately interrupted him. END NOTE.) ¶7. (SBU) Upon learning that cooperation with ICITAP could extend beyond the area of forensics, Kulhanov proposed that cooperation be created in the areas of extradition, investigations and evidence-gathering related to money laundering, terrorist financing and trafficking in persons. He mentioned the recent passage in Turkmenistan of an anti-money laundering and terrorist finance law (reftel). Kulhanov said, "We don't have an urgent need of assistance in these areas, but we would like to know how to conduct investigations of these crimes in order to better implement the law." ¶8. (SBU) COMMENT: ICITAP's first official meeting with the Prosecutor's Office was conducted in a room which, oddly for a government facility, had no portrait of President Berdymuhamedov on the wall. What was even more unusual was Taganov's invitation to the visitors to have dinner at his home, which is rare in view of the Turkmen Government's strict contact policy vis-a-vis foreigners. END COMMENT. MILES