TURKMENISTAN: DETENTION OF TWO JEHOVAH'S WITNESS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000738

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN; DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIRF PGOV SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: DETENTION OF TWO JEHOVAH'S WITNESS
CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for Internet
distribution.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Jehovah's Witness leaders recently
provided details about the imprisonment of two Jehovah's
Witness conscientious objectors who had previously received
suspended sentences for refusing to enlist in the military.
It remains unclear why authorities in Serdar city overturned
their previous sentence and sent the brothers to prison.
There are twelve Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector
cases in Turkmenistan, the bulk of which are in Dashoguz
city. Although the other ten conscientious objectors are not
in detention, the clash between their religious beliefs and
the law requiring military service exposes them to ongoing
run-ins with authorities. END SUMMARY.


3. (SBU) On June 5, Political Officer met with Jehovah's
Witness leader, Andrey Zhbanov, and his deputy, Aleksandr
Zorin, to discuss the June 2 Forum 18 New Service report
about the May 21 jailing of two Jehovah's Witness
conscientious objectors for refusing compulsory military
service. Zhbanov and Zorin confirmed the report and provided
additional details. The two brothers, Sakhetmurad and
Mukhammedmurad Annamamedov, resident in Serdar, Balkan
province, had been given two-year suspended sentences in
November 2008 for refusing to serve in the military. The
terms of the suspended sentences included a one-year "trial"
period during which the brother's were required to check-in
weekly at the local police station. Zorin explained that,
the first time the brothers reported to the police station,
they signed a document in which they agreed not to leave the
district for one year. The police then told them that they
did not need to check-in on a weekly basis. The Annamamedov
brother's had no further contact with the police until May
19, when they were summoned to the military enlistment office
and told that they would be amnestied and needed to provide
copies of their internal passports (identity documents). On
May 21, they were again summoned and were asked why they did
not serve in the military. They responded in writing that
they did not serve for religious reasons. From the
enlistment office, the brothers were taken directly to a
court for a judicial proceeding. According to Zorin, the
police initiated the proceeding, although it was unclear what
role the police played. The police reported to the court
that the brothers had not "reformed." The judge, without
further explanation, changed the previous suspended sentence
to two years imprisonment. The judge and the prosecutor were
the same officials from the November proceeding. The
Annamamedovs had no defense counsel. Following the
proceeding, they were held for a couple days in a local
detention facility before being sent to the prison in
Turkmenbashi on May 24.


4. (SBU) The Annamamedovs had phoned their father just before
the judicial proceeding and he rushed to the court, but he
was recognized and not allowed to enter. Following the
proceeding, he tried to obtain a copy of the decision, but
court officials refused. The father, also a Jehovah's
Witness, had in the past been detained several times and
imprisoned because of his religious beliefs. According to
Zhbanov, from 1999-2001, the father served three years of a
four-year prison sentence for illegal possession of
ammunition. The ammunition was allegedly planted by police
while they were searching his house. Since his release from
prison, he had no further problems with the authorities,
although he suffers from tuberculosis and other health
conditions as a result of his imprisonment.


5. (SBU) Zhbanov and Zorin could not offer an explanation as
to why officials in Serdar changed the Annamamedov's
suspended sentence and sent them to prison. Conscription in
the military occurs twice a year, in November and May.
Zhbanov suggested that perhaps the officials involved in the
case thought the brothers might have changed their minds

ASHGABAT 00000738 002 OF 003


since November. Zhbanov provided a list describing the
current status of all twelve Jehovah's Witness conscientious
objectors, including the Annamamedovs, saying the same
outcome could happen to others. Details from the list are
provided below.

Vladimir Golosenko, Turkmenbashi city -- Sentenced on
February 12, 2008 to two years of "reforming employment" at
his place of residence, with twenty percent of his salary to
be paid to the government. After three months, the twenty
percent deduction stopped. He was told that he was granted
amnesty, although he has no written document to that effect.
He continues to work at the water works as a pipe fitter and
his family considers the matter closed.

Atamurat Suvkhanov, Dashoguz city -- Sentenced on December
17, 2004 to 1-1/2 years imprisonment. Amnestied on April 17,

2005. Since his release, he has been summoned to the
military enlistment office, most recently in May 2009. He
refused to enlist and his case was transferred to the local
authorities.

Rinat Babadzhanov, Dashoguz city -- Sentenced on June 23,
2003 to 1-1/2 years imprisonment. Amnestied on June 12,

2004. The enlistment office continues to contact him for
military service.

Mansur Masharipov, Dashoguz city -- Sentenced on May 28, 2004
to 1-1/2 years imprisonment. Amnestied on April 16, 2005.
The enlistment office continues to contact him for military
service.

Zafar Abdullaev, Dashoguz city -- Sentenced April 8, 2009.
Received a two-year suspended sentence. He is required to
sign-in weekly at the police station.

Dovran Kushmanov, Dashoguz city -- Sentenced April 22, 2009.
Received a suspended sentence. In March, Kushmanov had sent
a complaint to the prosecutor about the authorities' seizure
of his computer and some religious literature. A few days
later, Kushmanov was summoned to the prosecutor's office and
questioned about why he did not enlist in the military.
Court action followed.

Makhmud Khudaibergenov, Dashoguz city -- Summoned for
enlistment in 2009. Based on the reason for his refusal to
enlist, his case was turned over to the prosecutor.

Matkarim Aminov, Dashoguz city -- Summoned for enlistment in
February 2009. In March, his case was passed to the
prosecutor. Case dropped because he was underage. Following
his April 17 birthday, Aminov was again summoned to enlist.
Because of his refusal, his case again passed to the
prosecutor on April 27. He was told his case is closed until
the next call-up in November.

Shadurdy Uchetov, Dashoguz city -- Summoned for enlistment in

2006. After his refusal, case passed to the prosecutor and
the mayor's office, where his case was discussed with him.
During 2007-2008 his enlistment was postponed. In May 2009,
the case was again passed to the prosecutor and is being
investigated.

Akmurad Egendurdyev, Dashoguz city -- Summoned to enlist in
2008, refused and was given a postponement. In 2009,
summoned again and brought to prosecutor's office. He was
asked if he had a medical condition and directed to have a
medical check-up, which is ongoing.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: The semi-annual May and November call-ups
for military enlistment provide a regular opportunity for
authorities to harass Jehovah's Witness conscientious
objectors, apparently even those who served prison time and
were amnestied. It brings to light the situation that, even

ASHGABAT 00000738 003 OF 003


when not actually serving time in prison, these conscientious
objectors still face ongoing problems on account of their
religious beliefs and the failure of Turkmen law to legalize
their status. END COMMENT.
MILES