Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT802
2009-06-25 12:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: UPDATE ON PENTECOSTALS IN ABADAN;
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000802
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN; DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2019
TAGS: KIRF SCUL SOCI PGOV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UPDATE ON PENTECOSTALS IN ABADAN;
STILL WAITING FOR REGISTRATION
REF: ASHGABAT 208
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000802
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN; DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2019
TAGS: KIRF SCUL SOCI PGOV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UPDATE ON PENTECOSTALS IN ABADAN;
STILL WAITING FOR REGISTRATION
REF: ASHGABAT 208
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) On June 24, Political Officer met with Pentecostal
pastor, Ruslan Atajanov, the leader of a small unregistered
group located in the town of Abadan outside Ashgabat.
Atajanov's group has been waiting three years since first
applying for registration. During Political Officer's last
meeting with Atajanov in February, the pastor was both
patient and optimistic that registration would come soon,
despite postponement of a hoped for December 2008 decision
(reftel). Atajanov now explained that his group, numbering
about 20 adherents, is still waiting. Two weeks ago, he was
in contact with the Deputy Head of the Council on Religious
Affairs, Nurmuhammet Gurbanov, at which time he was told that
the Pentecostal group's registration was awaiting only the
decision of the Commission on Registration located at the
Ministry of Justice. The pastor was left with the impression
that registration was imminent, and he said he expects a
decision by mid-July.
2. (C) Atajanov said that, despite the lack of registration,
his group has not suffered any particular problems. He said
members keep a low profile and he expressed a preference for
worship in small groups, rather than uniting with the
Pentecostal group in Ashgabat. (NOTE: Although once
registered, the Ashgabat Pentecostal church was unable to
successfully re-register and currently operates unofficially.
A number of religious organizations were de-registered ten
years or so ago. This church may have also been in that
group. END NOTE.) Atajanov indicated that despite his
group's unregistered status, they are able to obtain
permission from the authorities to celebrate special holidays
as a group, gathering in public in a rented cafe. In part,
he explained his desire for registration by noting the kinds
of social outreach activities that the group would like to
undertake, including helping people in prisons and
orphanages. He said without registration such institutions
would not cooperate with the group.
3. (C) COMMENT: Nothing appears to have changed for the
Abadan group during the past five months. Given the lack of
transparency in the registration process, it is impossible to
judge whether there is any more basis for the pastor's
current optimism than there was earlier. END COMMENT.
MILES
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN; DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2019
TAGS: KIRF SCUL SOCI PGOV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UPDATE ON PENTECOSTALS IN ABADAN;
STILL WAITING FOR REGISTRATION
REF: ASHGABAT 208
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) On June 24, Political Officer met with Pentecostal
pastor, Ruslan Atajanov, the leader of a small unregistered
group located in the town of Abadan outside Ashgabat.
Atajanov's group has been waiting three years since first
applying for registration. During Political Officer's last
meeting with Atajanov in February, the pastor was both
patient and optimistic that registration would come soon,
despite postponement of a hoped for December 2008 decision
(reftel). Atajanov now explained that his group, numbering
about 20 adherents, is still waiting. Two weeks ago, he was
in contact with the Deputy Head of the Council on Religious
Affairs, Nurmuhammet Gurbanov, at which time he was told that
the Pentecostal group's registration was awaiting only the
decision of the Commission on Registration located at the
Ministry of Justice. The pastor was left with the impression
that registration was imminent, and he said he expects a
decision by mid-July.
2. (C) Atajanov said that, despite the lack of registration,
his group has not suffered any particular problems. He said
members keep a low profile and he expressed a preference for
worship in small groups, rather than uniting with the
Pentecostal group in Ashgabat. (NOTE: Although once
registered, the Ashgabat Pentecostal church was unable to
successfully re-register and currently operates unofficially.
A number of religious organizations were de-registered ten
years or so ago. This church may have also been in that
group. END NOTE.) Atajanov indicated that despite his
group's unregistered status, they are able to obtain
permission from the authorities to celebrate special holidays
as a group, gathering in public in a rented cafe. In part,
he explained his desire for registration by noting the kinds
of social outreach activities that the group would like to
undertake, including helping people in prisons and
orphanages. He said without registration such institutions
would not cooperate with the group.
3. (C) COMMENT: Nothing appears to have changed for the
Abadan group during the past five months. Given the lack of
transparency in the registration process, it is impossible to
judge whether there is any more basis for the pastor's
current optimism than there was earlier. END COMMENT.
MILES