Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT845
2009-07-07 06:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
NOHUR TRIBE DOMINATES TRADE AND SERVICES IN ASHGABAT
how-toVZCZCXRO4674 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0845/01 1880604 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 070604Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3097 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5399 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3127 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2992 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3643 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1043 RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3691 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000845
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SOCI SCUL PGOV TX
SUBJECT: NOHUR TRIBE DOMINATES TRADE AND SERVICES IN ASHGABAT
REF: ASHGABAT 671
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000845
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SOCI SCUL PGOV TX
SUBJECT: NOHUR TRIBE DOMINATES TRADE AND SERVICES IN ASHGABAT
REF: ASHGABAT 671
1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Internet
distribution
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Nohurs, members of a tribe from
southwest Turkmenistan, have been flourishing in trade
and restaurant businesses in Ashgabat since 2004, when
former Minister of National Security Ashyrmuhammedov, a
member of the Nohur tribe, was appointed to the position.
Nohurs own a number of large restaurants in Ashgabat
and engage mostly in retail trade. Nohur dominance in
trade and services can be explained not only by their
strong work ethic, but also by their strong familial
relations and protection by law enforcement officials,
many of whom are fellow Nohurs. By employing
aggressive business tactics against non-Nohurs in
trade and services, they squeeze their
competitors out of the marketplace. END SUMMARY.
STRONG FAMILY TIES
3. (SBU) Turkmenistan's retail trade and services sector
is dominated by Nohurs. Nohur is a small tribe located
in Kopetdag mountains in Southwest Turkmenistan (reftel).
Presently, most restaurants and a significant share of
retail trade in Ashgabat is run by Nohurs. Many
people see the reason for their concentration in
such profitable sectors of economy as trade and services
not only in their good business skills but also in
strong familial relations. For instance, if one Nohur
succeeds in a business, he would involve his family
members and relatives, but not employ any outsiders.
BIG BROTHER PROTECTION
4. (SBU) Yet, the strong family ties among Nohurs are not
the main reason for their ascendancy in private
business/entrepreneurship. The main reason is the
protection of their "Big Brother" former Minister of
National Security General Geldimurat Ashyrmuhammedov,
also a Nohur. (Most high government officials are members
of the Ahal Teke tribe, which is the dominant tribe in
Turkmenistan.) Ashyrmuhammedov, who served as
Minister from 2004 to 2007, was a person trusted and
promoted by President Niyazov himself. Before
Ashyrmuhammedov became the Minister of National Security,
he served in Niyazov's presidential security guard and
was Minister of Internal Affairs (MVD). According to a
local source, "it was during his tenure as MVD chief that
many Nohurs were employed by the Ministry. Those Nohurs
now, as mid-level officials of the MVD, provide a
"krysha" (literally a "roof," meaning protection) for
their Nohur relatives engaged in trade or restaurant
businesses. These days, the following well-known
Ashgabat restaurants and cafes are run by Nohurs: two
"Shazada" cafes in central Ashgabat, "Erzurum" Turkish
restaurant, "Shokoladnitsa" cafe, "Toy Mekany" restaurant
used mostly for weddings and big events as well as a
restaurant in the Univermag Shopping Center, similar to
Toy Mekany, Paytagt Restaurant, and a number of small
cafes in Ashgabat. The co-owner of the Pizza House
restaurant is also a Nohur. At the Tolkuchka Bazaar on
the outskirts of Ashgabat, Nohurs allegedly collude
against non-Nohurs by agreeing to lower the prices
for goods they sell, in order to squeeze out other
traders. Nohurs have found their own niche in the
automobile spare parts trade and the MTS cell phone
operating business.
NOHUR ROOTS AND FEATURES
5. (SBU) Nohur village is a four-hour drive west of
ASHGABAT 00000845 002 OF 002
Ashgabat, located at 3,380 feet elevation in the Kopetdag
mountains. Along with their distinctive lifestyle,
Nohurs retained unique national handicrafts and
architecture. Locals think that Nohur family ties are
strong because Nohur men marry only Nohur women to
maintain the purity of the tribe. Nohurs, like most
Turkmen, are Muslim. Nevertheless, most Nohurs
are considered to be very strict (unlike most other Turkmen,
who are semi-secular) with regard to practicing their religion.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: Natives of a small village, Nohurs are
a cohesive minority tribe, and therefore, help each
other to succeed in business against larger tribes. Yet,
they also owe a good deal of their recent success in
trade and services to their kinsman, former Minister of
National Security Ashyrmuhammedov. From all appearances,
Nohurs will continue to prosper in private business as
long as their kinsmen occupy influential positions in the
law enforcement agencies. END COMMENT.
MILES
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SOCI SCUL PGOV TX
SUBJECT: NOHUR TRIBE DOMINATES TRADE AND SERVICES IN ASHGABAT
REF: ASHGABAT 671
1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Internet
distribution
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Nohurs, members of a tribe from
southwest Turkmenistan, have been flourishing in trade
and restaurant businesses in Ashgabat since 2004, when
former Minister of National Security Ashyrmuhammedov, a
member of the Nohur tribe, was appointed to the position.
Nohurs own a number of large restaurants in Ashgabat
and engage mostly in retail trade. Nohur dominance in
trade and services can be explained not only by their
strong work ethic, but also by their strong familial
relations and protection by law enforcement officials,
many of whom are fellow Nohurs. By employing
aggressive business tactics against non-Nohurs in
trade and services, they squeeze their
competitors out of the marketplace. END SUMMARY.
STRONG FAMILY TIES
3. (SBU) Turkmenistan's retail trade and services sector
is dominated by Nohurs. Nohur is a small tribe located
in Kopetdag mountains in Southwest Turkmenistan (reftel).
Presently, most restaurants and a significant share of
retail trade in Ashgabat is run by Nohurs. Many
people see the reason for their concentration in
such profitable sectors of economy as trade and services
not only in their good business skills but also in
strong familial relations. For instance, if one Nohur
succeeds in a business, he would involve his family
members and relatives, but not employ any outsiders.
BIG BROTHER PROTECTION
4. (SBU) Yet, the strong family ties among Nohurs are not
the main reason for their ascendancy in private
business/entrepreneurship. The main reason is the
protection of their "Big Brother" former Minister of
National Security General Geldimurat Ashyrmuhammedov,
also a Nohur. (Most high government officials are members
of the Ahal Teke tribe, which is the dominant tribe in
Turkmenistan.) Ashyrmuhammedov, who served as
Minister from 2004 to 2007, was a person trusted and
promoted by President Niyazov himself. Before
Ashyrmuhammedov became the Minister of National Security,
he served in Niyazov's presidential security guard and
was Minister of Internal Affairs (MVD). According to a
local source, "it was during his tenure as MVD chief that
many Nohurs were employed by the Ministry. Those Nohurs
now, as mid-level officials of the MVD, provide a
"krysha" (literally a "roof," meaning protection) for
their Nohur relatives engaged in trade or restaurant
businesses. These days, the following well-known
Ashgabat restaurants and cafes are run by Nohurs: two
"Shazada" cafes in central Ashgabat, "Erzurum" Turkish
restaurant, "Shokoladnitsa" cafe, "Toy Mekany" restaurant
used mostly for weddings and big events as well as a
restaurant in the Univermag Shopping Center, similar to
Toy Mekany, Paytagt Restaurant, and a number of small
cafes in Ashgabat. The co-owner of the Pizza House
restaurant is also a Nohur. At the Tolkuchka Bazaar on
the outskirts of Ashgabat, Nohurs allegedly collude
against non-Nohurs by agreeing to lower the prices
for goods they sell, in order to squeeze out other
traders. Nohurs have found their own niche in the
automobile spare parts trade and the MTS cell phone
operating business.
NOHUR ROOTS AND FEATURES
5. (SBU) Nohur village is a four-hour drive west of
ASHGABAT 00000845 002 OF 002
Ashgabat, located at 3,380 feet elevation in the Kopetdag
mountains. Along with their distinctive lifestyle,
Nohurs retained unique national handicrafts and
architecture. Locals think that Nohur family ties are
strong because Nohur men marry only Nohur women to
maintain the purity of the tribe. Nohurs, like most
Turkmen, are Muslim. Nevertheless, most Nohurs
are considered to be very strict (unlike most other Turkmen,
who are semi-secular) with regard to practicing their religion.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: Natives of a small village, Nohurs are
a cohesive minority tribe, and therefore, help each
other to succeed in business against larger tribes. Yet,
they also owe a good deal of their recent success in
trade and services to their kinsman, former Minister of
National Security Ashyrmuhammedov. From all appearances,
Nohurs will continue to prosper in private business as
long as their kinsmen occupy influential positions in the
law enforcement agencies. END COMMENT.
MILES