Security Forces Disrupt American University Event

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001135 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/07/02 TAGS: PREL KPAO OEXC SCUL UZ SUBJECT: Security Forces Disrupt American University Event CLASSIFIED BY: Carol M. Fajardo, Public Affairs Officer, State, Public Affairs; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) "Unsanctioned" Entrance Exams Shut Down -------------- -------------- ¶1. (C) The Uzbek National Security Service (NSS) interrupted the American University of Central Asia's (AUCA) entrance exams in Tashkent on June 27, confiscating all exam materials and interrogating students and administrators. According to personnel at the International Business School, where the exams were supposed to be held, five NSS officials first entered the school building as if they were students, and asked to take the exams. They then wanted copies of the exam papers. When the school administrator asked to see their identification, the NSS officials replied that the entrance exams were an "unsanctioned activity" and the business school did not have permission from the government to hold these exams. The officials then prohibited the school from holding the exams and confiscated all the test materials from the AUCA representatives. ¶2. (C) In addition to stopping the exams, for several hours the NSS officials interrogated the AUCA personnel, the International Business School administrators, and the approximately 30 students who came for the exam. The Embassy's Educational Advisor, who had stopped by the business school to meet the AUCA representatives, also observed the NSS officials videotaping the assembled students and noting their identification information plus details of their educational background. ¶3. (C) The Director of International Recruitment for the Bishkek-based AUCA told Emboffs that the AUCA staff thought their movements had been tracked by NSS officials since their arrival in Tashkent. He added that the NSS had copies of the email announcing the AUCA entrance exams. (Note: The Embassy had posted an announcement about the exam on its educational advising listserv.) AUCA has not experienced similar incidents before, and he suggested that the crackdown in Tashkent stemmed from recent border tensions between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) This incident was unexpected and may show a change in NSS actions toward USG and U.S.-related activities. The Embassy has organized or participated in numerous educational events in recent months without disruption and this is the first time the NSS has blatantly disrupted a U.S.-related event. NORLAND