Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TASHKENT2242
2009-12-22 12:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:  

UZBEKISTAN: 2009 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

Tags:  PTER ASEC EFIN KCRM KHLS PINS PREL AEMR UZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0042
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNT #2242/01 3561220
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221219Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1667
INFO RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS TASHKENT 002242 

SIPDIS
S/CT: RHONDA SHORE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN KCRM KHLS PINS PREL AEMR UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: 2009 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

REF: STATE 109980

Introduction and General Assessment

------------------------------



UNCLAS TASHKENT 002242

SIPDIS
S/CT: RHONDA SHORE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN KCRM KHLS PINS PREL AEMR UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: 2009 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

REF: STATE 109980

Introduction and General Assessment

--------------




1. (U) In Uzbekistan, widespread poverty and pockets of
discontent with the social and political situation create
conditions that religious extremists could exploit. Despite
potential threats, the government of Uzbekistan (GOU) maintained
tight control over the security situation within Uzbekistan in

2009. No large scale terrorist attacks were carried out within
Uzbek territory in 2009, although several assassinations and other
incidents are believed to be linked to extremist groups. Terrorist
groups which originated in Uzbekistan, including the Islamic
Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and the Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) are
active in other countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan. A
lack of reliable information makes it difficult to analyze the
extent of the terrorist threat in Uzbekistan. Government security
forces deal with terrorist threats without bringing them to the
attention of the press or the international community whenever
possible.



Terrorism Cases
--------------




2. (U) On May 26, an armed group attacked a police outpost in
Andijan province, near Uzbekistan's border with Kyrgyzstan. At the
same time, at least two suicide bombings took place in the city of
Andijan. The IJU claimed responsibility for the attacks.




3. (U) On July 16, the deputy director of Tashkent's largest
madrassah was murdered in front of his home. On July 31, three men
attacked and stabbed the principal imam of Tashkent in front of his
home, but the imam survived. On August 9, Hasan Asadov, an officer
of the Directorate against Terrorism and Corruption of the Uzbek
Interior Ministry, was shot and killed in his own apartment.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the three attacks were engineered
by the same extremist organization.




4. (U) On August 29, an armed group of alleged extremists
exchanged gunfire with security forces in Tashkent. Several people
were killed, possibly including members of the security forces.




5. (U) In addition, there are periodic unconfirmed reports of
border skirmishes, jail breaks, gunfire, explosions, and other
possible terrorist incidents. The government of Uzbekistan rarely
releases information about any rumored incidents, but the
unofficial media frequently publishes stories speculating on
terrorism in Uzbekistan.



Terrorist Finance
--------------




6. (U) Although financing of terrorism does not appear to be
a significant problem in Uzbekistan, a large and robust black
market functions outside the confines of the official financial
system. The unofficial, unmonitored cash-based market creates an
opportunity for small-scale terrorist money laundering. In April
2009, the government of Uzbekistan responded to international
concerns and passed legislation to reestablish an anti-money
laundering regime that had been suspended by Presidential decree
until 2013. The new legislation falls short of international
standards in some areas, but represents a step forward in
Uzbekistan's commitment to combat financial crimes. It is too
early to fully assess the implementation and impact of the
legislation.



Terrorist Groups
--------------


7. (U) The IMU and the IJU are terrorist groups of ethnic
Uzbek origin. These groups formed with the goal of overthrowing
the current Uzbek government, but Uzbek security forces appear to
have effectively limited their operations in Uzbekistan. These
groups have moved most of their operations to other countries in
the region, although they still attempt to carry out attacks on
Uzbek soil.




8. (U) The government of Uzbekistan is suspicious of many
organized Islamic movements, some of which are clearly political or
extremist, and some of which claim to have only peaceful,
non-political goals. Members of organizations such as Hizb
ut-Tahrir and Nur are often jailed if they are identified by Uzbek
security forces.



Foreign Government Cooperation
--------------




9. (U) Uzbekistan cooperates with foreign governments on
general security issues, including border control. Uzbekistan
hosted the Central Asian Border Security Initiative (CABSI) meeting
in October, 2009, for the purpose of facilitating border security
cooperation within the region. Tashkent is the seat of the
six-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization's Regional
Anti-Terrorism Structure.




10. (U) Embassy point of contact for this issue is Political
Officer Katrisa Peffley: peffleykb@state.gov.
NORLAND