Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TASHKENT961
2009-06-11 08:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:  

UZBEKISTAN: ANDIJON ACTIVIST OFFERS CONSPIRACY THEORIES

Tags:  PHUM PGOV PREL SOCI UZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6134
RR RUEHDBU
DE RUEHNT #0961/01 1620834
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 110836Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1008
INFO CIS COLLECTIVE
NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0237
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 000961 

SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PASS TO AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG
AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PASS TO AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/06/11
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL SOCI UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: ANDIJON ACTIVIST OFFERS CONSPIRACY THEORIES

REF: TASHKENT 249; TASHKENT 823; TASHKENT 903

CLASSIFIED BY: Timothy P. Buckley, Second Secretary, Department of
State, Political and Economic Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 000961

SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PASS TO AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG
AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PASS TO AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/06/11
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL SOCI UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: ANDIJON ACTIVIST OFFERS CONSPIRACY THEORIES

REF: TASHKENT 249; TASHKENT 823; TASHKENT 903

CLASSIFIED BY: Timothy P. Buckley, Second Secretary, Department of
State, Political and Economic Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)


1. Summary: On June 9, emboffs met with Saidjahon Zaynabiddinov, a
well-known human rights activist based in Andijon and a frequent
contact for independent websites and the Embassy alike.
Zaynabiddinov reported that his youngest son was arrested for a
double murder and, although his son confessed to the crime,
Zaynabiddinov accused the security services of a far-fetched
entrapment plan. The activist also shared his views on the recent
terrorist attacks in Andijon, which he suggested President Karimov
orchestrated in order to send Russian Prime Minister Putin signals
about Uzbekistan's strong desire to cooperate. These theories are
a reminder that, although there are few people willing to talk to
us in clamped-down Andijon Province, we need to take what
independent activists say with a grain of salt. End summary.



Please Do Not Raise this Case

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




2. (C) Pol-Econ Chief and poloff met with Zaynabiddinov on June 9,
who reported that the youngest of his four sons, 18-year old
Nizomiddin, was arrested last week in connection with the stabbing
deaths of a prostitute and a pimp in Andijon City. The elder
Zaynabiddinov conceded that his son had patronized the prostitute
15 days prior to the murder and that the prostitute's contact
information was saved into his son's mobile phone. He also said
that his son had acknowledged to investigators that he had
committed the crime, although he insists that "it was a clear
provocation" and that security services waited until his son turned
18 before baiting him or setting him up. "He's my favorite son and
he is pacifist in nature; I know he could not have done this,"
Zaynabiddinov insisted, going so far as to accuse the security

services of providing his son with mind-altering drugs to induce
him to commit murder. Nizomiddin was also allegedly accompanied to
the crime scene with a friend, and the investigators reportedly
have witness testimony to buttress the case against him.




3. (C) While convinced the government put his son up to the crime,
he also asked that the Embassy not raise this case with Uzbek
authorities. Zaynabiddinov's eldest son is also currently serving
a prison term (ref A),and the latest arrest in the family may be
more than the father can bear. "I am in the weakest possible
position now," and he explained that his human rights work would be
hindered by the government's leverage over the well-being of his
incarcerated sons. Zaynabiddinov will attempt to visit Nizomiddin
on June 10 and deliver food supplements and basic clothing.
Interestingly, Zaynabiddinov said that Deputy Prosecutor General
Alisher Sharafutdinov, who has been in Andijon since the recent
terrorist incidents, apparently was personally involved in the
investigation. (Note: Sharafutdinov has a reputation as a
conscientious and reform-minded official dating from his previous
position as Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and, likely aware
that Zaynabiddinov has contacts with independent media and foreign
missions, may have personally tried to ensure that the
investigation was on solid footing.)



Views on Andijon Attacks

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




4. (C) Zaynabiddinov told emboffs that on the morning following the
apparent terrorist attack in Khanabad on May 26 (ref B),he awoke
to find that all cell phone service was suspended; however, he said
this is a typical occurrence in Andijon for high-profile events

TASHKENT 00000961 002 OF 002


such as when the President visits the Province. He said that
Internet access was also cut but had been restored, albeit with
noticeable reductions in speed, after three days. According to
Zaynabiddinov, "to an outside visitor to Andijon nothing would look
out of the ordinary," although he commented that residents can
sense that tensions have ratcheted up. He said that another
incident took place along the border a few days ago in which one
person was killed by Uzbek border guards, although Zaynabiddinov
insisted it was "just smuggling and had no relation to terrorism or
the previous incidents." (Note: This tracks with press reports
that a 29-year old Kyrgyz man, Ulugbek Usmonov, was shot dead by
Uzbek border guards, reportedly after crossing into Uzbek territory
on June 7.)




5. (C) Zaynabiddinov shared his theory that President Karimov was
"100 percent" behind the May 26 terrorist incidents rather than an
organized terrorist group. The motive, according to Zaynabiddinov,
was to send a signal to the Russians (and particularly to Putin)
that he is still in control of the country and can respond
effectively to security threats. Zaynabiddinov said to expect more
such signals "when Putin returns to the Presidency in Russia." The
activist added that a state of emergency on occasion also is
necessary to renew Karimov's mandate to crack down on perceived
extremists, such as "Wahabbiists and Akromists" in the Ferghana
Valley. Yet, for the sake of balance, Zaynabiddinov predicted
another amnesty in which numerous religious prisoners will be
released to make Karimov look magnanimous. Zaynabiddinov pointed
to Karimov's departure for a state visit to Brazil as conveniently
timed so that he could distance himself from the alleged terror
acts on Uzbek soil, and he further questioned "what kind of idiot
would attack a concrete reinforced border bunker" when there are
any number of less fortified police targets in the vicinity. "But
then again that is just my paranoid human rights defender
mentality," Zaynabiddinov concluded.



Comment:

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




6. (C) While we cannot conclude that Zaynabiddinov's youngest son
is indeed guilty of the murder, his father's request that we stay
silent and the severe nature of the charges (preferred methods of
framing tend to be planted narcotics or allegations of
blackmailing) suggest this is not a government ploy to silence this
Andijon activist. Zaynabiddinov's conspiratorial view that Karimov
is behind the Andijon terror acts in order to impress Russia is
completely at odds with other accounts and rationale, including
ironically the President's own conspiracy theory (ref C). Andijon
is tightly controlled and there are few people willing to risk
being an activist, let alone talk to us, but this meeting is a
reminder that we need to take what local activists like
Zaynabiddinov (and many of the Internet "news" sites for which they
are frequently sources) report with a grain of salt. He has
provided reliable information in the past, but in this case he
seems off the mark.
NORLAND