id: 42141
date: 10/6/2005 8:33
refid: 05DUSHANBE1613
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination:
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of
the original cable is not available.
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001613
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/PPD/PA, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, KPAO, TI
SUBJECT: «JUSTICE» IN TAJIKISTAN: ISKANDAROV SENTENCED TO 23
YEARS IN
PRISON
1. Tajikistan’s Supreme Court
sentenced Mahmadruzi Iskandarov,
former Chairman of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan and former
head of Tojikgaz, Tajikistan’s state-run natural gas monopoly,
to 23 years in a maximum-security prison. The court authorized
the government to strip Iskandarov of his rank of Major General,
confiscate his property, and take back Tajikistan’s
third-highest honor, the Spitamen medal, awarded to Iskandarov
in 2001 when he was still in President Rahmonov’s favor. The
court also ordered restitution of over $470,000 allegedly taken
from Tojikgaz. Iskandarov was
convicted on eight counts under
the Tajik Criminal Code, including terrorism, banditry,
possession of illegal weapons, as well as forgery, bigamy, and
embezzlement of state funds. Iskandarov will certainly appeal
the verdict.
2. Iskandarov’s verdict comes two
days after former United
Tajik Opposition field commander Yoribek «Shaykh» Ibrohimov
received a similar 22-year sentence for the same August 2004
shooting in Iskandarov’s hometown of Tojikobod. This city lies
in the middle of Tajikistan’s politically sensitive Rasht
Valley, a former opposition stronghold. The Supreme Court
fingered Iskandarov as the ringleader of the «terrorist
attack,»
adding that the crime was committed with «illegally-possessed
weapons.»
3. (SBU) COMMENT: As recently as spring 2004, Rahmonov had
attempted a reconciliation with Iskandarov and had reportedly
offered him a major political position in return for his
support. Iskandarov refused and
made clear he would stand in
opposition at the next presidential election. Many believe the
government used Iskandarov’s trial to intimidate any potential
political challengers to President Rahmonov. Social Democratic
Party Chairman, Rahmatullo Zoyirov, released a press statement
calling the trial «politically motivated» and the outcome
«ordered.» Post
concurs; Iskandarov’s arrest, trial, and
verdict appear politically motivated and could effectively scare
off contenders for the November 2006 presidential elections.
END COMMENT.
NNNN
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 42144
date: 10/6/2005 10:04
refid: 05DUSHANBE1616
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination:
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of
the original cable is not available.
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001616
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/PPD/PA, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, KPAO, TI
SUBJECT: «JUSTICE» IN TAJIKISTAN: ISKANDAROV SENTENCED TO 23
YEARS IN
PRISON
1. Tajikistan’s Supreme Court
sentenced Mahmadruzi Iskandarov,
former Chairman of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan and former
head of Tojikgaz, Tajikistan’s state-run natural gas monopoly,
to 23 years in a maximum-security prison. The court authorized
the government to strip Iskandarov of his rank of Major General,
confiscate his property, and take back Tajikistan’s
third-highest honor, the Spitamen medal, awarded to Iskandarov
in 2001 when he was still in President Rahmonov’s favor. The
court also ordered restitution of over $470,000 allegedly taken
from Tojikgaz. Iskandarov was
convicted on eight counts under
the Tajik Criminal Code, including terrorism, banditry,
possession of illegal weapons, as well as forgery, bigamy, and
embezzlement of state funds. Iskandarov will certainly appeal
the verdict.
2. Iskandarov’s verdict comes two
days after former United
Tajik Opposition field commander Yoribek «Shaykh» Ibrohimov
received a similar 22-year sentence for the same August 2004
shooting in Iskandarov’s hometown of Tojikobod. This city lies
in the middle of Tajikistan’s politically sensitive Rasht
Valley, a former opposition stronghold. The Supreme Court
fingered Iskandarov as the ringleader of the «terrorist
attack,»
adding that the crime was committed with «illegally-possessed
weapons.»
3. (SBU) COMMENT: As recently as spring 2004, Rahmonov had
attempted a reconciliation with Iskandarov and had reportedly
offered him a major political position in return for his
support. Iskandarov refused and
made clear he would stand in
opposition at the next presidential election. Many believe the
government used Iskandarov’s trial to intimidate any potential
political challengers to President Rahmonov. Social Democratic
Party Chairman, Rahmatullo Zoyirov, released a press statement
calling the trial «politically motivated» and the outcome
«ordered.» Post
concurs; Iskandarov’s arrest, trial, and
verdict appear politically motivated and could effectively scare
off contenders for the November 2006 presidential elections.
END COMMENT.
NNNN
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 42149
date: 10/6/2005 10:48
refid: 05DUSHANBE1617
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination:
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of
the original cable is not available.
—————— header ends —————-
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE
001617
SIPDIS
EUR/CACEN
S — SUSAN ELLIOTT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/6/2015
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, TI
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF SECRETARY RICE TO TAJIKISTAN
CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Hoagland, Ambassador, EXEC, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)
Madame Secretary:
1. (U) Embassy Dushanbe welcomes
your visit to Tajikistan, the
first-ever by a Secretary of State to Tajikistan as an
independent country. The
historical importance is not lost on
Tajikistan’s leaders or people. All will have high expectations
of a successful visit leading to closer cooperation.
TAJIKISTAN A KEY REGIONAL PLAYER
2. (U) While it has taken
Tajikistan some time to recover from
the civil war of the 1990’s, it has taken even longer for the
international community to realize that Tajikistan is now firmly
on the map as a regional player in Central Asia. Tajikistan
remains the poorest post-Soviet state, with many people getting
by on a monthly salary of only $30 a month. However, that is
supplemented by Tajikistan’s strong family networks and
remittances from Tajiks working abroad, mainly in Russia.
Tajikistan’s leaders hope to break out of this economic dilemma
through an ambitious hydro-energy development effort that would
power not only a growing industrial capability at home, but also
Afghanistan and Pakistan, two countries with growing energy
requirements.
3. (U) Tajikistan’s borders are
open to trade, despite
Uzbekistan’s recalcitrance (Uzbekistan does not even allow
flights between Tashkent and Dushanbe) and there is growing
interest by China, Iran, Pakistan, and the other Central Asian
states in trading with this former Silk Road state.
TAJIK LEADERSHIP AND POLITICS
4. (C) President Emomali Rahmonov
is a former collective farm
administrator who has proven to be adept at moving his agenda at
a pace that the public accepts. Polls and our own observations
confirm that he is for now a respected and well-liked leader who
has brought stability to a country that experienced a wrenching
civil war. Rahmonov can be
ruthless with opponents, but some of
this opponents are indeed dangerous, such as the former Drug
Control Chief Mirzoyev, who probably would not have hesitated to
plot a coup against Rahmonov. could have threatened Rahmonov
for power. The United States
urged Rahmonov to remove Mirzoyev,
and he did. Rahmonov’s
maneuvering has allowed him to run for
two additional seven-year terms, and potentially be in power
until 2020. In that amount of
time, he could certainly wear out
his welcome, especially if his inner circle is seen as corruptly
reaping too many of the benefits of Tajikistan’s development.
Tajikistan is a secular, centralized but multi-party state with
most real decisions made by President Rahmonov. Tajikistan
boasts the only legal Islamic Party in Central Asia. The
government continues to improve in terms of delivering services
and accepting international norms.
U.S.-TAJIK RELATIONS
5. (C) There is definitely a reservoir of goodwill
for the
United States because of U.S. humanitarian assistance during the
civil war. The United States is
still recognized as a major
partner, but Russia’s influence is large and pervasive. The
United States can only remain relevant in Tajikistan through
continued engagement — assistance for counternarcotics, border
management, and, increasingly, economic reform. Attracting a
major U.S. company to Tajikistan would bolster the political
relationship enormously. Mining,
oil and gas, adventure
tourism, and hydropower are the most promising sectors for
economic development.
TAJIK-AFGHAN RELATIONS
6. (U) While some Central Asian
states see Afghanistan as
simply a source of instability and extremism, Tajikistan sees
Afghanistan as a good neighbor and a country whose future is
vitally tied to its own. More
than instability, it is drug
trafficking from Afghanistan transiting Tajikistan that
threatens Tajikistan’s future. International assistance to help
Tajikistan police its own borders after this year’s withdrawal
of Russian border forces is critical to Tajikistan remaining a
state with border integrity and indeed sovereignty. There is a
danger of Tajikistan becoming a narco-state if the flow of drugs
is not limited. President
Rahmonov visits with President Karzai
regularly and supports Afghanistan publicly and through the few
means he has at his disposal, including with Drug Control Agents
operating in Afghanistan and cooperating with Afghan
authorities.
DEMOCRACY AND PRESS FREEDOM
7. (C) We’re not there yet, but neither is this
another
Uzbekistan. Tajikistan is not in
danger of a «Color Revolution»
because the government is genuinely popular and respected.
However, the government uses that popularity to deal
aggressively with opponents both in politics and the media. The
Embassy tries to reinforce the message that those means of using
power are not needed and counterproductive. We also emphasize
that greater democracy provides for greater stability, a key
theme of the President, given the country’s collective fear of
returning to any sort of turbulence that could upset
Tajikistan’s slow and steady progress.
HOAGLAND
NNNN
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 42213
date: 10/7/2005 3:13
refid: 05DUSHANBE1620
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination:
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of
the original cable is not available.
—————— header ends —————-
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE
001620
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/7/2015
TAGS: MCAP, TI
SUBJECT: IIR 6 947 0054 05/TAJIK BORDER GUARD ASSESSMENTS (U)
CLASSIFIED BY: Jonathan Edwards, DATT, USDAO Dushanbe, DIA.
REASON: 1.4 (b)
CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
SERIAL: (U) IIR 6 947 0054 05.
COUNTRY: (U) TAJIKISTAN (TI)
IPSP: (U) IFC1116; IFC1139;
IFC2230; IFC2540; IFC2550; IFC2330.
SUBJECT: IIR 6 947 0054 05/TAJIK BORDER GUARD ASSESSMENTS(U).
WARNING: (U) THIS IS AN
INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY
EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE. REPORT
CLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL
——————————————— ———
DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE
——————————————— ———
DOI: (U) 20050504
REQS: (U) DHCD1110547; DHCD111052; DHCD111053; DHCD111045;
DHCD111044; DHCD045061; U-UDX-1130-040-04.
SOURCE: (C) //6 947 0024//
RETIRED WESTERN MILITARY OFFICER
CURRENTLY WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION WITH DIRECT
ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION. USDAO
HAS AN ESTABLISHED
RELATIONSHIP WITH SOURCE. CONTEXT
STATEMENT — RO AND SOURCE MET
IN AN INFORMAL SETTING BUT REPORT ITSELF WAS PASSED ON AN
OFFICIAL BASIS. SOURCE IS AWARE THAT INFORMATION WILL REACH U.S.
GOVERNMENT.
SUMMARY: (C) REPORTS PROVIDE
ASSESSMENT OF TAJIK BORDER GUARD
FORCES IN THE GORNO-BADAQHAN AUTONOMOUS REGION ALONG THE
TAJIK-AFGHANISTAN BORDER AND OF THE TAJIK BORDER GUARDS MORE
GENERALLY. REPORTS ARE HIGHLY
CRITICAL OF CURRENT BORDER GUARD
CAPABILITIES. ENCLOSURES.
TEXT: 1. (C) SOURCE VISITED THREE INTERNATIONAL BORDER
CROSSING POINTS AND SEVEN BORDER POSTS ALONG THE TAJIK-AFGHAN
BORDER. NONE OF THE CROSSING
POINTS OR POSTS HAD AN OPERATIONAL
VEHICLE, BACKUP POWER, OR IT EQUIPMENT AND THOSE FEW EQUIPPED
WITH RADIOS HAD TO FLAG DOWN CIVILIAN VEHICLES TO TRAVEL TO THE
NEAREST VILLAGE TO CHARGE THE RADIO BATTERIES.
2. (C) THE FOLLOWING BORDER
CROSSING POSTS WERE VISITED:
DARVOZ //GEOCOORD: 3827.25N/07049.668E//,
KHOROGH (TEM) //GEOCOORD: 3731.717N/07130.282E//,
ISKASHIM //GEOCOORD: 3701.262N/07127.856E//.
3. (C) THE FOLLOWING BORDER POSTS WERE VISITED:
ISKASHIM — 3KM NORTHWEST OF CROSSING POINT, HOUSES CROSSING
POINT BORDER GUARDS;
YOGET //GEOCOORD: 3820.884N/07036.719E//;
VISHKARV — LOCATED ALONG THE ROAD BETWEEN THE TOWN OF DARVOZ AND
THE DASHTAK BORDER POST;
