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DE RUEHAH #0257/01 0651147
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061147Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7054
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 0187
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 2515
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0414
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 0060
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0984
RUEAWJA/DOJ WASHDC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 ASHGABAT 000257 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN (PERRY); G/TIP (HALL); G; INL; DRL; PRM; 
IWI; EUR/PGI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC ELAB KCRM KWMN PHUM PREF SMIG TX
SUBJECT: EMBASSY ASHGABAT SUBMISSION FOR 2006 
ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT 
 
REF: STATE 03836 
 
ASHGABAT 00000257  001.2 OF 006 
 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (U) The following is Embassy Ashgabat's responses to the 
2005-2006 Trafficking in Persons Report for Turkmenistan. 
The report follows the guidelines outlined in reftel. 
 
¶2. (SBU) U.S. Embassy Ashgabat's point of contact for anti- 
trafficking in persons programs is: 
 
Ian Turner, Consular Officer 
Tel:  (993-12) 35-00-45 Ext. 2103 
Fax:  (993-12) 35-00-49 
E-mail:  TurnerI@state.gov 
Number of hours spent on report preparation:  Consular 
Officer: 12 hours, Consular Assistant: 5 Hours, P/E Officer: 
1 hour, AMB: 1 hour. 
 
Overview of Turkmenistan's Activities to Eliminate 
Trafficking in Persons (Keyed to Checklist in Reftel) 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Begin Answers to reftel questions: 
 
(21) A.  Turkmenistan is not a significant country of origin, 
transit, or destination for trafficking in persons (TIP), 
however there is anecdotal evidence that internal trafficking 
occurs.  The primary sources for this information are local 
representatives of the International Organization for 
Migration (IOM), the OSCE, and local NGOs.  The Embassy 
estimates this information to be reliable because of the 
organizations' familiarity with Turkmen society and their 
length of service in country.  In previous years, PDoffs, 
ConOff, EXBS, and USAID have heard the few anecdotal 
trafficking accounts that IOM, OSCE, and local NGOs report. 
In February 2006, IOM reported that there were five 
incidences of young women who were trafficked to Turkey to be 
used as sex workers and one case of an elderly woman who was 
internally trafficked inside Turkmenistan.  The number of 
accounts that the Embassy and IOM have collected does not 
lead Post to believe that trafficking in persons is a 
significant problem in Turkmenistan.  However, given the 
unwillingness of the Government of Turkmenistan (GOTX) to 
publicize any and all social ills including trafficking in 
persons, the steady decline of living standards and the 
socioeconomic situation in Turkmenistan, Post and others that 
monitor trafficking in persons believes that the problem 
could be greater. Unemployed youth, especially young women, 
are most vulnerable to being trafficked, as few educational 
or employment opportunities exist in Turkmenistan for this 
demographic group. 
 
In October 2005, IOM completed an analysis of Trafficking in 
Persons in Turkmenistan, the first ever prepared in recent 
years.  Although the report does not provide specific facts 
to justify its claims, it nevertheless provides some insight 
into trafficking issues in Turkmenistan. 
 
(21) B. As in previous years, statistically significant 
evidence does not exist to prove that Turkmenistan is a 
country of origin for trafficking victims.  The few anecdotes 
Post has heard in the past five years indicate that women may 
be lured to countries such as Turkey, the UAE, Russia, China, 
Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan by promises of lucrative 
jobs.  It appears that most are aware that they are to engage 
in prostitution (i.e., Turkmenistani citizens are aware that 
women may make money by engaging in prostitution abroad), but 
sometimes they are misled.  The women have responded to ads 
in print media and on the Internet from other countries. 
There is no evidence that false travel documents are used. 
Other at-risk groups are the uneducated and unemployed 
sectors of society.  Constant GOTX mass firings within 
various public sectors, as well as the increasing difficulty 
of getting a decent education (Turkmenistani students are 
limited to nine years of formal education that largely 
centers around the study of the President's book-the 
 
ASHGABAT 00000257  002.2 OF 006 
 
 
Rukhnama), have resulted in a dramatic increase in 
unemployment (Post estimates that up to 60-70 percent of the 
population is unemployed).  Many of the unemployed are rural 
people seeking work in major cities and lack official 
permission to work in these locations. 
 
According to IOM and other embassy sources, there are 
anecdotal reports that Turkmenistanis living in outlying 
regions are being brought to larger cities to work on various 
construction projects with the promise of high paying 
salaries, only to be forced to work long hours and receive 
little or no payment.  However, no documented proof exists to 
verify that this practice actually exists. 
 
In its October 2005 report on Trafficking in Persons in 
Turkmenistan, IOM reported that an elderly woman from 
Ashgabat was a victim of internal trafficking.  According to 
IOM, who met with the woman, the victim had agreed to allow a 
younger woman reside in her apartment in exchange for helping 
to take care of her.  After a year, the older woman 
relinquished ownership of her apartment and gave it to the 
younger woman.  The younger woman, now the new owner of the 
apartment, obtained all of the apartment documentation and 
the elderly woman's passport, then evicted the former 
apartment owner from her apartment.  A police officer related 
to the younger woman took the elderly woman owner to his home 
in Bizmien, a village outside of Ashgabat, where she is 
reportedly working for the police officer's family in 
conditions indicative of involuntary forced labor. 
 
Since the last TIP report, the number of reported trafficking 
victims remains below 10 people however the true extent of 
the problem remains unknown.  The Government of Turkmenistan 
continues to refuse to publicly acknowledge that trafficking 
in persons is a problem.  However, the Government has taken 
several steps to recognize the problem in Turkmenistan, as 
well as acknowledging the need to cooperate on a regional 
basis to combat trafficking in persons. 
 
(21) C.  The government's limitations to address trafficking 
in persons are of their own making.  All decisions are made 
by the President, and all government officials must receive 
presidential approval for all decisions made within the 
country.  No government official is willing to publicly 
acknowledge any social ill, be it trafficking in persons, 
drug abuse, prostitution, etc., as such statements challenge 
the party line of the prosperous life given to the people 
during the "Golden Century of the Turkmen People" (read the 
reign of President Niyazov).  Although Turkmenistan earns 
billions of dollars in oil and gas revenues, these profits 
are misdirected into various Presidential construction 
schemes that do not necessarily benefit the people. 
Corruption is a problem throughout society and within the 
GOTX, and while there is no concrete proof that corrupt 
officials may be involved in trafficking, it is certainly 
possible that they can be involved. 
 
(21) D.  As in previous years, the GOTX does not 
systematically monitor its anti-trafficking efforts, or 
appear even aware that efforts, if any, are being made. For 
example, in February 2006 a high ranking official in the 
Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), (the supposed) ministry 
that takes the lead on combating trafficking, informed USG 
interlocutors that the MVD was not aware of the 2005 
conviction of a woman in Turkmenabat for trafficking related 
crimes. 
 
PREVENTION 
 
(22) A. As a result of the low incidence of reports of 
trafficking in Turkmenistan, and reluctance to admit any 
social ill, the government continues to not acknowledge it as 
a problem and devotes little attention and few resources to 
the issue.  However, it appears that the government is 
becoming more willing to recognize the problem, and to engage 
international organizations, foreign governments, and others. 
 
 
 
ASHGABAT 00000257  003.2 OF 006 
 
 
During the reporting period, IOM reported that its 
cooperation with the GOTX continued to improve.  On December 
15, 2005 the State Service for the Registration of Foreigners 
formally signed a memorandum of understanding with IOM 
envisioning greater cooperation and assistance in combating 
trafficking.  The MOU also calls for the creation of 
information campaigns to raise awareness of trafficking in 
persons, the publication of information about trafficking and 
migration issues, and further research into migration and 
trafficking issues. 
 
In February 2006, the government requested IOM's assistance 
to send two government officials to a regional conference in 
Pakistan devoted to anti-trafficking issues.  The travel 
costs were paid for by INL program funds. However, according 
to the OSCE, during the reporting period, the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs rejected OSCE's proposals to hold training 
seminars for government officials sensitizing them to 
trafficking. 
 
IOM indicates that the GOTX acknowledges that TIP is a 
problem in the region, if not in Turkmenistan in particular. 
The GOTX allows IOM to conduct anti-trafficking in persons 
programming on the basis that such programs will prevent 
trafficking from nearby countries from becoming a problem in 
Turkmenistan. 
 
(22) B. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) is the lead 
agency in combating trafficking in persons.  Other agencies 
involved are the SSRF, the State Border Service, and the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 
 
(22) C.  According to the MVD and the SSRF, GOTX officials 
who attended conferences addressing trafficking in persons 
share their experiences and materials obtained during the 
conferences with their staff members.  Other than that, no 
such campaigns occurred during the reporting period. 
 
(22) D. According to the SSRF, regional SSRF offices 
throughout the country information disseminate information 
about working and traveling to Russia and Turkey.  Otherwise 
no other programs are conducted. 
 
(22) E.  There is currently one registered NGO, Ynam, which 
deals with trafficking victims and issues.  While not overly 
cooperative with Ynam, the fact that the GOTX, who is not 
receptive to the concept of civil society, registered Ynam is 
significant.  The local authorities 
neither cooperate with, nor hinder, the activities of Ynam. 
 
(22) F. The Turkish Embassy, at the request of the GOTX, 
began implementing a new policy in late 2005 of no longer 
issuing tourist visas to Turkmenistani women under the age of 
35, including those married to Turkish men whose marriages 
are not registered in Turkmenistan. The UAE Embassy, per the 
request of the GOTX, similarly does not issue visas to young 
single women.  In December 2005, the Government of 
Turkmenistan adopted a new law on migration that stipulates 
that people can be prevented from leaving the country if the 
government considers them to be potential victims of 
trafficking.  The Embassy, OSCE, and IOM view this 
stipulation as an additional means to limit the ability of 
Turkmenistanis to freely travel (as it regularly does with 
those it does not want to travel), not as a genuine effort to 
combat trafficking. 
 
(22) G.  Aside from generally registering the arrivals and 
departures of people to and from Turkmenistan, as well as the 
internal movement to and from border regions, the GOTX does 
not appear to monitor emigration patterns for evidence of 
trafficking.  The government's border control services are 
primitive and sporadic, and border officials are receptive to 
bribery.  The Embassy and EXBS are working with the 
government to improve Turkmenistan's border security. 
 
(22) H.  According to the SSRF, any inter-departmental 
cooperation to counter trafficking is conducted through 
official communication between ministries and agencies. 
 
ASHGABAT 00000257  004.2 OF 006 
 
 
 
(22) I.  No.  In fact, none of the relevant government 
agencies devoted to combating trafficking in persons could 
provide USG interlocutors with the GOTX definition of 
trafficking in persons during discussions in February 2006. 
 
¶23.  INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS 
 
(23) A. Currently no law exists prohibiting trafficking. 
However, those suspected of possibly falling victim to 
trafficking can be prevented from leaving the country under 
the December 2005 Migration Law. Currently there are several 
articles in the Penal Code that can be used to prosecute 
traffickers: 
 
Article 137 (forcing others to have sexual intercourse or 
other sexual actions); 
 
Article 139 (forcing someone into prostitution); 
 
Article 140 (running or organizing brothels); 
 
Article 141 (pandering); 
 
Article 142 (pimping). 
 
Under Criminal Law, traffickers can be prosecuted under the 
following articles: 
 
Articles 107, 108, 111, 112, 113 (Causing physical harm and 
injuries of varying degrees of severity); 
 
Articles 101 and 106 (murder and causing a suicide); 
 
Article 155 and 156 (involving a minor in criminal or asocial 
behavior); 
 
Article 127 (kidnapping a woman with the purpose of entering 
into marriage). 
 
(23) B. For sexual exploitation sentences vary from two years 
of hard labor to eight years of imprisonment.  The court can 
also order the confiscation of the convicted individual's 
assets. 
 
(23) C. According to the Criminal Code of Turkmenistan, these 
crimes result 5-15 years imprisonment.  If the perpetrator 
has AIDS and the victim became infected with AIDS, the 
punishment ranges from a prison sentence of 10-20 years. 
 
(23) D. Prostitution is a crime in Turkmenistan.  The 
activities of the prostitute are criminalized.  The 
activities of brothel owners and pimps are criminalized. 
Those that are caught soliciting services from prostitutes 
have been arrested and detained.  During the reporting 
period, one foreign citizen was sentenced to 15 days 
imprisonment for solicitation. 
 
(23) E.  In September 2005, a court in Turkmenabat convicted 
a woman of pimping and sentenced her to seven years 
imprisonment. The woman was accused of trafficking a local 
woman to Turkey to engage in prostitution.  The victim, aided 
by an IOM-provided lawyer, gave testimony against her 
trafficker during the trial.  However, during the reporting 
period, a local court refused to try a woman who was involved 
in internally trafficking another woman, supposedly for lack 
of evidence (See 21 B).  The trafficker, who filed a counter 
claim against the trafficking victim and won, was assisted by 
a relative who is a police officer.  No action against the 
police officer was taken, and the trafficking victim 
reportedly is still being held by the police officer's family. 
 
(23) F.  According to IOM, Turkmenistani shuttle traders who 
travel to neighboring countries (specifically Turkey), have 
"hired" local women to travel with them to their countries of 
destination to engage in prostitution.  Internally, IOM and 
anecdotal stories indicate that many of the foreign 
construction companies, specifically Turkish companies bring 
 
ASHGABAT 00000257  005.2 OF 006 
 
 
in people to their worksites in major cities to serve as 
manual labor for various construction projects.  These people 
are lured to these companies with offers of decent treatment 
and salaries, but are treated very badly and are paid very 
little or nothing.  Post does not have any concrete proof or 
figures to verify this claim. 
 
(23) G.  See 22 C.  As Turkmenistan is a police state, the 
GOTX regularly employees various forms of covert operations 
against supposed enemies of the state. 
 
(23) H.  No. 
 
(23) I. In July 2005, a group of law enforcement officials 
from Turkey held a four-day seminar on trafficking and border 
security with their Turkmenistani counterparts.  Post does 
not have any information about any joint anti-trafficking 
investigations. 
 
(23) J.  Post is not aware of any Turkmenistani citizen being 
extradited abroad for trafficking crimes.  According to the 
SSRF, Turkmenistan will extradite its citizens to countries 
that have signed a bilateral extradition agreement with 
Turkmenistan.  Extradition requests from countries that have 
not signed such an agreement with Turkmenistan are reviewed 
on a case by case basis. 
 
(23) K.  See Question (21) B.  There are no reports that 
government authorities have taken bribes to assist in 
external trafficking operations.  However, bribery is common 
in Turkmenistan; if evidence of TIP appears, it is likely 
that bribery of officials will play a key role in successful 
trafficking operations. 
 
(23) L. Post does not have any information that the GOTX took 
any steps to punish officials that may have facilitated 
trafficking (See 21 B). 
 
(23) M. This is not an issue of concern for Turkmenistan. 
 
(23) N. 
 
¶A. NO 
 
¶B. YES, YES 
 
¶C. YES 
 
¶D. YES 
 
 
¶24.  PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS 
 
(24) A. Other than providing expedited entry services to 
victims upon arrival in Ashgabat airport, the GOTX does not 
provide any types of services or assistance to trafficking 
victims.  SSRF Chief Myrat Yslamov told an Embassy 
representative in July 2005 that the GOTX would provide any 
necessary services, but there has never been a need. 
 
(24) B.  According to IOM, the GOTX, which is openly hostile 
to any and all attempts to form a domestic civil society, 
does not provide such assistance. 
 
(24) C. According to IOM, the GOTX does not have such a 
process. 
 
(24) D.  According to IOM, while trafficking victims can be 
convicted of violating the Penal Code under Articles 117 and 
119 (spreading of a venereal disease or AIDS), Article 214 
(illegal exit from or entry to Turkmenistan), and Article 218 
(possession of fake documents), there were no reported 
instances when returned trafficking victims were convicted. 
However, returned trafficking victims who worked as 
prostitutes have to deal with a very strong social stigma 
attached to those who engaged in such acts. 
 
(24) E.  According to IOM, in September 2005 the testimony of 
 
ASHGABAT 00000257  006.4 OF 006 
 
 
a former trafficked sex worker led to the conviction of a 
trafficker in Turkmenabat (See 23 E). 
 
(24) F.  According to IOM, a victim of trafficking has a 
right to protection as a victim of a crime during the 
investigation of a criminal case and court session.  However, 
such protection can only be granted upon the court's 
decision. 
 
(24) G. The GOTX does not provide any such training or 
services. 
 
(24) H. According to IOM, no such assistance is provided. 
 
(24) I. IOM continues to be the primary international NGO 
that works with trafficking victims, providing them with 
material and logistical assistance to return trafficking 
victims back to Turkmenistan.  It also provides them with 
legal counseling, and psychological and medical assistance. 
IOM used USG/INL program funds to publish Russian and Turkmen 
language brochures for law enforcement and potential victims 
of TIP.  OSCE has provided financial assistance to those 
implementing programs (summer camps and educational programs) 
geared towards potential at-risk groups (youth).  OSCE has 
attempted to organize roundtables and training for GOTX 
officials about trafficking in persons issues.  The National 
Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan provided limited 
material assistance to children of trafficked women. 
 
The NGO "Ynam," a registered NGO dedicated to assisting women 
and children, includes anti-TIP activities in its work and 
has established a hotline that women may call, among other 
things, to try to determine if a job offer abroad is 
legitimate.  Ynam also conducts a public education 
anti-trafficking in persons campaign.  In 2004, the GOTX 
registered Ynam under the new public association law, 
allowing it to carry out activities without risk of criminal 
penalties.  Although the GOTX is fully capable of providing 
assistance to at-risk groups, its lack of political will and 
refusal to admit to any social ills prevents it from doing 
so. 
 
End Post's responses to reftel. 
JACOBSON