VZCZCXRO1214
RR RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHSL
DE RUEHNT #0049/01 0290945
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 290945Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1807
INFO ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
CIS COLLECTIVE
NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0084
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RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 000049 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO AMCONSUL ALMATY 
AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PASS TO AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG 
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PASS TO AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 
AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/29 
TAGS: PREL PHUM ELAB PGOV KIRF UZ
SUBJECT: Bible Society of Uzbekistan faces Uncertain Future 
 
REF: 09 TASHKENT 1573; 08TASHKENT 821 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Holly Lindquist Thomas, P/E Officer, Tashkent; REASON: 
1.4(B), (D) 
 
¶1.       (C) Summary:  Sergei Mitin, Chairperson of the Bible 
Society of Uzbekistan, spoke to poloff on January 22 to discuss 
continued problems with fulfilling its mission in Uzbekistan. 
Although Mitin is not yet ready to throw in the towel, he and 
others in the World Congress of United Bible Society are starting 
to question the future of the organization.  Mitin will be meeting 
with the Ambassador on February 2.  End summary. 
 
 
 
¶2.       (SBU) Mitin has sent three letters to the Religious 
Affairs Committee (RAC) since November requesting assistance.  The 
first letter proposed a meeting to negotiate a settlement of the 
ongoing dispute over a shipment of Bibles in the Russian, Uzbek, 
and Karakalpak languages that the GOU confiscated in June 2008. 
(See reftels.)  Mitin would like to see whether authorities would 
allow the Russian-language materials in exchange for sending the 
remainder to another location.  (Note:  The same Russian-language 
materials were allowed in 2007, so it is reasonable to think they 
might be allowed again.  The problem seemed to arise because of the 
Uzbek and Karakalpak materials.)  The second letter requested 
permission for a new shipment of approximately 3,000 books, 
consisting of Russian-language Bibles in about 59 different formats 
(some for children, some with illustrations, different prints, 
etc.).  The third letter requested permission to locally publish 
the Book of Isaiah in Uzbek for the first time. 
 
 
 
¶3.       (C) On January 20, Mitin spoke with Deputy Director of the 
RAC, Bekzot Kadyrov about his requests.  On the issue of the 
impounded shipment, Kadyrov told him that the Director of the RAC, 
Ortiqbek Yusupov, would only agree to discuss the impounded books 
if it is to determine where the shipment will be sent, outside of 
the borders of Uzbekistan.  He said there would be no discussion of 
allowing those materials into the country. 
 
 
 
¶4.       (C) In response to Mitin's request to bring in another 
shipment and to publish the book of Isaiah, Kadyrov said that the 
applications for both these requests must include a list of 
churches and pastors who want the materials, with an explanation of 
why they want them and to whom they will be distributed.  This is 
the first time such information has been requested.  Mitin was 
dismayed at this request, concerned that providing such information 
will bring unwanted attention to the pastors who request the books, 
and could even be the basis for allegations of proselytizing.  He 
feels he cannot ask pastors to supply such information. 
 
 
 
¶5.       (C) Mitin, recently returned from a conference of the 
World Congress of United Bible Societies in Minsk, is contemplating 
the continued existence of the Bible Society of Uzbekistan.  The 
Society's legally recognized activities are translating, 
publishing, and distributing religious materials.  If it is unable 
to conduct these activities, there is little reason for continued 
operations.  Other representatives at the World Congress apparently 
agree, and look at the coming months as a key period for the 
organization.  Mitin says that the request for the new shipment of 
Russian Bibles will be a litmus test.  If the shipment is not 
approved, he will have to being to consider closing up shop. 
(Interestingly, the Chairperson of the Bible Society in Kazakhstan 
said he would be eager to accept the shipment of materials 
currently held by authorities if they are not allowed in 
Uzbekistan.) 
 
TASHKENT 00000049  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶6.       (C) Comment:  According to its website, the Bible Society 
of Uzbekistan is the only registered interdenominational Christian 
organization in the country.  It has been registered since 1994. 
Its loss would be one more sign that religious organizations cannot 
operate freely in Uzbekistan.  Despite the GOU's reluctance to 
include religious freedom in ABC discussions, however, it seems 
doubtful that they want to see this organization die, particularly 
in light of the negative international intention it would bring. 
Part of the problem here is that the parties have become entrenched 
over the impounded shipment of Bibles.  If Mitin agrees to send the 
shipment to Kazakhstan, he may have more negotiating room on the 
other issues of concern.  Mitin has requested a meeting with the 
Ambassador, which we will use to explore new ways to assist in the 
context of our expanding bilateral dialogue with Uzbekistan.  End 
comment. 
 
 
 
                NORLAND 
NORLAND