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O R 081227Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6662
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UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000269 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KDEM PREL PINR PGOV TI
SUBJECT: NDI REGISTRATION: YOUR DOG'S TAIL IS CROOKED 
 
REF: A) DUSHANBE 
 
¶1. (SBU)  Tajik folk wisdom has it that even if all your papers 
are in order, inspectors will find something wrong -- your dog's 
tail is crooked -- for example.  After many promises that 
re-registration for National Democratic Institute (NDI) 
personnel was solved, it turns out to be unsolved.  DCM spent an 
hour and a half at the "OVIR" registration office, with many 
cell phone calls to the MFA, to no avail.  OVIR's English 
equivalent is printed at the entrance.  The bronze plaque reads: 
Departament of Viza and Registration of Foreing Citizens," 
(sic). 
 
¶2. (SBU)  The normally two-minute process dragged on and on as 
the OVIR Chief Inspector found excuse after excuse for not 
re-registering NDI Program Director Nurul Rakhimbekov, a CIS 
citizen who must keep a current registration on file.  First, 
the inspector simply said "no, come back in the afternoon." 
Then, she needed the NDI landlord's passport.  We dispatched a 
driver and 30 minutes later complied.  (We learned later that 
the landlord has already been summoned to the Prosecutor's 
Office for questioning.)  Then she complained that Rakhimbekov 
could not be registered as an individual since he works for an 
NGO.  DCM took exception to all of these technicalities and said 
the Ambassador has an understanding with the Deputy Foreign 
Minister that Rakhimbekov will be registered as an individual, 
then local Director Gegham Sargsyan will be registered, also as 
an individual, and then we can fight about NDI's registration as 
an NGO. 
 
¶3. (SBU)  Two cell phone calls with the MFA bought us some time, 
but no decision before lunchtime, when we were escorted out.  At 
that point, the final word was that Rakhimbekov is still legal 
until February 15, and so he should not re-register until then. 
Throughout the process we kept many other applicants waiting, 
and there were groups of other seemingly unoccupied men giving 
us malevolent glares. 
 
¶4. (SBU)  In the afternoon, DCM again discussed the issue with 
MFA North American Chief Nasriddinov, who said he would inform 
the Minister of the latest developments. 
 
¶5. (SBU)  At about 4:30 DCM called Nasredinov again.  He said 
the Minister would probably call the Ambassador in on Thursday. 
First to discuss a security incident in Washington, then to 
assure the Ambassador, once again, that the NDI issue is 
"solved."  Regarding the security incident, the Tajiks are 
looking for a diplomatic note from the State Department about 
how to proceed in a case in which their driver was allegedly 
assaulted. 
 
¶6. (SBU)  COMMENT:  The NGO problem is a long way from being 
solved.  In fact, according to the American Councils' Director, 
the Prosecutor's Office has given the green light to 
investigators to initiate investigations at any NGO office.  The 
fine line between investigation and harassment is not always 
recognized in Tajikistan and this signal to lower level 
officials is likely to be interpreted as open season on NGOs, 
particularly American NGOs.  Even dogs with straight tails are 
likely in for a rough period. 
 
¶7. (U) Kabul minimize considered. 
 
HOAGLAND