VZCZCXRO4887
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHAH #0652/01 1711256
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 201256Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7466
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCNOSC/OSCE POST COLLECTIVE
RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KIEV 0479
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0321
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0381
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1637
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2/HSE/CCJ5//
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J5/RUE//
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ASHGABAT 000652 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SECSTATE WASHDC SCA/CEN FOR LFRESE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR TX FR UK
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN IMPLICATES FRENCH EMBASSY, OSCE 
CENTER IN SPY SCANDAL 
 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMB TRACEY JACOBSON FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND 
D 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
¶1.    (C) On June 19, Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov told 
Ambassador that French Charge Henri Tomasini was implicated 
in a scheme to foment political unrest in Turkmenistan. 
Meredov unveiled a complicated story involving a 
Turkmenistani dissident, foreign journalists, spy gear, 
&color8 revolution training and diplomatic subterfuge. 
Meredov informed/forewarned at least four other missions 
(French, UK, OSCE, Ukraine) about the upcoming evening news 
broadcast that would reveal details of their collaboration to 
"foment massive public unrest" in Turkmenistan. The scandal 
will have a chilling effect on Western efforts to promote 
freedom of speech and democratic reform, as well as on the 
willingness of Turkmenistani citizens to interact with 
foreigners.  End Summary. 
 
Ambassador Briefed by Foreign Minister 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.    (C) The Foreign Minister called Ambassador in on June 
19 to describe how Turkmenistan had prevented a 
foreign-assisted attempt to destabilize the government. 
Security forces arrested Anakurban Amanklichev for plotting 
to provoke mass protests at the behest of Turkmen citizen 
"criminals" in Europe with the assistance of "special 
services" of some European countries, including Ukraine. 
Amanklichev had been arrested in January 2003 for fraud and 
sentenced to five years, but received an early amnesty.  Over 
the past several years, according to Meredov, Amanklichev 
participated in two training courses in Ukraine on how to 
provoke mass unrest and undertake other actions against the 
government.  The "criminals" with whom Amanklichev was in 
contact included Bulgaria-based former Central Bank Deputy 
and Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation founder Hajiyev (charged 
with embezzling millions and coup plotting) and other 
convicted coup plotters Orazov, Begmedov, Hannamov and 
Yklimov. 
 
¶3.    (C) In March 2006, according to Meredov, two Europeans 
with tourist visas came to Turkmenistan from Baku via ferry: 
UK citizen Stuart Nicholas Hook and French citizen Catherine 
Berthillier.  Amanklichev met them in his car at Turkmenbashy 
and brought them to Ashgabat, where he showed them housing 
demolitions, suggesting this was a fruitful area to provoke a 
mass action.  The visitors said they would send him special 
equipment to help document the demolitions, and then departed 
for Uzbekistan.  In April, the visitors called Amanklichev to 
say he could pick up the equipment at the French Embassy. 
Amanklichev met with French DCM (now Charge) Henri Tomasini, 
who did not turn over the equipment at that time because 
Amanklichev arrived at the embassy empty handed, he would 
have to depart without the case in order to avoid suspicion. 
Tomasini met Amanklichev a few hours later in a French 
Embassy car on Atamyrat Niyazov Street and handed over a 
large briefcase containing the promised equipment. 
 
¶4.    (C) Meredov then showed the Ambassador a picture of the 
equipment -- special glasses (resembling what the U.S. 
military calls government-issue "birth control glasses") 
equipped with invisible cameras for still and video 
recording.  Meredov alleged that Amanklichev was instructed 
to use the glasses not only to photograph potential sources 
of public discontent but also military facilities, police 
stations, and special services buildings.  Meredov said 
Amanklichev had taken pictures at the crowded Teke Bazaar and 
made a photo-montage of destroyed housing.  He reported back 
to the "criminals" that the people in the bazaar were all 
distraught over the demolitions and that this was a good 
source of public protest. 
 
¶5.    (C) Meredov also claimed that Amanklichev received 
instructions and sent information abroad with the assistance 
of RFE/Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation contacts Ogulsapar 
 
ASHGABAT 00000652  002 OF 004 
 
 
Myradova (sister of Hajiyev in Bulgaria) and Anadurdy 
Hajiyev.  He insisted that Myradova,s adult children were 
involved, which is why they were arrested. 
 
¶6.    (C) Meredov said he called Tomasini in for an 
explanation.  Initially, Tomasini claimed not to know what 
Meredov was talking about, but after Meredov showed him the 
pictures, Tomasini admitted that though he may have given 
some equipment to a journalist, he did not really know what 
the equipment was.  Meredov chastised him, saying "this is 
not a kindergarten."  He said the Government of Turkmenistan 
valued its relationship with France, and therefore had no 
plans to declare Tomasini persona non grata. 
 
Ambassador Highlights Transparency 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶7.    (C) Ambassador pointed out that the USG conducted 
various training programs with activists and civil society 
leaders, but these were directed at how to work as civil 
organizations, how to better work with local government, etc. 
) and not/not how to do anything secretly.  Ambassador also 
said the glasses looked like something out of a bad 1960's 
spy movie.  She urged Meredov to ensure that the ensuing 
investigations and court cases were open and transparent, and 
that they fully complied with international norms, including 
access to counsel.  Because the USG had a particular interest 
due to Myradovs/Hajiyev's connection to RFE/RL, she asked 
that the GOTX share any hard evidence it had against them. 
 
The Televised Denouement 
------------------------ 
 
¶8.    (SBU) Immediately following the June 19 2100 (local) 
broadcast of the Cabinet of Ministers meeting, the broadcast 
continued with a special session with Niyazov and the heads 
of his security agencies.  Niyazov listened impassively to 
Minister of National Security Geldimuhammet 
Ashyrmuhammedov,s equally impassively-told tale of 
Amanklichev,s foiled attempt to foment a revolution after 
being trained in the Ukraine and assisted by diplomats in 
Turkmenistan.  Asyrmuhammedov mentioned by name French Charge 
Tomasini and also stated that OSCE human dimensions officer 
Benjamin Moreau was involved.  Niyazov appeared placid, but 
pleased, with the investigation read verbatim from a written 
report.  Niyazov ordered the press to initiate a campaign to 
expose any people who were against the government and the 
country, and told Ashyrmuhammedov to &find them all,8 
including any diplomats who might be involved in such 
shenanigans. 
 
According to French, Spy Specs Standard Journalistic Tool 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶9.    (C) Ambassador met with French Charge Henri Tomasini on 
June 20.  Tomasini was visibly shaken, but bolstered by 
communications he had from Paris overnight.  He admitted to 
providing the equipment to Amanklichev on instructions from 
his ministry's press department.  The two Europeans cited by 
the GOTX (Bertilier and Hook) are correspondents with the 
Galaxie Presse, and had asked for and received permission 
from the French MFA,s press department to transfer the 
camera glasses via diplomatic pouch to their contact in 
Turkmenistan in order to report on developments in the 
country.  (Note: No information exists to confirm that 
Amanklichev is a published journalist.  End Note.)  Tomasini 
had a demarche from Paris which he hoped to deliver to the 
Foreign Minister later on June 20, stating that France 
provided the equipment as a form of journalistic technical 
assistance, and it had no other purpose.  The French demarche 
also calls on Turkmenistan to stand by its commitments to 
freedom of expression under the UN Human Rights agreement. 
 
Ukraine: Not a Training Camp for Democratic Reformers 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶10.   (C) Ukrainian DCM Valeriy Vasilyev told DCM on June 20 
he had been summoned by Meredov at 2130 on June 19 (in the 
 
ASHGABAT 00000652  003 OF 004 
 
 
middle of the Ukraine-Saudi Arabia World Cup match). 
According to Vasilyev, Meredov accused the Government of 
Ukraine of "training Turkmen in your Orange Revolution 
methods" in Donetsk.  Vasilyev said he told Meredov he would 
not dignify the baseless allegation with an answer, and 
furthermore there was no such thing as "Orange Revolution 
Methods Training."  Vasilyev said he told Meredov he thought 
it strange that one man, Amanklichev, could have successfully 
put together such a complicated plot, including the 
Ukrainians, the French, and the OSCE; to which Meredov 
replied "he was not alone, there were others." 
 
¶11.   (C) Vasilyev told DCM he considered the whole incident 
a "trumped up affair" and thought it likely Amanklichev was 
an "agent provocateur" set up by the government to discredit 
the West.  Vasilyev said he was proud Ukraine was now 
considered part of the "western camp" of democratic 
reformers.  He also noted that it probably was not a 
coincidence that the announcement came on the heels of 
GAZPROM Executive Director Miller's visit and that accusing 
Ukraine of running "Orange Revolution Training Camps" 
increasingly was part of Russia's black propaganda campaign 
in Central Asia.  He agreed that the audience for this 
incident was the local public who, as a result, would be 
increasingly reluctant to interact with any foreigners. 
 
OSCE Cautious, No Formal Response 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶12.   (SBU) PolOffs met with OSCE Center in Ashgabat with 
Acting OSCE Head of Office Dieter Matthei and human 
dimensions officer Benjamin Moreau on June 20.  Matthei 
characterized the situation as &a case under development8 
and refused to make any statement absent official 
notification and charges.  He expressed total confidence in 
his colleague,s above-board conduct, stating that Moreau 
was, &always careful, and he knows his business well -- all 
actions were received and documented.8  Matthei firmly 
declined to speculate as to the reasons behind the public 
accusation of OSCE, but acknowledged that alleged RFE/RL 
stringer Myradova had regular contact with the OSCE.  The 
OSCE &has an open door ) anyone who wants to meet with us 
can do so.8 (Note: The case against Amanklichev also 
includes participation in an OSCE-sponsored human rights 
conference in Warsaw.  End note.). 
 
Questions at DCM,s Residence 
---------------------------- 
 
¶13.   (C) Probably not coincidentally on June 19 a 
representative from the municipal government spoke with DCM's 
gardener (and next door neighbor), and asked him if he had 
seen anything suspicious going on at the DCM's residence. 
The gardener told the DCM that he had responded, "What do I 
know?  I'm just a gardener, and I look after her kid every 
now and then, I don't ask any questions."  The representative 
requested the gardener to report anything suspicious 
immediately. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶14.   (C) The ill-advised French move to supply a local 
journalist with equipment in every way resembling spy gear 
has given the government a welcome hook to round up a number 
of individuals who have contact with Western news and 
opposition organizations, and to send a chilling message to 
regular citizens in Turkmenistan about the consequences of 
contacts with foreigners.  Tomasini and Moreau may or may not 
be asked to leave, but in any case, the French have played 
into the hands of an already paranoid and xenophobic regime 
by supplying this bizarre equipment and as a result, 
seriously undermined the ability of all Western and 
international organizations -- as well as local independent 
journalists or non-governmental organizations -- to promote 
human rights and freedom of expression.  End Comment. 
 
JACOBSON 
 
ASHGABAT 00000652  004 OF 004 
 
 
JACOBSON