VZCZCXRO2503
RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #1575 2290412
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170412Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8380
INFO RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 9754
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1766
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1758
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1717
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RUEPGDA/USEUCOM JIC VAIHINGEN GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JCS NMCC WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASH DC
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1724
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1768

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001575 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: FORMER DCA CHAIRMAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON 
 
¶1.  (U)  A Tajik court sentenced former Drug Control Agency 
Chairman, Lieutenant General Ghaffor Mirzoyev August 11 to life 
imprisonment for planning to overthrow Tajikistan's President 
Rahmonov.  Mirzoyev was arrested August 6, 2004 and officially 
charged with 36 crimes including attempt to topple the regime, 
murder, illegal possession of massive amounts of firearms, drug 
smuggling and illegal privatization of government property.  The 
General Prosecutor's office asked for the death penalty as 
punishment.  However, Tajikistan has an official moratorium on 
the death penalty and Mirzoyev received life in prison. 
Mirzoyev pled not guilty to all charges and will appeal the 
court decision and sentencing.  Fifteen of his supporters have 
also been imprisoned. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  According to the press and Embassy sources, the trial 
was closed from the public because evidence was deemed as "state 
secrets," which is legal under Tajik law.  A fellow Kulobi, 
 
SIPDIS 
Mirzoyev was one of President Rahmonov's closest advisors during 
the Tajik civil war, leading the People's Front against the 
opposition, and could have been privy to information that may be 
detrimental to Rahmonov's reputation.  Mirzoyev claimed he 
murdered several opposition figures on instructions of the 
president's administration.  Several media outlets also report 
one reason for Mirzoyev's imprisonment could be that he was 
involved in the struggle for control of TadAZ, Tajikistan's 
state-owned aluminum smelter and a primary source of revenue for 
the government.  Mirzoyev led the elite Presidential Guard armed 
forces between between 1995 and 2004, and was briefly head of 
the country's anti-narcotics agency before his 2004 arrest. 
Mirzoyev accumulated wealth by privatizing small companies and 
government buildings, all of which the government now claims was 
done illegally.  He also allegedly profited from drug 
trafficking.  As Mirzoyev gained confidence in his power, he 
publicly opposed Rahmonov and made it clear that he wanted to be 
the next president. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  COMMENT:  Even though Mirzoyev may appeal the 
sentencing, it is extremely unlikely he will be released from 
prison.  The government would not risk allowing the "state 
secrets" that forced the trial behind doors to be released. 
 
SIPDIS 
Mirzoyev probably committed many of the charges brought against 
him, but it is the lack of transparency and selective use of the 
law that suggests political will is driving the case.  Mirzoyev 
joins the ranks of Mahmadruzzi Iskandarov, former chairman of 
the Democratic Party of Tajikistan imprisoned for 23 years, who 
dared to publicly challenge Rahmonov as he approaches the finish 
line at the November presidential election.  END COMMENT. 
 
HUSHEK