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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 7960
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RUCNOSC/OSCE POST COLLECTIVE
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1225
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0430

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001135 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2016 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL TX
SUBJECT: MYRADOVA DAUGHTER THREATENED BY MINISTRY OF 
NATIONAL SECURITY 
 
REF: ASHGABAT 1098 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jennifer L. Brush for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.    (C) Maral Myradova, the oldest daughter of 
deceased journalist Ogulsapar Myradova, was 
called into a meeting with the Ministry of National 
Security (MNB) on November 1.  During the meeting, 
she was told that, if the family cut all contacts 
with the international community and with their 
uncle in Sofia, Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation 
founder Annadurdy Hajyev, the family members' lives 
could "return to normal."  Alternatively, if the 
contacts continued, their plight would become 
"worse than their mother's."  Maral was also told 
that none of the family members would be allowed to 
travel outside of Turkmenistan under any 
circumstance.  Maral and her sister, Sona, came to 
the embassy afterwards, clearly seeking advice on 
next steps.  A/DCM and emboff outlined their 
options, including the possibility of seeking to 
persuade the government to reverse its ban on their 
departure -- and the possible consequences. 
Emboffs also urged the two to believe that all 
their phone calls, especially to their uncle, were 
bugged.  Post told the daughters that no action 
would be taken on the family's behalf without their 
direct consent.  End Summary. 
 
Maral Meets with MNB 
-------------------- 
 
¶2.    (C) Maral Myradova called post at 1130 on 
November 1 to inform poloff that she had been 
called in to meet with the MNB.  She said she 
was scared and would call again when the meeting 
concluded.  At 1630, Maral and her sister Sona 
came to the embassy and reported that the 
Myradova family was threatened with a fate 
"worse than their mother's," if they continued 
to talk to the international community and 
Hajyev.  However, the "intimidating" MNB officer 
said, making light of the family's situation, 
everything would return to "normal" if the 
family cooperated.  When Maral inquired about 
returning to their former jobs, the MNB officer 
feigned surprise in learning that they were 
unemployed, and assured them that he would talk 
to their former employers to make things right. 
The MNB officer also advised them that they 
would not be permitted to depart Turkmenistan 
under any circumstances. 
 
Next Step for Family: Family Decision 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.    (C) Although composed when meeting with 
Emboffs, Maral and Sona were obviously 
frightened and were looking for counsel 
regarding next steps.  When they asked 
whether they should seek advice from their 
uncle in Sofia, Emboffs did not respond 
directly, but warned the sisters to expect 
that the government would eavesdrop on all 
their phone calls, in particular those to 
their uncle.  When asked what they wanted to 
do, Maral said that the family wanted to 
leave Turkmenistan.  Emboffs told the sisters 
that this would be difficult given the 
government's stated decision to ban their 
travel outside Turkmenistan.  While the 
 
ASHGABAT 00001135  002 OF 002 
 
 
international community could seek to 
persuade the government to reverse its 
travel ban for the family, such an effort 
would be slow nd without the guarantee of 
a successful outcome.  A/DCM outlined 
what this would involve, including 
diplomatic notes on the family's behalf, 
their case being aised by ambassadors and 
high-level visitors with Government of 
Turkmenistan ministers and President Niyazov 
-- and, probably, increased pressure from the 
government.  When Maral asked which country 
might receive the family if they sought to 
depart Turkmenistan, Emboffs said that it 
was difficult to say, and that, in any case, 
the first step would be to gain the 
government's approval for their departure. 
 
¶4.  (C) A/DCM told the daughters that, given 
the threats they had just received, the 
embassy would respect any decision they make 
on next steps.  If they wanted the diplomatic 
community to push for their departure, post 
would see that this was put on the agenda. 
However, if they wanted to be left alone, 
post would wait for them to approach the 
embassy.  Post only asked that any decision 
they made be communicated directly, in order 
to avoid misunderstandings.  Both daughters 
said they wanted to think before making a 
final decision. 
 
Hajyev Complains About U.S. Visit to Myradovas' 
Apartments 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶5.    (C) U.K. Embassy Deputy Head of Mission 
Chris Bowden informed Emboff on October 30 
that he had received a phone call from Hajyev 
after the visit of the U.K., U.S. and French 
representatives to the Myradova sisters' 
apartments (reftel).  Hajyev, who had 
precipitated the visit by the U.K. and French 
diplomats, was angry that the U.S. diplomat 
participated as an uninvited guest.  Hajyev 
also said that the Myradova sisters would 
contact Bowden "soon," but no contact was 
made. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶6.    (C) The government has just raised the 
stakes for the surviving members of the 
Myradova family.  Post recognizes the 
Department's need for information on 
this case, but reiterates that there are 
real -- and very unpleasant -- consequences 
for the family members with unsolicited, and 
uninvited, attention.  With the ball now 
clearly in the court of the surviving 
Myradova family members living in 
Turkmenistan, post urges that any decision 
they make be respected.  End Comment. 
BRUSH