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RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0225/01 0401257
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091257Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9599
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1905
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1394
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1974
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1993
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2016
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1922
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1198

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DUSHANBE 000225 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON KCRM TI
SUBJECT: CORRUPTION ON THE FOREFRONT OF TAJIKS' MINDS 
 
REF: 06 DUSHANBE 705 
 
DUSHANBE 00000225  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1.  (U)  SUMMARY:  "Anti-Corruption" has become the Tajik 
government's new buzzword, as President Rahmonov and his cabinet 
publicly tout new initiatives to combat a problem that pervades 
every sector, ranging from health and education, to traffic 
police, to privatization and licensing. Despite the rhetoric and 
the establishment of a new anti-corruption agency, few measures 
have the teeth to stop widespread practices or curb government 
abuse.  A Center for Strategic Research Studies and United 
Nations public opinion survey confirms the extent of the 
problem, describes the negative impact on individuals and the 
country, and reveals the people's frustration with corruption. 
U.S. assistance programs continue to institutionalize 
anti-corruption efforts in all sectors. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (U)  The government's Center for Strategic Research Studies 
and the United Nations Development Program jointly sponsored 
public opinion survey directly states, "The Government of the 
Republic of Tajikistan, which, beyond a doubt, is fully aware of 
the levels of corruption repeatedly emphasizes the fact that the 
process of democratization has become especially vulnerable 
because of the increasing scale of corruption."  Corruption is 
so prevalent and engrained in Tajik society that most people do 
not bat an eyelash when a traffic officer pulls a car over and 
demands a bribe.  Most Tajiks would rather pay a fee to a 
government bureaucrat in order to register their cars or real 
estate than spend months or years fighting paperwork. 
University students regularly pay off underpaid professors to 
obtain their grades and degrees rather than actually study and 
receive an education.  The most popular university in Tajikistan 
is the State Tax Institute, which this year enrolls 23,800 
students, more than any other university, but is housed in a 
single, 6-story building.  Students want to work for the state 
tax authority-one of the most corrupt and lucrative state 
agencies, known for its ability to extort virtually every sector 
from small businesses to international NGOs to private citizens. 
 Nepotism and regionalism are accepted as cultural norms, even 
sometimes perceived as a social obligation rather than a 
dishonest practice. 
 
A CORRUPT ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCY? 
 
¶3.  (U)  Acknowledging corruption as a problem, President 
Rahmonov signed into effect January 10 the new Financial Control 
and Anti-Corruption Agency first announced during the government 
restructuring of November 2006.  Creating this agency 
constitutes an important step towards fighting a problem that 
plagues Tajikistan's economic development and impedes human 
rights and democratic development.  However, critics-- both 
international workers and locals-doubt the new agency will do 
little to truly curb corruption at the highest echelons.  A UNDP 
anti-corruption project favored creating an independent 
corruption agency in the parliamentary branch instead of under 
the control of the presidency. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  Ironically, the new agency head, Sherkhon Salimov, is 
a former Dushanbe prosecutor widely known to have used his 
position of power to engage in corrupt practices.  Because of 
his nefarious activities as prosecutor, the powers above 
precipitously yanked him from his position.  He later became a 
deputy in parliament.  Immediately prior to heading the 
anti-corruption agency, Salimov chaired parliament's Committee 
on Constitutional Guarantees, a body tasked with ensuring new 
laws meet constitutional standards.  Instead, the committee has 
a reputation for ignoring human rights standards altogether. 
Salimov's appointment has been a source of humor and dismay 
among many Embassy contacts in the government, who believe the 
appointment indicates the government's insincere attitude 
towards combating corruption, or President Rahmonov's complete 
isolation from the reputation and documented records of his 
appointees. 
 
¶5.  (U)  During a January 26 UNDP co-sponsored conference 
unveiling a public opinion report on corruption in Tajikistan, 
EmbOffs present saw that Salimov could not fully articulate the 
agency's goals or explain the scope of the agency's powers and 
its ability to arrest or bring criminals to justice.  Using 
donor-friendly buzzwords, he described the agency as a 
"coordination agency" with responsibility to oversee the fight 
against corruption, encourage transparency and defend human 
 
DUSHANBE 00000225  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
rights.  He excused himself by saying that the agency is new and 
its activities have yet to be defined.  Conference participants 
noted the agency lacks independence, reports to the president 
rather than outside the executive branch.  Despite its 
coordination role, the agency has no enforcement capabilities 
against more powerful authorities in other ministries, such as 
the Ministry of Justice and the Prosecutor General's office, 
known for their ability to manipulate the system and solicit 
bribes. 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  President Rahmonov has publicly spoken in support of 
the fight against corruption.  Local politicians consider 
Rahmonov's directive to curb corruption as genuine, but believe 
the president himself is powerless to the resolve the problem. 
The president could send a clear sign that he is serious about 
fighting corruption if he fired senior level government 
officials receiving kick-backs or prosecuted corrupt 
businessmen, but few believe he has the courage or inclination 
to take on his inner supporters or, in some cases, relatives. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Senior Ministers have dutifully repeated Rahmonov's 
public statements to EmbOffs, but seem unwilling or unable to 
fathom the extent of the problem.  One minister brushed off the 
idea that the traffic police were taking bribes, and suggested 
that drivers were pulled over only for violating traffic rules. 
(Note:  It is obvious from casual observation that traffic 
police pull cars over at random for no apparent violation, even 
while they take no action to deal with drivers speeding or 
running red lights.  End note.)  One senior minister asked the 
Ambassador "Who is corrupt?  Prove it to me and I'll deal with 
it!" as if to suggest that the lack of names meant there was not 
really a problem. 
 
THE PEOPLE SPEAK OUT 
 
¶8.  (U)  Are the Tajik people finally fed-up with corruption? 
Thirty-five citizens protested in front of the Supreme Court 
against a corrupt judiciary on January 29.  According to media 
reports, unfair court rulings and the imminent General City 
Planning Project, which threatens to displace approximately 
4,000 families from the center of Dushanbe, spurred citizens to 
action against the corrupt court system.  Since demonstrating 
without a permit is illegal in Tajikistan, authorities quickly 
dispersed the protestors. 
 
¶9.  (U)  The United Nations Development Program and the Tajik 
government's Center for Strategic Research Studies corroborated 
on a comprehensive study surveying public opinion on corruption 
in Tajikistan.  The study did not shy away from revealing the 
corruption's epidemic proportions.  According to the survey, 
over 58 percent of respondents cite corruption as a "main 
problem in everyday life."  Nearly 64 percent believe that 
corruption is a "priority problem" for the country.  Respondents 
answered that the most corrupt government organizations are the 
courts, local governments, and law enforcement bodies.  No 
respondents believed that any government agency was entirely 
free of corruption, although over 36 percent answered that the 
president's apparatus was "always clean."  In order to tackle 
the problem, those surveyed advocated for an independent 
anti-corruption institute but also said that higher salaries, 
strict financial punishment and material incentives for 
informants would help fight corruption. 
 
FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT 
 
¶10.  (U)  The survey team's analysis listed 40 recommendations 
and proposals to combat corruption including the creation of an 
independent mass media, support for civil society institutions, 
reform of the civil service, and international cooperation in 
the law enforcement sector.  It also called for increased 
dialogue between the government, civil society and the public. 
 
¶11.  (U)  Embassy Dushanbe already incorporates anti-corruption 
components into many of our assistance programs.  U.S.-funded 
programs target corruption prevention by training law 
enforcement, military officials and judicial employees on Tajik 
legislation and rule-of-law principles.  Partner 
non-governmental organizations also work with the general 
population to raise awareness and educate the public about its 
civil and human rights and legal capacity to fight corruption. 
 
DUSHANBE 00000225  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
Through the Public Affairs Section Democracy Commission and 
grants from the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human 
Rights, and Labor, international and local organizations train 
journalists in order to increase transparency.  The Office of 
Defense Cooperation will be sponsoring a seminar entitled "Legal 
and Ethical Concerns in Public Agencies."  As widespread as 
corruption is in Tajik society, U.S. efforts need to be equally 
as prevalent. 
 
¶12.  (U)  COMMENT:  The corruption problem is both simple and 
complex. On the one hand, the government should remove those 
found guilty of accepting bribes and abusing their influence or 
official positions and prosecute them under Tajik law.  On the 
other hand, decision-makers raised by Soviet standards of perks 
for the powerful may not define their behavior as corrupt, or 
may assume they are protected by their connections or positions. 
 Rahmonov's inner-circle of loyal supporters, many of them 
relatives of the president, are rumored to be the most corrupt. 
Until the public sees them facing the consequences of their 
actions, no one will have much faith in the new 
"anti-corruption" efforts. 
 
¶13.  (U)  The new Financial Control and Anti-Corruption Agency 
has managed to make the discussion of corruption public and has 
received the attention, if not the action, of the government. 
Almost all political parties cite combating corruption as a top 
priority in their platforms.  As the public opinion survey 
shows, the public remains well aware of the corrupt practices 
engrained in government structures.  It is a good sign the 
government's think-tank has cooperated with the UN to publish an 
open and honest public opinion survey.  This  shows the time is 
ripe to establish stronger anti-corruption measures in 
Tajikistan.  With catalysts like the threatened housing 
evictions and continued assistance from international 
organizations, Tajiks are waking up to the direct effects of 
corruption.  It remains to be seen whether public opinion will 
be enough to push the new anti-corruption agency to do its job. 
END COMMENT. 
JACOBSON