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Viewing cable 08ASHGABAT814, TURKMENISTAN: RFE/RL REPORTER'S SON AT WITS' END

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08ASHGABAT814 2008-07-01 06:43 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Ashgabat
VZCZCXRO7000
PP RUEHAG RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV
DE RUEHAH #0814 1830643
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 010643Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1072
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 3958
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1775
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1642
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 2211
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 2641
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0808
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000814 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL TX
SUBJECT:  TURKMENISTAN:  RFE/RL REPORTER'S SON AT WITS' END 
OVER HARASSMENT 
 
Classified By: CDA Richard E. Hoagland:  1.4 (B), (D) 
 
1.  (C) Turkmenabat-based Turkmen Radio Free Europe/Radio 
Liberty (RFE/RL) reporter Osmanguly Halliyev and his son, 
Umid, told EmbOff during a June 30 meeting that Umid, who has 
been studying Arabic at the Institute of Foreign Languages, 
had just been expelled from the school.  The Institute's 
action comes despite the fact that the boy reportedly was 
receiving good grades.  Umid claimed that two men from the 
Ministry of National Security (MNB) had threatened several 
months ago to take action if he did not persuade his father 
to cease working for RFE/RL, and he sees his dismissal as the 
result of the MNB threat.  Although Umid still has not 
received a formal letter of dismissal from the Institute, he 
sees no way that he will be allowed to go back -- or to enter 
any other institution of higher learning in Turkmenistan. 
 
2.  (C) Umid came to the Embassy looking for assistance to 
get into a foreign university.  He said that he is aware that 
there are organizations that specialize in assisting 
individuals in his position, and wanted to request the 
Embassy's assistance in making contact with those groups. 
EmbOff told him she was unaware of any such organization, but 
promised to pass on his request to Washington, where others 
might be in a position to provide guidance.  However, EmbOff 
also advised Umid to look for possible academic options on 
his own, rather than to wait for something to materialize. 
Throughout his son's recitation, Osmanguly Halliyev sat 
quietly, seemingly resigned to what had happened. 
 
3.  (C) COMMENT:  As we have seen in other cases, official 
pressure on RFE/RL reporters often extends to family members. 
 Part of the boy's desperation may be linked to the fact that 
he will be conscripted unless he can find an alternative 
university opportunity.  Embassy would appreciate any 
information that we could pass on to Umid Halliyev to connect 
with those who might offer him overseas study/scholarship 
opportunities.  END COMMENT. 
HOAGLAND