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DE RUEHAH #0738/01 1621128
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P 111128Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000738 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN; DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIRF PGOV SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN:  DETENTION OF TWO JEHOVAH'S WITNESS 
CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS 
 
¶1. (U)  Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for Internet 
distribution. 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Jehovah's Witness leaders recently 
provided details about the imprisonment of two Jehovah's 
Witness conscientious objectors who had previously received 
suspended sentences for refusing to enlist in the military. 
It remains unclear why authorities in Serdar city overturned 
their previous sentence and sent the brothers to prison. 
There are twelve Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector 
cases in Turkmenistan, the bulk of which are in Dashoguz 
city.  Although the other ten conscientious objectors are not 
in detention, the clash between their religious beliefs and 
the law requiring military service exposes them to ongoing 
run-ins with authorities.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. (SBU) On June 5, Political Officer met with Jehovah's 
Witness leader, Andrey Zhbanov, and his deputy, Aleksandr 
Zorin, to discuss the June 2 Forum 18 New Service report 
about the May 21 jailing of two Jehovah's Witness 
conscientious objectors for refusing compulsory military 
service.  Zhbanov and Zorin confirmed the report and provided 
additional details.  The two brothers, Sakhetmurad and 
Mukhammedmurad Annamamedov, resident in Serdar, Balkan 
province, had been given two-year suspended sentences in 
November 2008 for refusing to serve in the military.  The 
terms of the suspended sentences included a one-year "trial" 
period during which the brother's were required to check-in 
weekly at the local police station.  Zorin explained that, 
the first time the brothers reported to the police station, 
they signed a document in which they agreed not to leave the 
district for one year.  The police then told them that they 
did not need to check-in on a weekly basis.  The Annamamedov 
brother's had no further contact with the police until May 
19, when they were summoned to the military enlistment office 
and told that they would be amnestied and needed to provide 
copies of their internal passports (identity documents).  On 
May 21, they were again summoned and were asked why they did 
not serve in the military.  They responded in writing that 
they did not serve for religious reasons.  From the 
enlistment office, the brothers were taken directly to a 
court for a judicial proceeding.  According to Zorin, the 
police initiated the proceeding, although it was unclear what 
role the police played.  The police reported to the court 
that the brothers had not "reformed."  The judge, without 
further explanation, changed the previous suspended sentence 
to two years imprisonment.  The judge and the prosecutor were 
the same officials from the November proceeding.  The 
Annamamedovs had no defense counsel.  Following the 
proceeding, they were held for a couple days in a local 
detention facility before being sent to the prison in 
Turkmenbashi on May 24. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Annamamedovs had phoned their father just before 
the judicial proceeding and he rushed to the court, but he 
was recognized and not allowed to enter.  Following the 
proceeding, he tried to obtain a copy of the decision, but 
court officials refused.  The father, also a Jehovah's 
Witness, had in the past been detained several times and 
imprisoned because of his religious beliefs.  According to 
Zhbanov, from 1999-2001, the father served three years of a 
four-year prison sentence for illegal possession of 
ammunition.  The ammunition was allegedly planted by police 
while they were searching his house.  Since his release from 
prison, he had no further problems with the authorities, 
although he suffers from tuberculosis and other health 
conditions as a result of his imprisonment. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Zhbanov and Zorin could not offer an explanation as 
to why officials in Serdar changed the Annamamedov's 
suspended sentence and sent them to prison.  Conscription in 
the military occurs twice a year, in November and May. 
Zhbanov suggested that perhaps the officials involved in the 
case thought the brothers might have changed their minds 
 
ASHGABAT 00000738  002 OF 003 
 
 
since November.  Zhbanov provided a list describing the 
current status of all twelve Jehovah's Witness conscientious 
objectors, including the Annamamedovs, saying the same 
outcome could happen to others.  Details from the list are 
provided below. 
 
Vladimir Golosenko, Turkmenbashi city -- Sentenced on 
February 12, 2008 to two years of "reforming employment" at 
his place of residence, with twenty percent of his salary to 
be paid to the government.  After three months, the twenty 
percent deduction stopped.  He was told that he was granted 
amnesty, although he has no written document to that effect. 
He continues to work at the water works as a pipe fitter and 
his family considers the matter closed. 
 
Atamurat Suvkhanov, Dashoguz city -- Sentenced on December 
17, 2004 to 1-1/2 years imprisonment.  Amnestied on April 17, 
¶2005.  Since his release, he has been summoned to the 
military enlistment office, most recently in May 2009.  He 
refused to enlist and his case was transferred to the local 
authorities. 
 
Rinat Babadzhanov, Dashoguz city -- Sentenced on June 23, 
2003 to 1-1/2 years imprisonment.  Amnestied on June 12, 
¶2004.  The enlistment office continues to contact him for 
military service. 
 
Mansur Masharipov, Dashoguz city -- Sentenced on May 28, 2004 
to 1-1/2 years imprisonment.  Amnestied on April 16, 2005. 
The enlistment office continues to contact him for military 
service. 
 
Zafar Abdullaev, Dashoguz city -- Sentenced April 8, 2009. 
Received a two-year suspended sentence.  He is required to 
sign-in weekly at the police station. 
 
Dovran Kushmanov, Dashoguz city -- Sentenced April 22, 2009. 
Received a suspended sentence.  In March, Kushmanov had sent 
a complaint to the prosecutor about the authorities' seizure 
of his computer and some religious literature.  A few days 
later, Kushmanov was summoned to the prosecutor's office and 
questioned about why he did not enlist in the military. 
Court action followed. 
 
Makhmud Khudaibergenov, Dashoguz city -- Summoned for 
enlistment in 2009.  Based on the reason for his refusal to 
enlist, his case was turned over to the prosecutor. 
 
Matkarim Aminov, Dashoguz city -- Summoned for enlistment in 
February 2009.  In March, his case was passed to the 
prosecutor.  Case dropped because he was underage.  Following 
his April 17 birthday, Aminov was again summoned to enlist. 
Because of his refusal, his case again passed to the 
prosecutor on April 27.  He was told his case is closed until 
the next call-up in November. 
 
Shadurdy Uchetov, Dashoguz city -- Summoned for enlistment in 
¶2006.  After his refusal, case passed to the prosecutor and 
the mayor's office, where his case was discussed with him. 
During 2007-2008 his enlistment was postponed.  In May 2009, 
the case was again passed to the prosecutor and is being 
investigated. 
 
Akmurad Egendurdyev, Dashoguz city -- Summoned to enlist in 
2008, refused and was given a postponement.  In 2009, 
summoned again and brought to prosecutor's office.  He was 
asked if he had a medical condition and directed to have a 
medical check-up, which is ongoing. 
 
¶6. (SBU) COMMENT:  The semi-annual May and November call-ups 
for military enlistment provide a regular opportunity for 
authorities to harass Jehovah's Witness conscientious 
objectors, apparently even those who served prison time and 
were amnestied.  It brings to light the situation that, even 
 
ASHGABAT 00000738  003 OF 003 
 
 
when not actually serving time in prison, these conscientious 
objectors still face ongoing problems on account of their 
religious beliefs and the failure of Turkmen law to legalize 
their status.  END COMMENT. 
MILES