(nCa) - Partial investigation report by the ministry of national security of Turkmenistan shows that some foreign diplomats and others, together with a number of local citizens, may have been engaged in several instances of spying against the country.
Minister of national security of Turkmenistan, during a meeting of the heads of the law enforcement agencies with President Niyazov, reported that proof had been found of numerous incidents where foreign nationals and diplomats including a journalist of BBC paid the local citizens for obtaining information, reports Trend.
The foreign citizens who have been accused of obtaining clandestine information include the Charge dAffaires of France, an officer of OSCE Centre Ashgabat, BBC journalist Lucy Ash, and others.
The local persons who are said to be part of the ring were reportedly trained in Ukraine for igniting a revolution and overthrowing the government.
Here are excerpts from the meeting:
Minister of national security: As a result of the investigations by the law enforcement organs, the crimes of some citizen were discovered. These [crimes] are related to transfer of information to foreign countries.
[One such person] who tarnished the reputation of Turkmenistan is Annagurban Amangildiyev. He was born in 1971 and he lives in Ashgabat.
Citizens Hajiyev and Bekmedova also participated in transmission of information.
Annagildiyev, Hajiyev and Bekmedova were trained by the Orange Revolution group in Ukraine. Amangildiyev visited Ukraine twice in January 2005 and July 2005. There he attended the courses for organizing revolution and overthrowing the government. After the training he received US $ 650.
Bekmedova and Hajiyev also attended courses in the Helsinki organization for human rights and they also received US $ 650 each.
On the instructions of Bekmedova, in October 2005 Amangildiyev met Lucy Ash [of BBC], a British citizen.
He took her in his car to the site of demolition of old houses and construction of new houses. Lucy Ash gave him US $ 600.
On the instructions of Bekmedova, Amangildiyev met in the Turkmenbashy port with Stuart Nicolas Hook, a British citizen, and Cathrine Bertlyer (phonetically spelled) in March 2006. They arrived from Baku and they had reconnaissance equipment with them.
In April 2006, Hook asked Amangeidlyev to receive video-photo camera device from Henry Tomasini of French embassy. [Tomasini is currently Charge dAffaires of France in Turkmenistan]. They couldnt meet in the embassy therefore they met at the Atamurat Niyazov avenue. Henry Tomasini came in his car (number 15 CD 002). Amangildiyev received from him a video-photo apparatus for the purpose of photographing the old houses that were being demolished and the site for the new houses. He also made video of people in the Teke market and the buildings of the law enforcement agencies and military organizations.
As a result of the investigations, the crimes of these persons have been discovered: Sapar Hajiyev, Orazova, Ovezova, Henry Tomasini (French Embassy) and Benjamin Werner (phonetically spelled) of the OSCE center Ashgabat. The investigation is still going on.
[The minister of national security showed the special glasses confiscated from the accused that were fitted with a special video-photo camera.]
Niyazov: I dont understand why they come to Turkmenistan and try to blacken this peace-loving country. There is no reason to damage the reputation of Turkmenistan. Please continue with your investigations. Discover all the facts. Work with the embassy. Otherwise, we will deport them from the country.