Boris Orazovich Shikhmuradov (Turkmen: Boris Orazowiç Şyhmyradow; Russian: Бори́с Ора́зович Шихмура́дов, born 25 May 1949[1]) was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan from 1995 to 2000. He was sentenced to life imprisonment after he was convicted of participation in a plot against Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov in 2002. Little is known about his life in prison, and it is unknown whether he remains alive.[2]
Şyhmyradow was born in Ashgabat to an Armenian mother and Turkmen father.[3] Beginning in 1971, he worked in the Soviet embassies to Pakistan and India. After Turkmenistan gained independence, in 1992 he became Deputy Foreign Minister and then First Deputy Foreign Minister; he also became Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers in the same year. He became Foreign Minister in 1995 and served in that position for five years. He subsequently became a Special Envoy dealing with Caspian Sea affairs and the normalization of the situation in Afghanistan in June 2000. He served in that post until March 2001, when he became Turkmenistan's Ambassador to the People's Republic of China. He remained in the latter position until November 2001, when he announced his opposition to President Niyazov.[1]
Assassination plot
Following an alleged assassination attempt against Niyazov on 25 November 2002, Şyhmyradow was arrested in Ashgabat (he had previously been in exile in Russia) on 25 December 2002. It was alleged that, as part of the plot, he had entered Turkmenistan from Uzbekistan prior to the attempt on Niyazov's life, and that, after it failed, he had taken refuge in the Uzbek embassy from 26 November to 7 December. Subsequently, according to Şyhmyradow's confession, he stayed in a friend's apartment until he was captured. This confession was shown on television; in it, he said “We are a criminal gang, a mafia. There is not a single normal person among us. We are all nonentities. I’m not a person who is able to rule the state, but on the contrary, a criminal who can only destroy the state ... While living in Russia, we were involved in drug use and, intoxicated, we recruited mercenaries to commit the terrorist act. Our task was to destabilize the situation in Turkmenistan, undermine the constitutional system and attempt to assassinate the president”, and he also praised Niyazov very highly. Some suspected that torture was used to obtain the confession. On December 30, Şyhmyradow was sentenced to 25 years in prison, the maximum possible punishment; however, the People's Council amended the criminal code shortly thereafter to enable life sentences for traitors, and Şyhmyradow's sentence was accordingly changed.[4]
Major Begenç Beknazarow, who is a nephew of Şyhmyradow, was also imprisoned in connection with the attempt on Niyazov's life.
Whereabouts
Following Niyazov's death in December 2006, his successor, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, was asked about the fates of Şyhmyradow and alleged co-conspirator Batyr Berdiýew at a visit to Columbia University in September 2007. Berdimuhamedow said that he thought they were still alive. He also mentioned the Gadyr Gijesi ("Night of Forgiveness"), an October occasion that is customarily marked by the release of prisoners, leading to speculation that Şyhmyradow might be released.[5] On the occasion, Şyhmyradow's wife and nephew were released on 8 October 2007, but Şyhmyradow himself was not.[6]
Nothing has been heard of Şyhmyradow since 2007; it is thought that he is still imprisoned or that he may have died in prison.[2][7]
In 2014, UN Human Rights Committee found Syhmyradow's rights to life and to fair trial to have been violated.[8]
References
^ abProfile for Şyhmyradow 2007-02-15 at the Wayback Machine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
^ ab"The government of Turkmenistan Should Implement the Decision of the UN Human Rights Committee on the Case of Boris Shikhmuradov". 9 November 2017.
^Alec Rasizade, , Contemporary Review, October 1, 2003.
^"Turkmenistan: Jailed opposition leaders Boris Shihmuradov and Batyr Berduyev are alive" 2008-06-05 at the Wayback Machine, Vremya Novostei (ferghana.ru), 26 September 2007.
^Bruce Pannier, "Turkmenistan Frees 9,000 Inmates, But Many High-Profile Political Prisoners Still Jailed", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, October 9, 2007.
^Roger Kangas and Brianne Todd, "Berdimuhamedov's Campaign for Political Pluralism and the Daikhan Party: Farmers of Turkmenistan Unite", Eurasia Daily Monitor, volume 7, issue 111, 9 June 2010.
^Communication No. 2069/2011. Views adopted by the Committee at its 112th session(7–31 October 2014)
January 07, 2023
boris, şyhmyradow, boris, orazovich, shikhmuradov, turkmen, boris, orazowiç, şyhmyradow, russian, Бори, Ора, зович, Шихмура, дов, born, 1949, minister, foreign, affairs, turkmenistan, from, 1995, 2000, sentenced, life, imprisonment, after, convicted, participa. Boris Orazovich Shikhmuradov Turkmen Boris Orazowic Syhmyradow Russian Bori s Ora zovich Shihmura dov born 25 May 1949 1 was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan from 1995 to 2000 He was sentenced to life imprisonment after he was convicted of participation in a plot against Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov in 2002 Little is known about his life in prison and it is unknown whether he remains alive 2 Boris ShikhmuradovBoris Orazowic SyhmyradowForeign Minister of TurkmenistanIn office 1995 2000PresidentSaparmurat NiyazovPreceded byHalykberdy AtayewSucceeded byBatyr BerdiyewPersonal detailsBorn 1949 05 25 25 May 1949 age 73 Ashgabat Turkmen SSR USSRSpouseTatyana ShikhmuradovaChildren2Alma materMoscow State University Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life and diplomatic career 1 2 Assassination plot 1 3 Whereabouts 2 ReferencesBiography EditEarly life and diplomatic career Edit Syhmyradow was born in Ashgabat to an Armenian mother and Turkmen father 3 Beginning in 1971 he worked in the Soviet embassies to Pakistan and India After Turkmenistan gained independence in 1992 he became Deputy Foreign Minister and then First Deputy Foreign Minister he also became Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers in the same year He became Foreign Minister in 1995 and served in that position for five years He subsequently became a Special Envoy dealing with Caspian Sea affairs and the normalization of the situation in Afghanistan in June 2000 He served in that post until March 2001 when he became Turkmenistan s Ambassador to the People s Republic of China He remained in the latter position until November 2001 when he announced his opposition to President Niyazov 1 Assassination plot Edit Following an alleged assassination attempt against Niyazov on 25 November 2002 Syhmyradow was arrested in Ashgabat he had previously been in exile in Russia on 25 December 2002 It was alleged that as part of the plot he had entered Turkmenistan from Uzbekistan prior to the attempt on Niyazov s life and that after it failed he had taken refuge in the Uzbek embassy from 26 November to 7 December Subsequently according to Syhmyradow s confession he stayed in a friend s apartment until he was captured This confession was shown on television in it he said We are a criminal gang a mafia There is not a single normal person among us We are all nonentities I m not a person who is able to rule the state but on the contrary a criminal who can only destroy the state While living in Russia we were involved in drug use and intoxicated we recruited mercenaries to commit the terrorist act Our task was to destabilize the situation in Turkmenistan undermine the constitutional system and attempt to assassinate the president and he also praised Niyazov very highly Some suspected that torture was used to obtain the confession On December 30 Syhmyradow was sentenced to 25 years in prison the maximum possible punishment however the People s Council amended the criminal code shortly thereafter to enable life sentences for traitors and Syhmyradow s sentence was accordingly changed 4 Major Begenc Beknazarow who is a nephew of Syhmyradow was also imprisoned in connection with the attempt on Niyazov s life Whereabouts Edit Following Niyazov s death in December 2006 his successor Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow was asked about the fates of Syhmyradow and alleged co conspirator Batyr Berdiyew at a visit to Columbia University in September 2007 Berdimuhamedow said that he thought they were still alive He also mentioned the Gadyr Gijesi Night of Forgiveness an October occasion that is customarily marked by the release of prisoners leading to speculation that Syhmyradow might be released 5 On the occasion Syhmyradow s wife and nephew were released on 8 October 2007 but Syhmyradow himself was not 6 Nothing has been heard of Syhmyradow since 2007 it is thought that he is still imprisoned or that he may have died in prison 2 7 In 2014 UN Human Rights Committee found Syhmyradow s rights to life and to fair trial to have been violated 8 References Edit a b Profile for Syhmyradow Archived 2007 02 15 at the Wayback Machine Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty a b The government of Turkmenistan Should Implement the Decision of the UN Human Rights Committee on the Case of Boris Shikhmuradov 9 November 2017 Dilip Hiro Inside Central Asia pg 217 Alec Rasizade Turkmenbashi and his Turkmenistan Contemporary Review October 1 2003 Turkmenistan Jailed opposition leaders Boris Shihmuradov and Batyr Berduyev are alive Archived 2008 06 05 at the Wayback Machine Vremya Novostei ferghana ru 26 September 2007 Bruce Pannier Turkmenistan Frees 9 000 Inmates But Many High Profile Political Prisoners Still Jailed Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty October 9 2007 Roger Kangas and Brianne Todd Berdimuhamedov s Campaign for Political Pluralism and the Daikhan Party Farmers of Turkmenistan Unite Eurasia Daily Monitor volume 7 issue 111 9 June 2010 Communication No 2069 2011 Views adopted by the Committee at its 112th session 7 31 October 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Boris Syhmyradow amp oldid 1127206299, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
