Gulnara Karimova's “Sijjak” villa: A luxury retreat with a dark history

Have you ever heard of the "Sijjak" recreation area, nestled at an altitude of 959 meters above sea level on the right bank of the Piskom River valley? Or perhaps you’ve stayed at a luxurious "dacha" in this scenic location? If you haven’t, associating the name "villa" in "Sijjak" with Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Uzbekistan’s first President, Islam Karimov, might help you place it. Indeed, we’re talking about the infamous villa of Karimova, which has remained largely untouched and unmentioned for many years.

This exclusive recreation area, covering 5.4 hectares and comprising 5,016 square meters of buildings and facilities, was put up for sale several years ago. When no buyer could be found, it was transferred to the Federation of Trade Unions.

The complex includes a hotel, several swimming pools, an amphitheater, a cottage, a water tower, and various other amenities. It’s rumored that Gulnara Karimova occasionally hosted her children, friends, and lavish parties at this villa.

In fact, rumors surfaced in July 2019 about the potential transfer of the "Sijjak" recreation area to the Triathlon Federation of Uzbekistan. A draft resolution, prepared by the State Assets Management Agency, proposed using the area as a training base for the national triathlon team. This plan included constructing necessary infrastructure, such as external engineering networks (water, electricity, gas supply), roads for cycling, and other facilities, all funded by the Tashkent region budget and the Republican Road Fund.

The proposed project also included plans to build a sports facility, a hotel, swimming pools, an amphitheater, cottages, and other structures on the site. According to the draft resolution, the "Sijjak" camp was restricted by a decision from the Tashkent Regional Criminal Court on February 10, 2017.

But what exactly does this restriction entail? The villa in question once belonged to Gulnara Karimova. Following criminal charges against her in 2017—including extortion, embezzlement, fake entrepreneurship, tax evasion, and document tampering—sanctions were imposed on her property. These legal actions effectively sealed off her assets, including the luxurious "Sijjak" recreation area.

While the draft resolution to transfer the "Sijjak" recreation area to the Triathlon Federation was never discussed further, the facility continued to be used for nearly a year after its transfer. However, the process of privatizing the luxurious "Sijjak" camp soon began, bringing the rumors surrounding the dacha back to public attention.

In June 2020, the State Assets Management Agency announced that the "Sijjak" holiday camp was up for sale. After months of failed attempts to sell the property, the announcement was renewed in March 2021, signaling that the sale process was ongoing.

The "Sijjak" dacha, with its opulent design, was built for high-profile guests. Despite being unused for a long time, the property remained in excellent condition. In April 2021, QALAMPIR.UZ visited the luxurious retreat and confirmed its lavish features: strong walls, expensive chandeliers, original furniture, a cinema, large swimming pool, separate rooms for drinks, and designated relaxation areas. The dacha, designed for year-round use, boasted a well-maintained exterior, courtyard, and flourishing trees, all of which suggested that a considerable amount of money had been invested in its construction. However, despite its evident luxury, the property remained unsold for more than a year.

Questions surrounding the transparency of the privatization process arose after the sale of Karimova's dacha. Specifically, concerns were raised about whether Karimova’s children could purchase the property. In response, Justice Minister Ruslanbek Davletov addressed the matter, stating:

"It is better for you, not us, to assess the level of transparency in the sale of properties that have been converted into state assets today. The processes are covered in the media. We think that transparency is being implemented based on established standards and legislation. But what is it like in reality? You can answer that. There are bodies that monitor [the process]. Transparency is being ensured! If you say, 'No, there is no transparency,' we are ready to consider it."

He further clarified that there were no restrictions preventing Karimova's children from participating in the sales tender, adding: "Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan have equal rights. If they have money, they can buy it in the established manner. Today, there are no restrictions."

In April and October 2022, the State Assets Management Agency put the "Sijjak" recreation area up for sale again. This time, the starting price of the dacha was set at 70 billion 68 million sums, with a deposit amount of 3.5 billion sums at 5%. However, questions about the transparency of the sale and whether the property will eventually find a buyer remain unanswered, as the process continues to unfold. 

By July 2023, the "Sijjak" recreation center was officially removed from the list of objects to be privatized under a decree issued by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on June 14, 2023. The decree, titled “On the systematic organization of children's recreation and further improvement of health work,” marked the end of the property’s privatization efforts.

In short, after failing to find a buyer, on January 9, 2025, it was announced that the resort had been transferred to the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan as part of a government initiative. The property’s inclusion in the list of children's recreation centers and other facilities transferred to the Federation was confirmed by a government decree dated March 25, 2023. Subsequently, another decree on December 27, 2024, also added the “Sijjak” recreation center to this list.

This marks just a small fraction of the assets once belonging to Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Uzbekistan’s first president, Islam Karimov. Following her trial, details of her vast wealth and properties in various countries were made public.

By 2022, it was reported that Gulnara Karimova and members of the criminal organization she allegedly led owned properties in several countries, including France, Belgium, Great Britain, Latvia, and Russia. This information was disclosed by Deputy Minister Muzrof Ikramov during a briefing held by the Ministry of Justice.

For example, in 2020 and 2021, as part of an investigation into the criminal group, two mansions near Paris were sold, resulting in the return of 20 million US dollars to Uzbekistan. The assets linked to the group were also found in Belgium.

In Great Britain, Gulnara Karimova and her associates owned assets totaling 10 million pounds and three real estate properties. Among these properties were a house in Surrey and two apartments in prestigious areas of London, valued at 40 million pounds (approximately 52 million dollars), according to a report from "The Daily Mail". These assets are just a part of the extensive portfolio that was uncovered following Karimova's legal troubles.

Reports indicate that Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Uzbekistan’s former president Islam Karimov, purchased the Gorse Hill Manor estate in Surrey for £18 million in 2010. This mansion, built in 1912, sits on 70,000 square meters of gardens and includes a boating lake. The estate is located in an area renowned for its luxury, with neighboring properties owned by some of the world's most influential and wealthy figures, including the Sultan of Brunei.

In addition to her Surrey estate, Karimova is known to own two properties in London. One of these was purchased for £8 million in the prestigious Mayfair district, while the other, located in the Belgravia area, was bought for £2 million.

Karimova's assets also extend to Latvia, where she holds $15 million in financial assets and 26 kilograms of gold certificates, valued at 850 ounces. Additionally, she owns a cultural and entertainment complex in the Latvian capital, Riga.

The scale of her international holdings became even clearer in November 2021 when the Moscow City Court ruled on the seizure of her assets in Russia. This included six apartments, which were transferred to the state of Uzbekistan as part of the effort to recover her illicit wealth.

Following her arrest, the Uzbek Prosecutor General’s Office revealed the extent of the damage caused by Karimova’s actions, estimating the losses at $165 million and 85 billion sums (approximately $9 million). These figures reflect the financial impact of the extensive corruption tied to her.

In May 2020, the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan reported a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to return Karimova's illicitly acquired assets. As a result of international cooperation, assets worth $10 million were returned to Uzbekistan from France, and these funds were subsequently allocated to the state budget for general use. This marks just one part of an ongoing effort to recover the proceeds of Karimova’s alleged criminal activities, with significant assets still under investigation in multiple jurisdictions.

"In a significant step toward recovering illegally obtained funds, it has been confirmed that $131 million linked to Gulnara Karimova, the former Board of Trustees of the Fund Forum, will be returned from Swiss banks to Uzbekistan. These funds, seized as part of international efforts to address corruption, will be allocated to key social sectors, with a particular focus on education and healthcare.

The agreement governing this restitution, titled "On the Ways of Returning Illegally Acquired Assets Confiscated in the Territory of the Swiss Confederation to the Interests of the Population of the Republic of Uzbekistan," outlines several key principles for the use of these funds:

1. Openness and Transparency: Public disclosure of all information related to the restitution process.
2. Civil Society Participation: Ensuring that civil society has a role in overseeing and contributing to the restitution efforts.
3. Redirection to the Social Sphere: The ultimate goal is to "channel the returned funds into public services, particularly education and healthcare.
4. Ongoing Dialogue: The agreement emphasizes the continuation of a productive and respectful dialogue between Uzbekistan and Switzerland regarding the restitution process," the Ministry of Justice said in an official statement for 2022.

According to a UN official briefing in New York, "the funds will be transferred to Uzbekistan in several tranches," with an initial focus on public health initiatives. By 2023, the UN office in Uzbekistan confirmed that a portion of the returned assets would be used to reduce maternal and child mortality rates in the country. Specifically, the Uzbekistan Vision 2030 Fund, set up to manage these assets, allocated $43.5 million to support a new UN project aimed at significantly reducing maternal and newborn mortality.

However, as of 2025, there is no official information regarding the total amount of wealth Gulnara Karimova had accumulated before her arrest or the extent of her remaining assets in Uzbekistan. Additionally, details about her transfer from a penal colony to a residential colony remain undisclosed by official authorities. Despite these uncertainties, the ongoing restitution efforts are seen as a step toward improving Uzbekistan’s social infrastructure, benefiting the country's most vulnerable populations.