Brussels prosecutor approves $108M transfer to Uzbekistan

On March 28, the Brussels Prosecutor's Office submitted a request to the Center for the Administration of Seized Property (COIV) to transfer a total of $108 million to Belgium’s state treasury account. These funds were confiscated in favor of Belgium, as stated on the Brussels Prosecutor's Office website.

The request stemmed from investigations into corruption and illicit commission payments tied to telecom contracts in Uzbekistan, as well as associated money laundering activities. Uzbekistan’s judicial authorities had reached out to the Brussels Prosecutor's Office as part of an international request for legal assistance based on the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

Under an international service order issued in compliance with the convention, approximately $200 million in assets were confiscated in Belgium at Uzbekistan’s request.

According to the Brussels Prosecutor’s demand, the court determined that the seized funds should be divided between the two countries. This decision was made based on principles similar to the European Union’s established mechanisms for distributing confiscated assets between member states.

As per the court’s ruling, $108 million is set to be transferred to Uzbekistan. However, the statement did not disclose details about the crime or the individuals involved in the case.

It is worth noting that in February, Uzbek Justice Minister Akbar Tashkulov and Swiss Ambassador to Uzbekistan Konstantin Obolensky signed an agreement in Tashkent on the “Distribution of Confiscated Assets.” Under this agreement, approximately $182 million will be returned to Uzbekistan.

These funds were illegally obtained by certain Uzbek nationals and were fully confiscated in 2012 as part of a criminal investigation initiated by the Swiss Prosecutor General’s Office against Gulnora Karimova. The money will be returned through the United Nations “Uzbekistan Vision 2030 Fund” Multi-Partner Trust Fund.