Switzerland to return $182 million of Gulnara Karimova’s assets to Uzbekistan
Local
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06 February 8955
On February 6, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Justice, Akbar Tashkulov, and Switzerland’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Konstantin Obolensky, signed an "Agreement on the Distribution of Confiscated Assets", the Ministry of Justice reported.
Under this agreement, approximately $182 million in funds will be returned to Uzbekistan. These funds, illicitly acquired by certain Uzbek citizens, were fully confiscated in 2012 by the Swiss Prosecutor General’s Office as part of the criminal proceedings against Gulnara Karimova.
The funds will be transferred through the United Nations "Uzbekistan Vision 2030 Fund" Multi-Partner Trust Fund.
It is worth noting that on August 16, 2022, Uzbekistan and Switzerland signed an earlier agreement outlining the framework for returning illegally acquired assets confiscated in Switzerland. This agreement established the mechanism, principles, and objectives for the restitution process through the "Uzbekistan Vision 2030 Fund".
Under the 2022 agreement, Uzbekistan was set to receive approximately $131 million. With the signing of the latest agreement, the total amount of funds returned for the benefit of Uzbekistan’s population will now reach $313 million.
The returned funds will be allocated to socially significant projects, particularly in healthcare and education, to benefit the people of Uzbekistan.
