The Uzbek media considered the issue of returning the assets of the eldest daughter of the former President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov for $ 131 million as settled, but everything is not that simple. So far, only a memorandum of understanding has been signed between the governments of Switzerland and Uzbekistan. Legal practice only records the possibility of its implementation.
The Associated Press reported that Switzerland agreed on the terms with Uzbekistan last Friday. Under the framework agreement, the funds seized as part of the money-laundering investigation against Gulnara Karimova will be transferred to the official Tashkent.
The deal has yet to be finalized before it becomes legally binding, according to a statement from the Swiss government. In return, Uzbekistan is required to guarantee the use of assets to improve the living conditions of the people of Uzbekistan, to invest in sustainable projects, and to ensure transparent monitoring.
In May, the restitution of French assets of Gulnara Karimova in the form of property worth $ 10 million took place. According to the press service of the Ministry of Justice of the republic, the refund took place thanks to the efforts of the Ministry of Justice, the General Prosecutor’s Office, and other competent authorities.
The assets were transferred to the state budget of Uzbekistan and will be used in the general order, the official statement of the department assured.
The fate of another 650 million Swiss francs ($ 715 million) seized from Karimova is being decided. Funds remain frozen in the ongoing criminal case against Karimova. The Swiss government said that if these funds were released, they would be subject to the same conditions as set out in the memorandum.
It is not known what the mechanism for checking the use of money will be. Independent human rights defenders are still marginalized and their opinion is not taken into account by the authorities. Officials calmly perceive the criticism of international human rights organizations about the impossibility of real civilian control.
Earlier, ACCA wrote about the Uzbek media ignoring the appeal to President Mirziyoyev, Islam Karimov Jr., listing everything that was taken from his mother. The conspiracy of silence is because the leader of Uzbekistan was accused of robbing the looted goods.
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