Keystone-SDA
Uzbekistan detention of the daughter of the former leader of the country Islam Karimov was arbitrary, according to a UN committee. Gulnara Karimova had been arrested over ten years ago. Switzerland had confiscated hundreds of millions of francs in this case.
(Keystone-ATS) In an opinion rendered in recent months and revealed Thursday by the Bloomberg agency, the UN working group on arbitrary detention claims that Uzbekistan violated the fundamental rights of Ms. Karimova. As well as several international obligations of the country. The daughter of Islam Karimov had been arrested by the Uzbeke security forces without a mandate and without explanation.
In their opinion, which Keystone-ATS was able to consult, the independent experts, who do not express themselves on behalf of the United Nations, ask the authorities to “remedy the situation” of the complainant without delay. In accordance with international law, it must receive adapted compensations, according to them.
They also want an independent investigation on its arrest and detention. Officials must be punished, add independent experts.
Geneva lawyers had filed a complaint in 2021 with the UN working group. They had denounced “systematically flouted” rights for their client in Uzbekistan. She had to wait 18 months before being confronted with a judge.
293 million confiscated
Lawyers also targeted “three simulacres of trials”. They asked for the immediate Liberation of Ms. Karimova. And they criticized the “Swiss and Western judicial authorities” of “whitening injustice”.
The public prosecutor of the Confederation (MPC) had opened procedures in Switzerland against Ms. Karimova and the legal representatives of several of his companies for money laundering. He had blocked around 800 million francs. Among this amount, a framework agreement had been signed with Uzbekistan for the return of some $ 131 million.
After several twists and turns, the Federal Criminal Tribunal had decided in 2021 the return of part of the frozen funds, confiscating a total of 293 million francs in Uzbeke.
