A Swiss court has abandoned corruption charges against the daughter of Uzbekistan’s former president, citing her inability to participate in legal proceedings while imprisoned in her home country.
Gulnara Karimova, 53, daughter of the late President Islam Karimov, faced allegations of money laundering and bribery in Switzerland, but the case was dropped Tuesday in Bellinzona just one day after proceedings began.
The presiding judge explained that Uzbek officials confirmed Karimova remains incarcerated and will not gain freedom until completing her full prison term in December 2028. This timeline means the Swiss corruption charges will expire due to statutory time limits before she could stand trial.
Karimova currently serves a 13-year prison sentence in Uzbekistan for leading a criminal organization, extortion, and embezzlement. Her legal troubles began in 2015 with her first conviction, initially allowing her to serve house arrest at her daughter’s residence. However, authorities moved her to prison in 2019 after she violated confinement conditions.
According to Uzbek media outlet Podrobno, Karimova has been detained at a women’s correctional facility near Tashkent, the nation’s capital, since early 2023.
The Swiss investigation focused on an alleged criminal network called “The Office,” involving dozens of individuals and multiple companies accused of bribery and laundering assets valued at hundreds of millions of dollars.
While charges against Karimova were dismissed, the trial continues against Swiss private banking institution Lombard Odier and a former staff member. Swiss prosecutors allege these defendants played a “decisive role” in concealing profits from the criminal organization’s operations.
Lombard Odier disputes the allegations, stating the charges involve “organizational shortcomings in prevention measures” rather than direct participation in money laundering activities. The bank maintains it will contest all accusations.
