Today, Uzbekistan and Switzerland in Bern signed an agreement “On ways to return illegally acquired assets confiscated on the territory of the Swiss Confederation for the benefit of the people of the Republic of Uzbekistan,” the press service of the Ministry of Justice reported.
On behalf of Uzbekistan, the agreement was signed by the Minister of Justice Ruslanbek Davletov, on behalf of Switzerland - by the President Ignazio Cassis.
The signing ceremony was also attended by representatives of the UN, in particular, Executive Coordinator of the Office of the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund J. Topping.
“The signing of the agreement marks the immediate return by Switzerland of $131 million to the people of Uzbekistan, previously illegally acquired by an organized crime group led by Gulnara Karimova and legalized in Switzerland,” the report says.
Entering into the agreement is the result of careful work and many rounds of negotiations over the past two years between the Ministry of Justice, together with the competent departments of Uzbekistan, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and interested Swiss ministries with the participation of the UN, the Ministry of Justice noted.
The agreement establishes the return to Uzbekistan of illegally acquired assets for the above value, the key principles, mechanism and goals for the return of illegally acquired assets.
As per the agreement, the key principles for the return of illegally acquired assets are:
- openness and transparency, open publication of information related to restitution for the public;
- participation of civil society in this process;
- the final use of the returned funds in the social sphere, in particular for education and health care;
- maintaining a constant, fruitful and respectful dialogue on restitution issues between Uzbekistan and Switzerland.
The restitution will be carried out through the Uzbekistan Vision 2030 Multi-Partner Trust Fund, which is part of the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund system.
The Fund has the following administrative and organizational structure with the relevant functions and powers:
- The High-Level Strategic Committee (one high-ranking representative each from Uzbekistan and Switzerland) - makes decisions of a strategic nature on the activities of the Fund.
- The Steering Committee (one representative each from Uzbekistan, Switzerland and the UN) makes decisions by full consensus on the Fund's operations, including review and approval of projects.
In addition, the organizational structure also includes the Civil Society Advisory Council, consisting of representatives of civil society in Uzbekistan and Switzerland, as well as international non-governmental organizations, which exercises public control over the activities of the Fund, and which will carry out its activities on a voluntary basis and without wages.
The projects approved by the Steering Committee will be implemented by the relevant UN agencies in Uzbekistan together with the Uzbek side.
All information about implemented and ongoing projects will be published and available to the general public, assured the Ministry of Justice. Such a system will minimize corruption and other risks, as well as ensure transparency and accountability in spending funds, the department stressed.
An agreement to create a new UN Multilateral Trust Fund for the return of Gulnara Karimova's assets between Uzbekistan and Switzerland was reported in February.
