Switzerland and Uzbekistan have agreed to return $ 131 million to Tashkent from the belongings of the late Uzbek President’s eldest daughter Gulnara Karimova, who’ve been in Swiss banks since 2012. This is said in a message printed on Swiss Federal Council web site 11 September.
As follows from the doc, the events signed a framework settlement on the return to Uzbekistan of funds which have already been confiscated within the framework of felony proceedings in opposition to the daughter of Islam Karimov and which, undoubtedly, will nonetheless be confiscated within the framework of the nonetheless pending felony circumstances in opposition to the daughter of the previous Uzbek president.
800 million francs
We are speaking a couple of complete quantity of just about 800 million Swiss francs, which had been frozen by the Swiss prosecutor’s workplace again in 2012. About $ 131 million of this quantity was confiscated in 2019. This cash is now topic to return to Uzbekistan in accordance with the signed framework settlement.
It follows from the doc that the cash can be returned to Uzbekistan if a lot of situations are met. Thus, it’s spelled out that the cash needs to be directed to enhance the residing requirements of the inhabitants of Uzbekistan and be used transparently with the potential involvement of non-governmental organizations. The textual content of the doc says that the funds are supposed, specifically, for the implementation of sustainable improvement initiatives in accordance with the UN Agenda 2030 program and the event technique developed by Uzbekistan itself.
Long imprisonment
In March this 12 months, the Tashkent City Criminal Court elevated Karimova’s jail time period to 13 years and 4 months as a part of a brand new felony case on the creation of a felony group, extortion and embezzlement.
In August 2015, Karimova was discovered responsible of extortion and tax evasion, and on December 18, 2017, in one other case, she was sentenced to 10 years in jail.
In December 2017, the US Treasury Department included Gulnara Karimova on the sanctions listing beneath the “world Magnitsky legislation.” According to the US Treasury Department, Karimova “headed a strong organized crime syndicate that attracted state actors to expropriate companies, monopolized markets and engaged in extortion.”
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Looking ahead to alter: how Uzbekistan is altering
Why Uzbekistan is attention-grabbing
When foreigners discuss Uzbekistan, they initially keep in mind Samarkand or Bukhara. These historical cities are talked about within the Thousand and One Nights. Over 2.5 million vacationers visited Uzbekistan final 12 months alone. After Karimov’s loss of life, international company usually go to the capital of the republic, Tashkent.
Looking ahead to alter: how Uzbekistan is altering
Ancient partitions of Samarkand
However, journey to Bukhara or Samarkand remains to be too costly for the general public of Uzbekistan. The least expensive practice ticket from Tashkent to Samarkand prices 99 thousand soums (by way of 11 euros). In this picture one of many sights of Samarkand – Sher-Dor madrasah.
Looking ahead to alter: how Uzbekistan is altering
The second start of the Tashkent “Arbat”
The means of international vacationers to Samarkand and Bukhara passes by way of the capital of Uzbekistan – Tashkent with an virtually compulsory go to to the native “Arbat”. In Tashkent, that is the identify of the intersection of Kemal Ataturk and Sayilgoh streets. Street artists have not too long ago begun to settle on this place once more. Under Islam Karimov, they weren’t notably favored and had been usually merely dispersed with none clarification.
Looking ahead to alter: how Uzbekistan is altering
“Babaychiki” on the Tashkent “Arbat”
After every crackdown, the artists themselves usually laughed that the National Security Service (SNB), whose essential constructing beneath Islam Karimov was situated immediately on the Tashkent Arbat, was frightened by the “babaychiks”. This is the identify given to ceramic collectible figurines just like the one on this picture. Uzbek ceramics are in nice demand amongst vacationers.
Looking ahead to alter: how Uzbekistan is altering
Tashkent artist and his mannequin
Today avenue artists not go searching. There are a variety of international residents wishing to get their portrait on the Tashkent Arbat. Moreover, the costs for a professionally executed drawing are fairly inexpensive – from 5 to 10 {dollars}.
Looking ahead to alter: how Uzbekistan is altering
“King of Antiquaries” of Tashkent “Arbat”
There is not any concern within the conduct of Tashkent vintage sellers, who place their makeshift benches subsequent to the work of avenue artists mendacity proper on the asphalt. Now on the Tashkent “Arbat” they boldly put up on the market historical cash, utensils, ornaments, in addition to bronze busts and statues of Lenin and Stalin, which weren’t allowed to overtly commerce throughout the time of Islam Karimov.
Looking ahead to alter: how Uzbekistan is altering
“I make knives and axes …”
Unlike artists and vintage sellers, the authorities of Uzbekistan have all the time handled the Tashkent craftsmen favorably. “We do it ourselves, we promote it ourselves” – that is the motto of the Uzbek masters. And they do it properly. For instance, you should purchase a stable pychak (Uzbek knife) made of excellent metal for under 10 euros.
Looking ahead to alter: how Uzbekistan is altering
Made in Uzbekistan
In reality, Uzbek artisans are the identical image of the nation because the architectural monuments of Bukhara or Samarkand. But the work of the craftsmen isn’t paid very excessive. But handicrafts are the true delight of Uzbek individuals.
Looking ahead to alter: how Uzbekistan is altering
10 euros in Tashkent – lots or a little bit?
The equal of 10 euros is 94,700 Uzbek soums. As within the days of Karimov, in Uzbekistan now, nobody refuses from {dollars} and euros. Despite the forex reform carried out by Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbeks don’t all the time handle to purchase dependable American or European cash. Often, business banks in Uzbekistan merely would not have freely convertible forex out there.
Looking ahead to alter: how Uzbekistan is altering
Bazaars present jobs
Sometimes one will get the impression that commerce is in all places in Tashkent. In all districts of the town, you possibly can see a number of bazaars directly – from stationary European-style markets to improvised dekhkan “factors” the place they promote from the ground. Now the civil service is loyal to avenue buying and selling.
Looking ahead to alter: how Uzbekistan is altering
Trade is a supply of earnings
For many residents of Uzbekistan, the sale of their agricultural merchandise is the principle supply of earnings. To make any revenue, this younger girl from a village close to the capital of Uzbekistan must promote greater than 30 kilograms of strawberries or virtually 47 kilograms of turnips.
Looking ahead to alter: how Uzbekistan is altering
Flatbread – desk ornament
On the event of the start of the holy month of Ramadan amongst Muslims, avenue distributors promote virtually 5,000 soums for the candy halal lochira-non, which is a desk ornament. Flour costs are always rising. Therefore, most Tashkent residents favor to bake bread at dwelling.
Looking ahead to alter: how Uzbekistan is altering
First indicators of a altering international coverage
It was unattainable to see a Mercedes with Tajik license plates only a 12 months in the past. First, in Uzbekistan, in an effort to shield the native auto trade, there are nonetheless “draconian” duties on the import of international vehicles. Second, from 1992 to January 2018, Uzbekistan was in a state of undeclared chilly struggle with Tajikistan. But all the things is altering.
Looking ahead to alter: how Uzbekistan is altering
The essential market of Tashkent
Changes are additionally noticeable in the principle bazaar of the capital of Uzbekistan – Chorsu, the place merchants and patrons appeared not solely from Tajikistan, however from neighboring Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Only vacationers from far overseas is not going to see these modifications. After all, foreigners are usually not but taken to the Chorsu bazaar.
Looking ahead to alter: how Uzbekistan is altering
Hope for change
With the approaching to energy of the brand new president, the streets and squares are renamed once more within the nation, returning them to their former names. However, exterior modifications can hardly be known as the start of deep reforms that can flip the republic into a contemporary affluent state. But the individuals of Uzbekistan hope that sometime this can occur.
Author: Anatoly Weisskopf
