IRELAND– MARCH 2022

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The proceeds of Karimova’s corrupt telecoms dealings (detailed in full in the Swiss and United States update sections) were laundered through various offshore companies, and properties around the globe. The US civil complaint In Rem (case no. 15-cv-05063), for example, froze US $300,000,000 assets in accounts registered in Belgium, Ireland and Luxembourg. The civil complaint document states that assets gained from the corrupt dealings were held at the Bank of New York Mellon Investment Servicing (International), Ireland. The assets are valued at between US $114,000,000 and US $300,000,000. So far US$5.83 million has been seized as a result of US In Rem proceedings (15-cv-05063 & 1:16-cv-01257).

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On 13 April 2021 Transparency International Ireland wrote to Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD to ask the Minister to draw on international anti-corruption standards with respect to the repatriation of assets frozen by the High Court as the proceeds of fraud and corruption in Uzbekistan.

TI Ireland noted that any agreement should ensure that the repatriation of these assets is open and transparent, subject to adequate independent civil society participation, benefits the Uzbek people in line with Ireland’s international commitments to SDG goal 16.4, and advocates for international independent oversight and due diligence in Uzbekistan’s management and disbursement of corrupt assets.

To date there has been no response to this letter.