Probe into Gulnara Karimova entourage continues - Uzbek Prosecutor General's Office
TASHKENT. Sept 8 (Interfax) - The Uzbek Prosecutor General's Office continues probing a criminal case regarding members of an organized group, who belonged to the entourage of the Uzbek president's daughter Gulnara Karimova.
Preliminary investigation regarding members of the criminal group created by Sodikov, Madumarov, Avakyan and others has been held in association with other law enforcement agencies, the Prosecutor General's Office press office said in a statement on Monday.
"Sodikov and Madumarov carried out general coordination of criminal activities of the group," the document said.
"In 2011-2013 members of the organized group inflicted especially large-scale damage to the state under the disguise of business by committing criminal financial activities via blackmail, extortion and forging documents," the press office said.
According to the information of the press office, by purchasing state assets under understated prices and with other means the criminal group embezzled and misappropriated assets of the national airline Uzbekistan Havo Yullary worth 5.5 billion som; of Coca-Cola Ichimligi Uzbekiston Ltd joint venture worth 11.9 billion som; of Fergana oil refinery worth 40.1 billion som; and of other companies worth a total of 102 billion som.
On May 24, 2014 the court has returned a guilty verdict under the criminal case regarding Madumarov, Avakyan and others, based on which they were found guilty of committing crimes under the Uzbek Criminal Code Article 165 Part 3 (extortion committed repeatedly and upon previous collusion) and other articles of the Criminal Code and were sentenced in accordance with the law, the Prosecutor General's Office said.
"As of now, criminal cases regarding most members of the organized group have been sent to court," the press office said.
Criminal cases regarding some members of the gang are separated in regard to those, on whom not all necessary witness materials were collected and who are on the wanted list, the statement said. In particular, it concerns Karimova and group members Gafurova, Kurbanov, Suleimanov, Kamildzhanov and Mustafayev, the press office said.
"Investigators are taking measures to repair financial damage. As of now, property worth a total of 457 billion som is being claimed for the state," the press office.
After the investigation is complete, meticulous compliance with the principle of inevitability of the punishment will be ensured regarding each member of the organized criminal group.