Anorbank shareholder and Uzbek businessman Qahramonjon Olimov released an official statement on October 16 through the French law firm FEDIDA ASSOCIES. The statement addresses his alleged kidnapping in France and the ongoing criminal proceedings and investigations involving him. According to the businessman, over the past 18 months, he and his family have purportedly been subjected to a series of unlawful attacks and mounting pressure.

Olimov claims that he was abducted in Paris in the summer of 2025. He asserts that he was held captive for two days, subjected to torture, and coerced into paying a ransom for his release. The businessman stated that following an investigation by French police, five individuals were arrested and are currently held in pretrial detention, while two others remain under judicial supervision. However, independent confirmation regarding the current procedural status of these seven individuals has not been provided.

The businessman also addressed the Interpol 'red notice' issued against him in September at the request of the Uzbek authorities. He stated that despite being the victim of the alleged abduction, he was wrongfully accused of the crime itself, though the notice has since been removed from the Interpol website. Olimov firmly rejects these fabricated accusations, noting that he is challenging them through legal channels while expressing trust in both the French and Uzbek judicial systems.

In the wake of these developments, Anorbank and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan emphasized that the situation concerns the personal circumstances of the shareholder and does not impact the financial stability or operational activities of the lending institution. Olimov, who holds a 49.4 percent stake in the bank, has reportedly submitted an application to resign from the supervisory board, a matter slated for review at the upcoming general shareholders' meeting.

Source: www.gazeta.uz