The Swiss Federal Criminal Court has dropped a money laundering case against Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Uzbekistan's former president, citing her inability to appear in court. The decision was reported by Swissinfo.
Judges stated that all possible steps had been taken to secure Karimova's presence in Switzerland. In August 2024, court representatives visited Uzbekistan and met with the country's Supreme Court to discuss her potential participation, but to no avail. In January 2026, a Uzbek court reportedly rejected the relevant request definitively.
“The termination of today's case by the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in favor of our client Gulnara Karimova is effectively equivalent to an acquittal under Swiss law,” her lawyer Gregoire Mangia told Reuters.
The case was also dropped against a second defendant, whom Swiss prosecutors considered Karimova's “right-hand man” and nominal representative. The court found a procedural obstacle in this instance as well, albeit for different reasons.
The Federal Criminal Court determined that the defendant could not attend the trial in Bellinzona due to international arrest warrants. Theoretically, he could have traveled from Russia, where he is in exile, but no direct flights have operated between the two countries since 2022. Their resumption is not expected before the statute of limitations on the charges expires in June 2027.
Consequently, he would have had to travel via a third country where he risked arrest. The court acknowledged his inability to participate before the statute of limitations expires, creating a permanent barrier to continuing the investigation.
However, the court emphasized that the dismissal of part of the case does not mean the proceedings are concluded. The main case against a former asset manager of Lombard Odier and the bank itself continues, as there are no obstacles to their participation.
Additionally, the issue of funds linked to Karimova remains open. The court noted that the possibility of confiscating these assets will be considered in future investigative actions.
The trial in absentia against Karimova in Switzerland began on April 27. She is accused of bribery, money laundering, and leading the criminal network “The Office.” According to investigators, the network allegedly funneled hundreds of millions of dollars out of Uzbekistan between 2005 and 2012.
Prosecutors allege that Karimova opened over 30 accounts in Swiss banks through nominees and conducted illegal transfers between them to conceal the origin of the funds. The funds purportedly came from telecommunications companies in exchange for access to the Uzbek market.
The case also involves a former asset manager of Lombard Odier and the bank itself. Prosecutors claim that between 2008 and 2012, the former manager opened nine accounts for various Uzbek beneficiaries, knowing that Karimova was the true beneficiary. These accounts, with nominee beneficiaries, allegedly comprised about 90% of her portfolio — 470 million Swiss francs ($599 million).
According to Keystone-ATS, neither Karimova nor one of her associates, deemed a nominee by investigators, attended the initial court hearings.
The court outlined four possible scenarios: postponing hearings until May 4, continuing the investigation in absentia, temporarily suspending the case against Karimova, or dismissing it.
Lawyers argued that their client, detained in Uzbekistan, wishes to participate but cannot. They requested a suspension of the investigation to clarify procedural issues.
Lawyers suggested that Karimova could be released in December 2028 or earlier, given her allegedly arbitrary detention.
In March 2020, a Uzbek court sentenced Karimova to 13 years and 4 months in prison. The sentence is counted from August 21, 2015, due to multiple convictions.
In September 2023, Karimova was charged in Switzerland alongside the former CEO of a Russian telecom's Uzbek subsidiary.
In November 2024, Swiss prosecutors also charged Lombard Odier private bank and a former employee, alleging they played a “decisive role” in hiding proceeds from The Office.
Lombard Odier stated that prosecutors do not claim the bank knowingly participated in money laundering, but rather raise objections about internal controls, which the bank disputes and intends to defend in court.
Karimova was initially sentenced to five years of restricted freedom in 2015, transferred to a colony in 2019, and then sentenced to an additional 13 years and 4 months in 2020 for embezzlement and extortion.
Assets linked to Karimova and her criminal group in France, the US, Latvia, and other countries are estimated at nearly $1.4 billion. Uzbekistan is seeking their repatriation.
In June 2025, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled that Karimova's detention violated international law and demanded compensation from Uzbekistan. The government maintained that her cases were handled according to legal norms.
Source: www.gazeta.uz